Team: Utah Utes
Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
Conference: Mountain West
Sport: College Football
Background: The University of Utah
(also The U or the U of U) opened under the name "University
of Desert" in Salt Lake City, Utah on February
28, 1850, only to be closed two years later for financial
reasons. It reopened as a business school in 1867
and became a full university once again in 1869. The
University was renamed University of Utah in 1894
and classes were first held on the present campus
in 1900. The University is known colloquially as "the
U." This stands for both University and Utah,
and lends its format to the nickname for in-state
rival, Brigham Young University, which is known as
"the Y." The U. is the flagship Research
I institution of Utah, and is one of 10 institutions
that make up the Utah System of Higher Education.
The University boasts a number of commendable graduate
programs including a well-regarded law school and
medical school.