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Show DAILY C6 Saturday, September 25, 2004 HERALD COLLEGE SPORTS SP7 Jason Franchuk HERALD DAILY BOISE, 8 1 Idaho-I- van Smith is upset when a friend says he's choosing dinner with family over Boise State football with a friend. That leaves Smith alone Friday night, trying to re coup the damage caused by a ticket he vastly overpaid for the previous night on eBay. What a friend. Makes Smith pay $46 for a ticket that had a face value of $7, then skipped out on the BYU game. The Boise resident's game-da- y experience is trying to recoup before missing the 8 p.m. kickoff. . As much as tailgating or enjoying a game of catch in the parking lot, trying to buy or sell tickets scalping, hawkis as vital to ing, brokering the soul of "It's not looking good," Smith said 90 minutes before the game's expected start. His search for a buyer reprfr sents America at its finest. Capitalism at its greatest and purest. A simple game of ply and demand that has differ- ent rules and complications at each stadium. At least it's legal in Boise, encouraged as much as the town's Broncos running up the score. The perimeter of the stadium could've been a bazaar for exchanges of hot tickets and cold cash, but Smith nearly found out the hard way that it would- pre-gam- e. JOSHUA BROWNDaily Herald ofBYU has her shot blocked byAmie Toone at the Smith Fieldhouse. Utah won the match, Lindsy Hartsock (14) of Utah during the final game Friday night 3-- Utah holds back BYU run for win off the BYU run. "I think we just made a lot of Flanagan Kyle HERALD CORRESPONDENT errors, trying to be more than we needed to be," said Cougar coach Karen Lamb. "We had the opportunity to win, and we BYU came into Friday night's game looking for an upset of a Utah team that is now ranked Zsrd in trie nation after last weekend's tournament. But, more , importantly, the Cougars were looking to snap a losing streak to the Utes that dates back to Wilson led the Cougars with while freshman Lindsey Evans reached a career high of 21 defensive digs. To the BYU players, this was more than just another game, it was a battle of emotion. "We really really wanted this match. ... We tried hard, and it just didn't go our way," Wilson 19 kjlls, UTAH Sept. 20, 2001. Despite an excellent showing from BYLPs Kim Wilson, the Cougars couldn't keep up with the Utes, losing the said. BYU fell to overall, andO--1 in Mountain West play, while the Utes improved to 2 overall in conference play. and Despite the heartbreaking loss, the BYU team is positive that it will improve. BYU 3-- 1 30-2- (26-3- 5-- 5 8-- 0 28-3- 26-31- 1 in the first game before most of the 2,062 fans could blink their eves. went on a run led by Wilson that gave the Cougars a chance. But the Utes, behind Lyndsey Henderson, were able to hold BYU, down 9-- By word "We just need to keep taking steps forward, it's a long season," Lamb said. "We have to figure a few things out, and we will, I'm not anything but hopeful." of mouse... 7? fv. tAj-iJ- P . In fly gain. be. With only 30,000 seats and ana- tionally ranked home team, market prices could be , open (and usually are) driven up. With a regional battle, usually it's a given that fans from the visiting team will turn up and drive the prices skyward. Smith counted on it. Oh, there were tickets available and plenty of passers-by- . The bustling intersection of University and Broadway, near the southeast corner of the stadium, is a constant parade of people walking to the game. ; Some want tickets. They turn down Smith anyway, not wanting any part of his mark. up. "I'm just trying to make my money back," Smith says, more than a little apologetical- iy. Some tell him not so kindly It's rather fun to see the scalpers sweat in the setting sun. But Smith isn't enjoying his hunt. He's nervous, figuring he's going to take an Enron hit on the seat in the south stands. He's out of luck only having one ticket. Odd numbers are tough to sell. But he also has the fortune that at least his ticket, which he purchased Thursday night online then met its owner on gameday, is a general admission seat. Sometimes people just want to be assured entry. If only Smith could find one of those. Because of Web sites like eBay, buying and selling tickets at the stadium is becoming less common. Now fans can watch others compete from the comfort of their home without having to haggle in the heat. Smith saw more expensive some close to $100 tickets GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE ' T : t Editor's Note'Every BYU game, the Daily Herald's Jason Franchuk will be writing on a subject that captures the game day experience. - while surfing the Web. He thought he got a good deal But on his corner, he's not alone. A few others are scalping, many more tickets in their hands. One broker smiles at Smith, waving his wad. "If I don't sell them, I'll just turn them into wallpaper," the man says. "I've done it plenty of times before." Smith hasn't. But he turns into a pro when he least expects. The ticket waved hopelessly in the air, suddenly the two sweetest sights in Trea: sure Valley walk by him: a man with a wad of cash with a daughter who needs a way to see the game. From here its e dialogue. Hey, how much? three-syllabl- Forty-si- His asking price rendered into his sweaty palm, Smith finds his way to the stadium. They're all happy. The man thought he got a good deal (sucker). The child gets in. Smith breaks even. It's no barbecue, but the breaksmell of even cash is just as sweet. hard-earne- No. 14 Utah defends title against Air Force p...jj.iuw Doug Alden ASSOCIATED THE SALT LAKE CITY Utah hopes to rely on a more conventional approach against Air Force this time. The No. 14 Utes host the Falcons on Saturday in a rematch of last season's thriller that propelled Utah to the Mountain West Conference championship. After blowing a 23-- 7 lead in the final quarter, Utah had to get creative to finally beat the Falcons 4543. Tight end Ben Moa, who had been playing running back because the Utes were so thin in the backf ield, scored on a run, then and shocked the Falcons anyone who was watching with a completion to Matt Hansen for the twoixint conversion. Moa and Hansen were seniors, so Utah will have to rely on its real offense this time. "We might have a couple other things going," coach Urban Meyer said with a slight smile. Utah ) is beginning to defend its MWC title against the Falcons (2-who had won three straight in the series until last year. The Utes went on to beat Wyoming and state-rivBrigham Young to win the MWC title outright in Meyer's first season as coach. "In my mind this w,as the game that won the conference for us," said Utah quarterback Alex Smith, who passed for 297 yards and a touchdown al Hark The Herald liUurifi KenGarf,. AutomotiveGroup f? Ms V'iy I "" " "imm- '.If . STEVE mf. C. WILSONAssociated Utah State wide receiver Tony Pennyman, left, makes Press a reception as Utah defensive back Ryan Smith tries to intercept during the first half last Saturday in Logan. Utah will play Air Force Stadium. today at Rice-Eccl- and ran for 89 yards as the Utes beat Air Force for the first time since 1999. Utah still hasn't won against the Falcons in Salt Lake City since 1995, but also hasn't had a team like this one ever. In wins over Texas A&M, Air Force and Utah State, the Utes have averaged almost 450 yards and more than 37 points. Meyer's spread offense is in its second season and continues to get better. "I think we understand them , rHK-- better than we did last year," DeBerry said. "They have some good athletes and you know you better be prepared, you know you better play hard because if you don't they can eas' ily embarrass you." Smith is averaging 237 yards passing per game and has six touchdown completions and no interception. And the Utes are d this year at running back with Marty Johnson and junior college transfer Quint on Ganther. well-stocke- 27-1- 'MS Mqir V.- - Utah had nobody left with any experience at running back last fall when Brandon Warfield went down with a knee injury, so Meyer put the Moa in the backfield against Air Force. He ran nine' times for 26 yards and three touchdowns, caught five passes for 68 yards and threw the game winning conversion. "That was the only pass he threw, so well be all right without Ben," Meyer said. The Falcons were going for a sweep over the state" of Utah after winning in Provo for the first time since 1981 by beating Brigham Young in September. DeBerry, the league's senior coach, said Utah could be the best team in the state since BYLTs national championship team. Air Force is relying this season on freshman quarterback Shaun Carney, who is off to a solid start in replacing Chance Harridge. Carney was named MWC offensive player of the week after completing 12 of 14 passes for 139 and two touchdowns in a 0 victory over UNLV last week that put the Falcons ahead early in the league standings. In order to stay ahead, Air Force will have to end Utah's unbeaten start. "We need to go out and score as many times as we can because their offense is awesome," Carney said. "They have a confidence that's pretty impressive. They're Top-2- 5 and they're doing things right." 250-pou- triple-overtim- e 1, Online Classified Ad Building at wl PRESS (3-0- i III Dj UsL that they can find better prices elsewhere. They're right. It s part of the game, one I miss dearly. Part of the joy of sports has been stolen from me because or my profession and the press pass. Getting in to the game is nice. Finding a decently priced ticket is more fun, though. I've seen big games, meaningless ones, even a couple World Series battles, all by showing up a couple hours early to the stadium and trying to find a bar- lost." . match Capitalism at its best Scalping i - mtr ' wi |