Wyoming is playing BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl next week, the result of somehow, miraculously, not ending up ranked in the Bottom 25 this year (but there's always hope for next year, so watch out Kansas!)
The last time the two teams played was in 2010. Then BYU left the conference and tried to break up the conference by taking several other teams with them in an attempt to fashion a new version of the WAC. The attempt didn't work, and teams and fans of the MWC haven't forgotten the treachery. Somewhat amazingly, there is a player who will play against Wyoming next week who *also* played on the 2010 BYU team--which goes to another reason why no love is lost when it comes to BYU out this way: BYU players are often pretty old, and on average, much older than the players they play against (because most BYU players will have done a mission.)
But BYU was detested long before 2010, and it really probably goes back to the 60s, with race issues and the Mormon Church. If you're curious, this is well worth reading:
the Black 14
35 years ago Wyoming played BYU here in Laramie in a game that is known as the Blizzard Game. Wyoming won in a white-out snowstorm/blizzard. It was the first time Wyoming had beaten BYU in 10 years, or something like that. After the game, the BYU coach addressed his players and created another bit of history that Wyoming fans have never forgotten and never will, saying: "I'd rather lose and live in Provo than win and live in Laramie."
Hopefully the Cowboys will prevail next week and cap off what has been a pretty terrific season for them. But it won't be easy, as the BYU team is probably the better team. And they're a lot older.