BYU running back Jamaal Williams is going to be OK, according to BYU reports. After seeing him leave the game on a backboard, Saturday night, it bothered me. I noticed quite a few Utah fans applauding him encouragingly when he left the field.
Deseret News photo by Tom Smart Although it may have happened, I didnt see anyone booing.
I saw where one BYU fan told Utah fans not to pretend to care if Williams is OK. Thats cynical, even by social media standards. I know one thing: players and coaches care. Utahs Kyle Whittingham took time out from his post-game interview session to express concern and well wishes for Williams.
Sometimes when it comes to rivalries, fans get thinking they want only misery and destruction upon the opponent. But when serious things happen, they usually get a different perspective.
Ive known people I didnt like, but if they became ill, I only felt sympathy for them; same when someone loses a job or suffers a tragedy. I felt sorry for staffers who were recently laid off at the Salt Lake Tribune, not satisfaction.
I cant imagine a single player on Saturday, when Williams was rolled off the field, who would feel good about what happened.
So rivalries are fine, but genuine concern and even compassion are better. That might be a good thing to bear in mind in 2016 when the Utah-BYU games resume.