It's December, which makes me feel like giving, and feel like skiing. Fortunately, it's easy to do both with Brighton Quad Wednesdays. For three Wednesdays in December, starting tomorrow, you can get an Area Day Pass at Brighton Resort for $15 just for bringing a donation for a specific charity.

Dec. 2 - Bring a new blanket, warm hat, socks or gloves for The Road Home homeless shelter.

Dec. 9 - Bring a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots

Dec. 16 - Bring a grocery bag of non-perishable food for the Utah Food Bank

All donations must be worth $10 or more

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BYU pulled off a thrilling overtime victory against the University of Utah Saturday, as Utah's defense, which had been causing headaches for the Cougar offense throughout the game, was unable to stop a 25-yard Max Hall touchdown pass to Andrew George to put the Cougars ahead 26-23.

The Ute offense moved the ball well in the first and fourth quarters but stalled in the middle of the game. The Cougars were held to a much-lower-than-average 265 yards total offense but managed to win in overtime.

After the game, Hall commented, "I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, I hate their fans, I hate everything. I think the whole university, their fans and their organization is classless. They threw beer on my family and stuff last year, and they did a whole bunch of nasty things, and I don't respect them, and they deserved to lose."

I have a lot of respect for Max Hall and the entire BYU football program, so I'm surprised Hall would talk like that in front of reporters after winning his senior rivalry game.  (By the way, "classless" doesn't mean what BYU fans and players think it means. Look it up in the dictionary.) Is Thomas S. Monson classless? He's a University of Utah alumnus and appeared in person to accept a University of Utah "Superfan" award about a month ago. What about Joseph B. Wirthlin? He was a dedicated Ute fan and gave motivational talks to the Utah football team up until his death.

Here's a proposal. Why not turn the Utah/BYU war of bitterness into a war of niceness? Utah fans, why not give a  neighbor who's a  BYU fan a red rose, with no irony and no hidden agenda?  BYU fans, why not give a Utah fan friend at work some blue frosted cupcakes, without any covert message? I'm kidding a bit here, but I'm also being serious. I'd like to see a grassroots movement to add some brotherly love to the Utah/BYU rivalry, and I think the Utah and BYU athletic departments and fan organizations could also get involved and take action change people's attitudes.

Listen to Hall's comments here

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We're just a little over 24 hours from the big game, and if the About. com "Predict the Score" poll is any indication, BYU fans are feeling pretty confident. A whopping 32 percent of respondents predicted that BYU will win tomorrow's rivalry game by 14 points or more. In the "Most Memorable Utah-BYU Game" poll, 43 percent chose BYU's back-to-back last-minute wins in 2006 and 2007.

I love the BYU-Utah rivalry, but I think it's unfortunate when things get nasty between fans. In that light, I've created this list of game day do's and don'ts:

Utah-BYU Game Day Do's and Don'ts

1. DO wear your team's color. Red spray-painted hair? Excellent. Full-body blue makeup? Go for it. Show your support by wearing as much of your team's color as you desire.


2. DON'T wear both red and blue, or wear purple. Maybe you got your undergraduate degree at Utah and your graduate degree at BYU, or vice versa. Maybe you married someone from "the other side." Regardless, game day is not a day to sit on the fence. Pick a side. A related DON'T is, DON'T cheer for both teams during the game.


3. If you're watching the game at home, DON'T invite fans of the other side to your game-watching party. I know that can be a hard rule to obey, and I've broken it myself many times, but it's more fun to watch the game if you can react how you want without worrying about hurting someone's feelings. And if your team loses, do you really want to be taunted in your own home?


4. If you're at the stadium, DO be polite to visiting fans, remembering that you may be in their shoes next year. However, season ticket holders, DON'T sell your seat to a fan from the other side, no matter how much money he or she offers you. Especially if you sit in my section. Please. Seriously.


5. Utah fans, DON'T scream obscenities, throw things, get in a fight, or do anything else that will give BYU fans an opportunity to call you "classless" (a word BYU fans seem to use a lot that nobody else uses).


6. BYU fans, DON'T call Utah fans "classless." It's weird, and it doesn't mean what you think it means. Look it up in a dictionary.


7. Utah fans, DON'T use the game as an excuse to vent any frustration you may have with Utah's "predominant religion."


8. BYU fans, DON'T imply that God is especially fond of BYU football or that your team can win a football game by "living right."


9. BYU fans, DON'T continue to wear those "Quest for Perfection" shirts. That slogan didn't really work out for you last year.


10. Utah fans, DON'T mention last year's Sugar Bowl more than ten times in any one conversation with a BYU fan.


11. DO cheer loudly for your team, and DO remember it's only a game!

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I know the super-organized among us have had their Christmas or other holiday shopping done since Halloween, but for most Salt Lakers Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, represents the beginning of the holiday shopping season. I actually enjoy Black Friday and get a kick out of getting up early to join thousands of other bleary-eyed shoppers in search of the Great Christmas Bargain.

Most malls and discount stores will be opening before dawn Friday, and in some cases shopping starts Thursday night. Major malls in the Salt Lake area will make a party out of Black Friday, with giveaways and entertainment.

Here's a list of Black Friday events in the Salt Lake area. Happy Shopping!

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