From: jfawcett@encore.com (Jason Fawcett)
Subject: Re: BYU - America's Most Hated Team???
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Date: Fri, 11 Sep 1992 16:58:38 GMT

zuniga@loligo.cc.fsu.edu (Ralph Zuniga (FREAC/CAR)) writes:

>As I watch tonight's game (9/10) between San Diego St. and BYU, I
>see that the BYU fans are calling their team the most hated in America.
>Huh?? I can think of 10 or more teams that I hate more than BYU. Just
>what is BYU thinking??? Anyone from BYU care to comment???


------ Stolen from Dave Hyde, staff columnist of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
       Sun-Sentinel 9/11/92


As if the University of Miami Football team didn't have enough problems
between Mother Nature and Uncle Sam, comes more depressing news from
Sports Illustrated:
 
     Brigham Young University is the country's most-hated team.

What does a team have to do to be No. 1.   UM feels short-sheeted by the
National Media.  Every hip it swivels, every raised hand, every big play
celebration draws undue mention and now, when a big award like this 
comes out,  Miami comes up empty.

Even with the recent image restructuring,  Miami's great tradition doesn't
just encourage an us-against-the-world-attitude.  It demands one.  Miami's
player take the victory lap around the field on all road games during the
pre-game warm-ups. Encouraging fans to boo them as loudly as possible. Just
like a dog marking it's territory.  Miami players love being hated. Miami
over comes adversary.  They feed off it's power.  

Every where UM goes, T-Shirt sales rise.   Iowa's new T-shirt was;
" Farmers vs. Felons ", Notre Dames's classic " Catholics vs. Convicts",
and " bleep MIAMI " at every road game.  Several Miami players buy the
shirts too, they love them. 

" BYU is the most-hated team in the country, which may be the best-kept
dirty little secret in the game," said SI.   " That's because to criticize
BYU openly is to risk becoming embroiled in a heated debate..."

You mean like when Maryland dropped UM from it's schedule because they 
said Jimmy Johnson was running up the score.  Or South Carolina when it
dropped all future UM games because of a game stopping brawl.  And then
there's Florida and Notre Dame, who both weasled their way off UM's
schedule because, well, basically because Miami's was just too good.


Miami deserves this SI award.  UM didn't complain when Washington was
given half the National title last year.  Miami even inducted Washington's
coach Don James into the Miami Hurricane Hall of Fame last year.  But,
losing this No. 1 to BYU?   Miami has worked hard for this image on all 
compass points.

EAST: Miami wore camouflage and walked out of a social steak-fry with
      Penn State.  Miami didn't beat PSU, but introduced taunting to the
      sports dictionary.

WEST: Miami dirty-danced on top of California players, where Erickson
      said he would bench any players if they continued to " celebrate in
      an embarrassing manner."  

SOUTH: Miami's demeanor during the 89 Cotton Bowl whipping of Texas was 
       used as the first 12 examples of unacceptable conduct in a video
       the NCAA sent to all schools.  Miami players thought it was a Miami
       Highlight Video.

NORTH: Notre Dame any year any place any time.

       Fair is Fair. Miami deserves it's due as the nations most-hated team.
       Cancel my subscription to SI.

Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college