November 17, 2003 — It has come down to this! The Ute football team and first year coach Urban Meyer win their last game of the year against BYU and they take the Mountain West Conference crown-lose and they could share the title with New Mexico. With that much on the line, Coach Meyer and his players will rally fans on the steps of the Park Building at noon Friday, Nov. 21. The Utes play Brigham Young University the following day. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. in Provo.

Prior to the remarks from Meyer, outgoing University of Utah President Bernie Machen will speak to students as he prepares to move-on to a new challenge. He was recently named the new president at the University of Florida. President Machen will use this opportunity to show support to a very successful Ute football team and the head coach he helped bring to Utah.

Football coach Urban Meyer has heaped praise on student fans throughout this season, often thanking them for their support and attendance at home games. The student fan club “The Muss” will be well represented at the rally. Coach Meyer will give them a final pep talk before the BYU game and introduce some of this year’s players. The Utes are 8-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play. The team could clinch its first outright conference title since 1957 with a win at BYU on Saturday.

Following the speeches, the Ute Marching Band will perform, while the cheerleaders and Swoop lead the crowd in some cheers. After that, the annual ROTC game-ball run will begin. Traditionally, cadets run the game ball from the visiting team’s campus to the stadium where the Utah/BYU game is played. That means this year the ball will leave the U after the pep rally and be hand delivered to LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.