In between quarters of Utah’s opening game against Idaho State, the athletics department honored the Ute gymnastics team with individual rings and a team trophy for winning the Pac-12 last season — the first Utah team to win a conference title since moving to the Conference of Champions.
In this moment, I’m not sure how many fans had even realized that the U had a Pac-12 winning team at the school. Hell, I don’t think fans even realized it while they were watching the ceremony.
Now I get it. When school starts and fall makes its way through Salt Lake City, everyone’s attention automatically turns towards the football team.
This year has proved no different. By fans’ reactions to the first two games of the season, it’s as if the Utes have already gone to a bowl game, and Dres Anderson might as well be given the Heisman Trophy with the way some fans gush over him. While Utah is 2-0 and giving the school and fans something to get excited about, the mighty Utes that take it to the gridiron every Saturday might not even be the best team on campus.
There are two sports at the U right now that are both undefeated to start 2014 — soccer and volleyball. While the former probably gets more attention than the latter, neither of these sports receive the recognition the football team would if it accomplished a similar feat.
Combined, the two teams have gone 14-0-2 thus far in the season, and they’ve done it with style.
The soccer team took No. 15 Oklahoma to overtime, before finishing the game off in a tie. On top of that, the Utes squeaked out a victory over talented in-state rival, BYU.
The volleyball team has started the season 9-0, the second-best start in team history for Utah. In that nine-game span, Utah has swept seven matches while only dropping three of its 30 sets played.
Some may be uninterested in soccer and volleyball, but I promise if you went to see these teams play in person, you wouldn’t be disappointed. There are some pretty impressive athletes on both squads.
After watching Tim Howard do his thing on the international stage during the World Cup over the summer, I know I was going through some good goalkeeping withdrawals. If you feel the same way, look no further than Ute goalkeeper Lindsey Luke. Not only is she a beast in between the posts, but she also beat football star Anderson in a one-on-one, best-of-five summer series that contained numerous sports.
And have you ever seen the volleyball athletes in person? Not only are they extremely tall, but also the chemistry of this year’s squad is undeniable. I mean, I don’t know about anyone else, but I know I sure as hell don’t want to be on the receiving end of a Chelsey Schofield-Olsen spike.
So go out every Saturday, join the MUSS, cheer on T-Willy and the rest of the Utes, as Utah football games will be some of the best memories you can make here at the U.
All I’m saying is, if you neglect the other sports, you’ll miss out on watching All-Americans, conference-winning teams and exciting sporting moments you can’t find at football games.
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@GriffDoug