BYU and Utah meet each other several times a year in the sporting arena, but no game matters more than the traditional showdown on the gridiron. This season Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber, welcomes Val Hale, the Utah Valley Chamber’s new president, to the annual friendly wager on the Wasatch rivalry. 

Here’s the deal: If the Cougars win, the Salt Lake Chamber must fly BYU’s flag; if the Utes prevail, the Utah Valley Chamber must fly a Ute flag in Provo. 

In the past five years of friendly wagering, the Salt Lake Chamber holds a 3-1 lead over Utah Valley, emerging victorious in 2008, 2010 and 2011 (with a little help from Coach Whittingham and the Utes). 

The Utes are 1-1 and will face BYU after one of their tougher weeks in recent memory, having lost a rivalry game to Utah St. and their starting quarterback to injury. The Cougars will arrive at Rice-Eccles stadium with two solid victories and an AP Top 25 ranking, looking for victory after two straight years of loss. 

As a former BYU athletics director, Val Hale holds strong ties to college football and the Cougars. “Nothing in this state compares to rivalry week,” says Hale. “Families are divided. Normally collegial co-workers turn into face-painted, chanting fanatics. The Utah Valley Chamber encourages fans for both teams to cheer wildly for their own team and be respectful of the opposing fans and players.”