As Utah-BYU Coaches Cool a Rivalry, Peace Takes Strength
A fierce college football rivalry reminds us that peace is not weakness.
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
Psalm 29:11— NLT
In a July 9 Deseret News report, Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley and BYU head coach Kalani Sitake discussed efforts to lower the temperature around the Utah-BYU rivalry. The matchup is one of the region’s most closely watched college sports contests, drawing strong emotions from players, fans, alumni, and communities across Utah.
Their comments focused on reducing hostility around a game long known for intensity, pride, and deep loyalties. Both programs remain highly competitive, but the coaches’ message pointed toward a rivalry that can stay passionate without becoming personal.
There’s something quietly challenging about two football coaches asking people to cool down before a game that practically runs on heat. Rivalries are often treated as proof of devotion: the louder the chant, the sharper the jab, the more loyal the fan must be. But Scalley and Sitake seem to be naming a truth that reaches far beyond football — sometimes the strongest thing we can do is refuse to let pride become contempt.
Psalm 29:11 puts strength and peace side by side, not in competition with each other. That matters. We often imagine peace as softness, as if lowering our voice means lowering our standards. But peace can require a steadier kind of strength than escalation does. It takes strength for a player to compete hard without humiliating an opponent. It takes strength for a fan to love a school without despising the family across the room wearing different colors.
Sports can give a community real gifts: shared memories, family traditions, joy, identity, and something to look forward to on the calendar. None of those gifts require hostility to survive. The Utah-BYU rivalry can still be loud, emotional, and unforgettable without teaching neighbors to see one another as enemies. Maybe that is the better test of loyalty — not whether we can keep the feud burning, but whether we can love our team without losing sight of another person’s dignity.
Today's Prayer
Lord, give us strength to seek peace where pride and loyalty can so easily become hostility. Bless the players, coaches, fans, and families who want to enjoy competition without forgetting one another’s dignity. Help us cheer with joy, speak with care, and remember what matters most. Amen.