This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Everyone who was there for Kenneth Scott's and Jered Bell's signing day remembers the cake: It was a cookie cake with white frosting, outlined like a football field. One end zone read "COLORADO," and one read "UTAH." In the middle was a football, which read "2012."
Bell, a safety, had signed with the Buffs. Scott, a receiver, had signed with the Utes. They assumed they would play each other at least by 2012, among many years of friendly competition.
Turns out that was a bit ambitious.
That's why everyone who was there for that signing day in 2010 is buzzing about Utah's home game against Colorado this weekend. Bell and Scott, two high school teammates who became as close as brothers, will finally play one another in the star-crossed rivalry that both needed a sixth year of eligibility to make happen.
For the first time since their Colony high school days, they'll share the same football field, and they'll both be healthy.
"They said it was rare to get a sixth year, so both of us getting sixth years, that's crazy itself," Scott said. "When I was hurt, he was playing. When I was playing, he was hurt. We just kept playing off and on, off and on. So it's going to be really cool to actually play against him."
Competition between them is nothing new; they've been one-upping each other since their freshman year at Colony in Ontario, Calif., where both were precocious talents. When they weren't pushing and shoving each other on the practice field, they competed on the same side of the ball for the most tackles, the most receiving yards, the most touchdowns — you name it.
The friendship between Bell and Scott stemmed from their mothers. Avis Bell and Trish Banks (Scott's mother) were both on the booster club for the football team, and hit it off. It wasn't long before the boys hit it off as well.
Eventually, the Bell home became a base camp for Scott, who otherwise had to commute from his home in Fontana, Calif. Bell's older sister was in college, so Scott made her room his own. Most nights, he slept there.
Eventually, the Bells became second parents to Scott, especially when his mom went to the hospital when her lupus flared up. They fed him. He wore Bell's clothes interchangeably with his own.
Scott never had godparents growing up. Banks asked the Bells if they would step in.
"We were all so close, we'd do holidays and everything together," Banks said. "Scotty was there all the time. They would do for him like he was their child."
The boys were similar, although Scott was probably more talkative than Bell. But get them playing video games, cards or dominos — any competition for that matter — it was hard to stop them from talking over each other.
"They're both so competitive," Avis Bell said. "If you ask them, they'd both say they've never lost to one another. When they're together, and they're feeling loose, they're so alike."
The families assumed that would carry over into college, when both learned soon after signing that they would be in the Pac-12 South together. But then the injuries struck: In 2010, Scott broke his ankle. In 2011, Bell injured his knee. In 2012, Scott was able to play against Colorado, but Bell was not. In 2013, Scott broke his other ankle.
In 2014, when Bell tore his other ACL, both wondered whether the meeting they dreamed of would take place.
"It was hard for both of us," Scott said. "We would try to keep each other up, try to make sure we're there for each other for the whole process. With injuries, it's a mental thing. So as long as you're positive and have support, everything else will be good."
They made an oath to each other that they'd both be healthy in 2015, the final chance they had to play one another in college. Of course, that wasn't entirely up to Bell: He had to get approval from the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility. Bell struggled with his statement — essentially how he would ask the NCAA for a waiver. Scott forwarded him what he had written after his 2013 injury, and allowed Bell to use it as a model.
"He was like, 'Bro don't worry, they're going to approve you,' " Bell said. "He helped me a lot with that process."
This season has seen encouraging developments for both. Scott is looking to break his mark for yards and touchdowns from last season, well within reach with Colorado and a bowl game remaining. Bell began the year as a back-up, but regained his starting job after showing coach Mike MacIntyre "phenomenal" leadership.
Both head coaches are happy to heap praise on their respective players. Kyle Whittingham said of Scott: "He grinds it out every day."
For the first time, they'll be able to grind it out on the same field. They're changed men since high school. They know it. They've gotten more mature, settled on girlfriends and expanded their interests beyond football.
"We both had NFL dreams since we were in high school, and we'll keep fighting for that," Bell said. "But at the same time, you can't have whole identity rooted in football. We both have tried to do things besides football, especially after the injuries."
As much as Banks and Avis Bell are looking forward to watching their sons play on the same field for the first time in college — and each mom says she'll be cheering for both boys — they'll also be relieved when it's over.
Even when they're done playing together, they'll still be in one another's lives.
"There's going to be a bunch of crying: I'm a big crybaby," Avis Bell said. "After six years, it'll be like, 'Football is over. What are we going to do now?' We have to wait and see."
Twitter: @kylegoon —
Bonded like brothers
Teammates at Colony High School (Ontario, Calif.), Utah receiver Kenneth Scott and Colorado safety Jered Bell, will meet for the first time as opponents in college.
Scott at a glance
• 123 catches for 1,424 yards, 10 touchdowns in his career
• Has 35 catches, 317 yards this season playing in every game
• Suffered season-ending injuries in 2010, 2013
Bell at a glance
• Has 123 tackles, 7 interceptions in his career
• Has 32 tackles, team-leading 3 picks this season
• Suffered season-ending injuries in 2011, 2014 —
Colorado at Utah
Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
TV • Pac-12 Network