Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
FALLON - The Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders won three Super Bowls and made numerous playoff appearances from the mid '70s to the early '80s.
The UCLA Bruins were the most dominating team in college basketball from 1964 to 1975, winning 10 NCAA Championships in 12 years.
The New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball from 1949 to 1962, winning the World Series 10 times in 14 seasons.
Now in the new millennium, Utah has been the most dominating rodeo team in the Silver State International Rodeo.
“It's like a major basketball team, in terms of talent,” SSIR executive secretary Marcia de Braga said. “They're pretty strong all the way. They get beat, too. Except last year they didn't have the all-around cowboy and all-around cowgirl.”
Entering the 24th annual SSIR, the target on Utah's back keeps growing but no one has come close to dethroning this dominating team, which has won nine straight titles after winning only one since the SSIR began awarding a team title in 1987.
What's been the secret to its success?
“The state of Utah has 2,000 to 3,000 members compared to Nevada's 250,” de Braga said. “In terms of a contestant enrollment, overall Utah has the biggest in the whole nation. Right off the bat they're going to send more kids.”
The trick's been filling every category almost six members deep.
“For example, there's a real lack of bareback riders compared to what they've been in the past,” de Braga said. “So what happens is Nevada might not even have six to send in a certain event, and Utah can fill the whole thing and they do. Right away they've got the advantage.”
Utah amassed 8,800 points last year, while runner-up Idaho had 4,570 points. Utah more than doubled its points against Idaho again in 2007, 8,135 to 3,650. Even the queen competition has a Utah flavor as the Beehive state's won five crowns since 2000.
But will there be a team this year that can knock off the heavy favorite?
“Let's beat Utah. That's everybody's goal, but again it's tough,” de Braga said. “Every state and every province have kids that are strong. Alberta has a strong steer wrestling bunch. Different states have different strengths. Nevada, California and Utah are strong in cutting.”
As the SSIR enters one of its highest-entry campaigns, the competition seems tougher every year. One bad performance at the state finals, time and again, separates those qualifying for nationals and the SSIR. The top four from the state finals advanced to nationals.
“There's a lot of team pride and everyone wants to beat Utah,” de Braga said. “When you have a team that tough it makes everyone else tougher. You're as tough as your competition.”
The UCLA Bruins were the most dominating team in college basketball from 1964 to 1975, winning 10 NCAA Championships in 12 years.
The New York Yankees dominated Major League Baseball from 1949 to 1962, winning the World Series 10 times in 14 seasons.
Now in the new millennium, Utah has been the most dominating rodeo team in the Silver State International Rodeo.
“It's like a major basketball team, in terms of talent,” SSIR executive secretary Marcia de Braga said. “They're pretty strong all the way. They get beat, too. Except last year they didn't have the all-around cowboy and all-around cowgirl.”
Entering the 24th annual SSIR, the target on Utah's back keeps growing but no one has come close to dethroning this dominating team, which has won nine straight titles after winning only one since the SSIR began awarding a team title in 1987.
What's been the secret to its success?
“The state of Utah has 2,000 to 3,000 members compared to Nevada's 250,” de Braga said. “In terms of a contestant enrollment, overall Utah has the biggest in the whole nation. Right off the bat they're going to send more kids.”
The trick's been filling every category almost six members deep.
“For example, there's a real lack of bareback riders compared to what they've been in the past,” de Braga said. “So what happens is Nevada might not even have six to send in a certain event, and Utah can fill the whole thing and they do. Right away they've got the advantage.”
Utah amassed 8,800 points last year, while runner-up Idaho had 4,570 points. Utah more than doubled its points against Idaho again in 2007, 8,135 to 3,650. Even the queen competition has a Utah flavor as the Beehive state's won five crowns since 2000.
But will there be a team this year that can knock off the heavy favorite?
“Let's beat Utah. That's everybody's goal, but again it's tough,” de Braga said. “Every state and every province have kids that are strong. Alberta has a strong steer wrestling bunch. Different states have different strengths. Nevada, California and Utah are strong in cutting.”
As the SSIR enters one of its highest-entry campaigns, the competition seems tougher every year. One bad performance at the state finals, time and again, separates those qualifying for nationals and the SSIR. The top four from the state finals advanced to nationals.
“There's a lot of team pride and everyone wants to beat Utah,” de Braga said. “When you have a team that tough it makes everyone else tougher. You're as tough as your competition.”
SSIR team titles
2008-UT2007-UT
2006-UT
2005-UT
2004-UT
2003-UT
2002-UT
2001-UT
2000-UT
1999-CA
1998-CA
1997-NV
1996-CA, NV Runner-up
1995-CA, UT Runner-up
1994-NV, CA Runner-up
1993-UT, CA Runner-up
1992-CA, ID Runner-up
1991-CA, ID Runner-up
1990-CA, UT Runner-up
1989-CA, ID Runner-up
1988-NV, AZ Runner-up
1987-AZ, ID Runner-up
