University of Utah

The University of Utah (also The U or the U of U) was established by Mormon leader Brigham Young. Initially named "University of Deseret" in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 28, 1850, the school was closed two years later for financial reasons. It reopened as a commercial school in 1867 in the old Council House in what is now downtown Salt Lake City under the direction of Elder David O. Calder, a prominent Salt Lake City businessman and associate of Mormon prophet Brigham Young. The University was renamed University of Utah in 1894 and classes were first held on the present campus approximately two miles directly east of downtown Salt Lake City in 1900.

Athletics

The school's sports teams are called the Utes. There are many "nicknames" for the teams too, as for instance the basketball team is known as the "Runnin' Utes", the football team before the days of political correctness was known as "Runnin' Redskins", and the gymnastics team is known as "the Red Rocks". Utah participates in the NCAA's Division I (Division I-A for football) as part of the Mountain West Conference. The Utes have two major rivalries, both of which are in-state. They meet their primary rivals, the BYU Cougars, in a game called the "Holy War". Utah also battles Utah State University for the Beehive Boot, a traveling trophy. The football program with the best record in the state of Utah among in-state games keeps the Beehive Boot. BYU has won the boot the most times, with Utah second, and Utah State third.

Related Topics:
Ute - NCAA - Mountain West Conference - BYU - Utah State University

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The men's basketball team won the NCAA title in 1944 and the NIT Crown in 1947. Arnie Ferrin, the only four-time All-American in Utah basketball history, played for both the 1944 and 1947 teams. He also went on to help the Minneapolis Lakers win NBA Championships in 1949 and 1951. Wat Misaka, the first person of Asian descent to play in the NBA, also played for Utah during this era.

Related Topics:
NCAA - 1944 - NIT - 1947 - Arnie Ferrin - Minneapolis Lakers - NBA - 1949 - 1951 - Wat Misaka

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Of more recent note was the 2004-2005 Utah football team. Coached by Urban Meyer and quarterbacked by Alex Smith, the Utes went 11-0 during the regular season and became the first team from a non-BCS (Bowl Championship Series) league to go to a BCS Bowl Game, finishing the regular season #6 in the BCS rankings (placement in the top 6 by any team from a non-BCS league grants an automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls). The Utes defeated Pittsburgh 35 - 7 in the Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2005 and ended its season 12-0, ranked #4 in the country (the Utes had not gone undefeated in football since 1930).

Related Topics:
Urban Meyer - Alex Smith - Bowl Championship Series - Pittsburgh - Fiesta Bowl

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Later in 2005, Utah became the first school to produce the top overall picks in both the NFL and NBA Drafts in the same season. Alex Smith was the overall top pick to the NFL, drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in April. In June, All-American basketball player Andrew Bogut was picked first in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Related Topics:
2005 - NFL - NBA Draft - San Francisco 49ers - All-America - Andrew Bogut - 2005 NBA Draft - Milwaukee Bucks

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