First Timer's Guide to Utah

[Dingo]

I know this will be the first trip to Utah for some of you, so I thought I would help set expectations by telling you some of what you should and should not expect to see.

Here’s what you definitely WILL see:

• Churches, churches and more churches - especially the closer you get to Provo
• Kids, kids and more kids – especially the closer you get to Provo
• Tons of SUV’s and minivans
• Lot’s of squeaky clean white people
• Lot’s of very good-looking (modestly dressed) BYU coeds
• Lot’s of other BYU coeds…well, let’s just say coeds with really great personalities
• Mountains every where you look
• Dangerous, daredevil driving antics on the I-15 Motor Speedway – please remember to buckle up. You’ll need the extra protection
• Wide streets in a regimented grid system
• Strange street addresses (e.g. 550 North 600 West – is that North or West?)
• A handful of pathetic Utah Ute fans lurking about, hoping for a UNI upset of BYU to help ease the pain of their loss to Idaho a few years ago and last year’s 27-0 loss to MWC bottom-dweller UNLV
• A lot of very vocal boo birds after every call that goes against BYU
• The color blue
• Dippin’ dots and ice cream
• A lot of scoring – on the football field

Here’s what you definitely WON'T see:

• Polygamist men in 19th century dress with long beards and several wives in tow – sorry to destroy your number one photo op
• Wild-eyed Mormons with rifles looking to ambush your wagon train
• “Bar row” near the BYU campus
• “Bar row” anywhere else
• Beer at Lavell Edwards Stadium
• Drunk Cougar fans urinating on your rental car after the game – believe me, they’ll be completely sober while doing it
• Bikini-clad babes with BYU painted on their cheeks (whichever ones came to mind when you read this)
• Any serious attemtps at tailgating
• The color red
• A lot of scoring – off the football field

Cougar fans, feel free to add to the list. UNI fans, enjoy your visit. I guarantee you Provo is not like anywhere else you’ve been.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

I love Dippin dots. Haven't seen any yet. We drove through the night and just checked into our hotel in Midvale.

[Dingo]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

I should have called the thread "First Timer's Guide to Provo." Can't say I've ever seen any dippin' dots in Midvale. Look for the Dippin' Dots stand right under the visitors section on your way to your seats. It's gonna be hot (95 degrees), so those dippin' dots will go down real smooth.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

I'm just kidding. I've been out here before. Nice area.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

Dingo...I love the thread and the "WILL's" and "WON'Ts".

[TravelingPanther]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

Gold Medal Pizza any good?

[Dingo]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

Never been there. Heaps Brick Oven is very good.

[TravelingPanther]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

I made food in my hotel kitchen. It was good. XXXXX

[SteinPizza]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Provo

Here’s what you definitely WON'T see:

• “Bar row” near the BYU campus
• “Bar row” anywhere else
• Drunk Cougar fans urinating on your rental car after the game – believe me, they’ll be completely sober while doing it
• Bikini-clad babes with BYU painted on their cheeks (whichever ones came to mind when you read this)
• Any serious attemtps at tailgating
• A lot of scoring – off the football field

Interesting. I've heard that drinking is a no-no to Mormons (hence Jim McMahon being Catholic), but some of what you say above completely changes the social aspect of college football. At least it would almost everywhere else in the country.

Dingo, how does the social atmosphere at BYU games compare to other campuses where you play road games? Just curious...and not meant in a negative way.

[Dingo]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Provo

Interesting. I've heard that drinking is a no-no to Mormons (hence Jim McMahon being Catholic), but some of what you say above completely changes the social aspect of college football. At least it would almost everywhere else in the country.

Dingo, how does the social atmosphere at BYU games compare to other campuses where you play road games? Just curious...and not meant in a negative way.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "social aspect of college football", but all I can tell you is that it's more of a family-friendly atmosphere. You won't hear a lot of cursing (note: I said "a lot"), you won't have beer spilled on your girlfriend/wife/kids by the guy behind you, and you won't see many fights (except when Utah comes to town). There's plenty of socializing, but its done sans alcohol.

[TripleCrownCoug]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Provo

Interesting. I've heard that drinking is a no-no to Mormons (hence Jim McMahon being Catholic), but some of what you say above completely changes the social aspect of college football. At least it would almost everywhere else in the country.

Dingo, how does the social atmosphere at BYU games compare to other campuses where you play road games? Just curious...and not meant in a negative way.

I think the biggest difference is in the activities of the student population.
I grew up in Phoenix, AZ and I attended almost every Arizona State home game. I remember our path to the stadium always took us through Fraternity/Sorority row. There was always some serious pre-game partying going on and lots of Alcohol (it should be noted that at this time the drinking age in Arizona was 19 and ASU plays it's home games at night, so there was nothing illegal or time of day sensitive about this pre-game tradition).

When I attended a BYU game at the University of Virginia I happened to walk through what appeared to be the Student Housing area and noticed similar activities, though not quite as raucous, probably because the drinking age was now 21 and not all students could participate.

At BYU there are no Fraternities or Sororities. You generally don't see long pre-game group activities by the students. Sometimes a group will meet up and walk to the stadium together, but that's about it. BYU is a fairly high level academic institution now, so to be honest I wouldn't be surprised if most students spend the time leading up to the game in the library studying.

Other than the students, I didn't notice a big difference between the game crowds, milling about before the game.

I'd say that in regards to the non-student fans there's not alot of difference in pre-game other than the absence of alchohol. Depending on the start time of the game a lot of people will get together for a meal before a game (just not at a tailgate). The same anticipation and jawing about what will/should happen will still take place.

[Dingo]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

Dingo, it's not a Provo thing about beer in the stands at NCAA events. You can't sell beer at on campus NCAA facilities. So although we have some beer in the tailgate before the games, there isn't beer in our stadium either.

I think the Dome is very family friendly as well. I think it's becoming less family friendly at Kinnick.

Yeah, you're right. The Provo angle is that you're not very likely to find it in the parking lot either.

However, contrary to popular myth, you can get a drink in Provo. There are no dry counties in Utah.

[SteinPizza]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

Interesting, thanks. Tailgating is such an integral part of college football, that it's interesting to hear that you still maintain a big time game atmosphere without it. To each their own, and if it works for you guys, more power to you.

I'm about to walk out the door to go to Wrigleyville, which on Cubs game days is like a college football tailgate on steriods. The difference being it's all adults, not college kids. I doubt the atmosphere would "fly" in Provo, but like I said, to each their own.

Good luck to both teams today, and here's hoping for an injury free game.

[kccougar]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

Dingo, it's not a Provo thing about beer in the stands at NCAA events. You can't sell beer at on campus NCAA facilities. So although we have some beer in the tailgate before the games, there isn't beer in our stadium either.

I think the Dome is very family friendly as well. I think it's becoming less family friendly at Kinnick.

That is not true. Several schools in the MWC sell beer in the stadiums - UNLV and CSU to name two.

[Dingo]

Re: First Timer's Guide to Utah

That is not true. Several schools in the MWC sell beer in the stadiums - UNLV and CSU to name two.

Sam Boyd is not an on-campus stadium. Don't know about Hughes. Never been there.