This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
NFL franchise stars from Utah schools
Atlanta • Jamal Anderson, from the University of Utah, became a Falcons mainstay for eight seasons and rushed for 1,846 yards in 1998, leading the Falcons to the Super Bowl.
Boston • Corey Dillon, who salvaged his college career with a season at Dixie College before playing one year for Washington, ran for 1,635 yards for the Patriots in 2004 and helped them beat Philadelphia in the Super Bowl.
Edge • Falcons.
Jazz players from local colleges
Atlanta • Matt Harpring was a four-year player at Georgia Tech, where Atlanta native Derrick Favors spent one season. Each ranks among the top 30 players in Jazz history.
Boston • Howard Eisley, a Boston College alumnus, is by far the most productive, consistent point guard among the many players who backed up John Stockton. But with limited playing time, he never averaged more than 8.6 points in Utah.
Edge • Falcons.
Movie locations
Atlanta • "Mean Girls 2," not nearly as entertaining or as memorable as the original that starred Lindsay Lohan, was filmed at Sutton Middle School.
Boston • Wheelock College was used as a passable replacement for Harvard in "The Social Network," the story of Mark Zuckerberg's development of Facebook.
Edge • Patriots.
Relocations of former Jazz players
Atlanta • After playing seven seasons for the Jazz, forward Paul Millsap joined the Hawks in 2013 and is now a four-time All-Star selection in the Eastern Conference. The Jazz received no compensation for his departure as an unrestricted free agent.
Boston • After playing most of two seasons for the Jazz, former BYU forward Fred Roberts signed with the Celtics as a restricted free agent in 1986. The Celtics agreed to play two preseason games in Provo as a condition of the Jazz's not matching Boston's offer sheet. The first game was a sellout in the Marriott Center, although the second contest was moved to another site because Roberts no longer played for Boston.
Edge • Falcons.
NHL history
Atlanta • The Flames played in Atlanta from 1972-80 while never winning a playoff series before moving to Calgary. The Thrashers played in Atlanta from 1999-2011 while appearing only once in the playoffs before moving to Winnipeg.
Boston • The Bruins, one of the NHL's Original Six teams, have won six Stanley Cup championships, most recently in 2011.
Edge • Patriots.
Baseball stars who were Utah college students
Atlanta • Dale Murphy attended BYU in the offseason while playing for the Braves. He became a two-time National League MVP.
Boston • Bruce Hurst played basketball for Dixie College in the winter as a teammate of Dave Rose, while pitching in the Red Sox organization. Hurst won two games in the 1986 World Series and was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Edge • Falcons.
BYU football moments
Atlanta • In 2012, the Cougar defense held Georgia Tech's potent option attack to 117 rushing yards and stopped all 10 third-down plays. Tech's only touchdowns came via an interception return and a kickoff return in a 41-17 loss.
Boston • In 2006, BYU quarterback John Beck passed for 436 yards, but the Cougars lost 30-23 to Boston College in double overtime as current Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan finished his 356-yard day with a 25-yard touchdown pass. Beck's last pass was deflected and intercepted.
Edge • Falcons.
Coaches in prominent Utah jobs
Atlanta • Quin Snyder, now with an overall winning record in his third Jazz season, came to Salt Lake City from Atlanta, where he was a Hawks assistant during the 2013-14 season. Frank Layden was an Atlanta assistant before becoming the Jazz's general manager in 1979.
Boston • One of Gary Crowton's many jobs was a successful stint as Boston College's quarterbacks coach in the early 1990s under head coach Tom Coughlin. Crowton went 26-23 as BYU's head coach from 2001-04.
Edge • Falcons.
U.S. Open venues
Atlanta • The Atlanta Athletic Club hosted the golf tournament in 1976, when Jerry Pate claimed the title.
Boston • The Country Club in Brookline was the site of wins by Francis Ouimet in 1913, Julius Boros in 1963 and Curtis Strange in 1988. The tournament will return there in 2022.
Edge • Patriots.