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Gordon Monson

Sports columnist

Gordon Monson has been a columnist at The Salt Lake Tribune since 1993. Before coming to Utah, he was a sports and feature writer at the Los Angeles Times and the Los Angeles Daily News. He's hosted a sports-talk radio show in Salt Lake City for 22 years, the past 16 years at 1280 AM/97.5 FM The Zone.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Weber State head football coach Eric Kjar in Ogden on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026.

Gordon Monson: A distinguished coach’s story: Eric Kjar defeated death, depression and disease on his way to winning at life

By Gordon Monson | October 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(LM Otero | AP Photo) BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) passes the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against TCU, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Gordon Monson: Even with a win, did BYU betray itself against TCU — or was this who the Cougars actually are?

By Gordon Monson | October 4, 2026, 3:07 a.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU players bow their heads before the start of their game against Utah Tech, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

Gordon Monson: A sound solution to anti-Latter-day Saint chants at BYU games comes from a Utah man

By Gordon Monson | October 2, 2026, 8:26 p.m.

(Chris Samuels | The Salt Lake Tribune) Gail Miller, left, and Ryan Smith.

Gordon Monson: The Battle of the Billionaires. Who should bring Major League Baseball to Utah — the Millers or Ryan Smith?

By Gordon Monson | October 1, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) A General Conference session in April. Tribune columnist Gordon Monson has a list of topics he hopes church leaders will address.

Gordon Monson: Nine things that should be said at LDS General Conference — but likely won’t be

By Gordon Monson | October 1, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU runners Riley Chamberlain (143) and Jane Hedengren (146), and New Mexico runner Pamela Kosgei (269) lead the pack at the start of the NCAA cross country regional championships at the Regional Athletic Complex in Salt Lake City, on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025.

Gordon Monson: BYU runners are being criticized for so-called immodest running attire. Seriously?

By Gordon Monson | September 28, 2026, 1:41 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) President Camille Johnson prays at a session of General Conference. Columnist Gordon Monson says believers should keep their prayers "real."

Gordon Monson: Go ahead and gripe a little. The psalmists did. God won’t mind.

By Gordon Monson | September 27, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake as BYU hosts Arizona, NCAA football in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.

Gordon Monson: However the recent Kalani Sitake blaze will flame out at BYU, here’s how it was ignited

By Gordon Monson | September 24, 2026, 3:27 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake and Arizona Wildcats head coach Brent Brennan as BYU hosts Arizona, NCAA football in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.

Gordon Monson: Will BYU’s Kalani Sitake ever be willing to run up the score? And should he?

By Gordon Monson | September 21, 2026, 3:35 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes running back Daniel Bray (5) scores a touchdown as Utah hosts Utah State, NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

Gordon Monson: After ‘Beatdown of the Brothers,’ is it time to put Utah-Utah State rivalry to bed?

By Gordon Monson | September 20, 2026, 3:41 p.m.

(Job McBride | BYU) LJ Martin runs for a touchdown against Colorado State on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026.

Gordon Monson: BYU football found a secret in 41-23 win over Colorado State, one it will have to remember all season

By Gordon Monson | September 20, 2026, 4:14 a.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake celebrates the win as BYU hosts Arizona, NCAA football in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.

Gordon Monson: Kalani Sitake knows what it will take — and cost — for BYU football to win a national championship

By Gordon Monson | September 18, 2026, 2:23 p.m.

(Tyler Tate | AP) Utah quarterback Byrd Ficklin, left, and quarterback Devon Dampier, right, warm up before an NCAA college football game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Gordon Monson: Utah QBs Devon Dampier and Byrd Ficklin are creating their own new cliché in college football

By Gordon Monson | September 16, 2026, 12:04 p.m.

Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham watches against Western Michigan during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Gordon Monson: Don’t act like you don’t care. Utah has a new football rival dressed out in a darker shade of blue.

By Gordon Monson | September 15, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Barry Reeger | AP) ESPN reporter Holly Rowe looks over her notes before an NCAA college football game against Auburn in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept.18, 2021.

Gordon Monson: No need for Steve Sarkisian to be a jerk to Holly Rowe, but he was

By Gordon Monson | September 14, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU Cougars wide receiver Reggie Frischknecht (18) runs for a touchdown as BYU hosts Arizona, NCAA football in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026.

Gordon Monson: BYU football kicks pressure to the curb and cradles victory

By Gordon Monson | September 13, 2026, 5:29 p.m.

(Leah Hogsten | The Salt Lake Tribune) Eric Weddle, an inductee of the 2022 University of Utah Athletics Hall of Fame Class and Super Bowl LVI Los Angeles Rams Champion speaks to members of the media Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022 prior to the University of Utah game against Southern Utah University at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City.

Gordon Monson: Utah’s Eric Weddle to be honored with fondness now and with wonder later

By Gordon Monson | September 10, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes running back Mateaki Helu (20) runs the ball as Utah Utes quarterback Byrd Ficklin (15) looks on during the second half of the game between the Utah Utes and the Idaho Vandals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.

Gordon Monson: Is Utah’s offense finally what it’s always wanted to be? Five guesses.

By Gordon Monson | September 9, 2026, 12:00 p.m.

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Tech Trailblazers running back Kona Crowell (22) feels the weight of the BYU defense during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Utah Tech, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

Gordon Monson: BYU football gets what it paid for — not just a win, but a wipeout

By Gordon Monson | September 6, 2026, 3:27 p.m.

(Bethany Baker | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes celebrate an interception during the first half of the game between the Utah Utes and the Idaho Vandals at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026.

Gordon Monson: Utah football gets lopsided win against a weak opponent, leaving real questions unanswered

By Gordon Monson | September 4, 2026, 12:00 p.m.