Rivalry, Renewed

When I was just a boy, I remember my dad taking me to watch my brother play at Romney Stadium, USU. I don't remember the year for sure, but I would guess it was 1980 or 1981, or thereabouts.

It was a beautiful fall day, about like this one I bet, and the big game had been the talk of the town for the last week. It was that year's renewal of the gridiron rivalry between Logan and Sky View, and I was going to watch the game! I was excited.

As we were walking towards the stadium, I distinctly remember two kids a fair piece off the sidewalk, in the grass, squaring up for a fight. I am pretty sure the combatants were from the opposing high schools, and I often wonder if they thought they were going to settle the matter of supremacy once and for all, with their fists.

I was quite amazed by this spectacle. I looked over my shoulder again and again to see what was happening as we continued up the walkway to the stadium. As is often with my memory, I focused in on that particular part of the event, and other than knowing where I was and why I was there, I don't remember anything about the game - beyond those two boys psyching up for the battle.

I started high school the same year that Mountain Crest went into operation. It may have been a sign of the times - 3 schools instead of 2 - or for some other reason, but the Logan vs. Sky View rivalry seems to have lost it's consuming traditions. I just had a short conversation about this with my brother, the one I had gone to watch that day long ago. He feels the same way I do about it, too.

He recalls the way it was back then. It was the county kids against the city kids. It was a big deal. There were activities like school against school burger eating contests at the A&W in Logan; big pep rallies; the usual pranks - a fever pitch leading up to the match on the field.

During my high school days there were some great valley football seasons too, especially the year just after I graduated and Sky View lost a close State Championship game at Romney Stadium, to the Mustangs of Hyrum. These yearly matches are still great games, but it just doesn't seem as consuming as it was in the "old days".

But tonight, it's the old Logan vs. Sky View rivalry renewed again. The burger eating contests are gone, maybe the fever pitch has largely gone too. I don't imagine the days leading up to the game have generated quite the same interest that they did in times past. It's still an exciting event for me because I remember the stories about the way it was. On top of that, Sky View will inaugurate their new field tonight, the first game ever on the new artificial turf, playing one of their oldest opponents.

I know that Logan leads the series, and I know that both teams have very talented players, but tonight I'm going to pick Sky View - because I'm an alumnus, and because it's a home game for them. Other than that, I will just be glad to be there watching two good teams face off, and enjoy the outcome whatever it may be - but a little bit more if my pick is correct.