SALT LAKE CITY — BYU basketball coach Dave Rose was seething inside, but did his best to maintain a measured, calm demeanor.
After a normal practice at the Marriott Center on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, Rose answered a couple questions about the following night’s matchup with Santa Clara. Then a reporter asked him about a news release issued earlier that day by BYU saying the University of Utah was canceling next December’s scheduled game between the rivals in Provo.
Rose clenched his teeth, furrowed his brow and spoke as bluntly as he ever had in his eight seasons to date as the Cougars’ head coach.
“I was very surprised,” Rose said, his voice suddenly rising. “Shocked, actually.”
Later that night, the U. issued a news release of its own, saying coach Larry Krystkowiak felt the rivalry needed a “cooling-off period” after BYU’s Nick Emery had punched Utah’s Brandon Taylor in the waning moments of a game at the Huntsman Center a month prior because the games presented the “potential for serious injury.”
Later, after divulging that the University of Utah would have to pay BYU $80,000 for backing out of the game, Rose was asked if BYU would ever agree to another contract with Utah.
“I think so, but with a much larger buyout,” Rose said. “Because it seems like they have plenty of resources.”
That new contract — calling for four more games between the in-state rivals — was signed recently, and Rose’s prophecy was fulfilled although he retired after the 2018-19 season.
The buyout is now $250,000.
- See the contract: BYU-Utah basketball contract 2020-2023.pdf
The Deseret News recently obtained the contract via a Government Records Access and Management Act request after the schools on April 10 announced the four-game series extension through 2023. The next game will be played Dec. 12 at the Marriott Center in Provo. The rivals will meet at the Huntsman Center in November or December of 2021, in Provo in November or December of 2022, and in Salt Lake City in November or December of 2023. Specific dates for the final three games are pending.
“I think so, but with a much larger buyout. Because it seems like they have plenty of resources.” — Former BYU basketball coach Dave Rose
Brian Santiago, deputy athletic director over basketball for BYU, signed the document on Feb. 12, while Utah AD Mark Harlan signed it on Feb. 13.
Aside from the size of the buyout, which industry insiders say is extraordinarily large, there’s nothing remarkable about the new deal.
Game officials will be a “mixed crew” of WCC and Pac-12 officials, according to the contract, curious wording considering there is no such thing as “WCC officials” or Pac-12 officials” in basketball. Both leagues are members of the Western Officiating Consortium, along with the Mountain West, Big Sky, Big West and WAC.
The contract calls for the home team to provide 100 complimentary tickets to the visiting team, 24 of which have to be located in the lower bowl behind the visiting team’s bench. An additional 100 tickets have to be made available for purchase.
Utah announced last week that the large black curtains installed at the Huntsman Center five years ago will be closed for most of its home basketball games next season in an effort to improve the fan experience at the 50-year-old arena that seats 15,000 when the curtains are pulled back. Its lower bowl seats approximately 8,500.
Even before Rose retired, the Utes and Cougars started playing again after the 2016 hiatus, and the matchup last December at the Huntsman Center — won by Utah 102-95 in overtime — concluded the previous contract. BYU won the 2017 game 77-65 in Provo and the 2018 game 74-59 in Salt Lake City. That game was played at Vivint Arena as part of the Beehive Classic and was not part of a specific BYU-Utah contract.
BYU leads the series 131-129.
Utah’s cancellation in 2016 sparked a wide-ranging performance audit on the University of Utah athletic department by state lawmakers that cost taxpayers $203,000 but found the need for stronger oversight, according to Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy.
The audit released in November 2016 found that Krystkowiak had agreed to make four payments of $20,000 over four years through his private foundation, the Krystko Foundation. At that time he had paid $20,000 after vowing to personally cover the expense to the university.
Future of the BYU-Utah basketball rivalry
Dec. 12, 2020 — BYU vs. Utah at Marriott Center, Provo
November/December, 2021 — BYU vs. Utah at Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City
November/December, 2022 — BYU vs. Utah at Marriott Center, Provo
November/December, 2023 — BYU vs. Utah at Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City