Photo credit: Ty Cobb

The Mighty Utah Student Section has seen a meteoric rise in popularity since its relatively recent inception (2002) when it had only 800 members. Today, The MUSS boasts over 6,000 ravenous, crimson-clad, Utah Ute fanatics; sometimes it has to turn students away because there are simply not enough tickets.

U alum Jared Whitley writes about how the derivation of The MUSS acronym helped give meaning to a curious term in the Utah fight song at UtahPolicy.com.

Here’s a snippet of Whitney reminiscing about a column he wrote in 2002:

While the music [of the U's fight song] is catchy and invigorating, the lyrics are mind-bogglingly lame, including phrases such as:

We’re up to snuff, we never bluff, we’re game for any fuss.
No other gang of college men dare meet us in the muss.

Use of the word “muss” particularly irked me, in that nobody could give me a clear definition of what it meant. The best theory I heard was that “muss” was a Prohibition-era term for brawl or scrum.

Apparently my column struck a chord with some quick-thinking football fans on campus. The then-newly formed Utah student football club latched onto this idea, and renamed the student seating-area the “Mighty Utah Student Section.”

Across the street from the University of Utah’s Presidents Circle lies another one of Utah’s finest institution, Big Ed’s. The diner on University Street is home to the Hummer (3 espresso shots), the Shap Attack (7-shot mocha latte), the Big Breakfast, the GAWD Awful, the Ranch Burger, “Mom’s” Potstickers, and the closest PBR to campus.

Opened in 1968 by Big Ed, Linda Lin (referred to as Mom) bought the place 29 years ago and still works the kitchen during the morning and lunch rush. Photos of patrons throughout the years adorn the walls, and Melissa, behind the bar, usually doesn’t forget a face. It all makes for a very friendly place.

Morning til night, Big Ed’s sees a steady (and loyal) stream of students, faculty, staff, and locals who come for the food, drink, crossword puzzle, conversation, and ballgame on the big screen. (If the Chicago Cubs are on, Melissa is more than happy to share the remote. Unless soccer is on. That stays on.) Occasionally, Mom will get a hair up her you-know-what and let the kids set up stage in the corner for some live music during the (late) dinner hour. These are usually impromptu jam sessions, so ask Melissa to keep you on the phone list if interested.

I know it’s preaching to the choir for most, but for those new to campus, here’s some advice: do not think that Chartwell’s is the end-all for food options around the U. Ditch the Union cafeteria and go get some good ol’ fashioned comfort food at Big Ed’s. And if you’re going to have the GAWD Awful, make sure you have plenty of time to digest.

Big Ed's Espresso Options

SLC was abuzz this weekend as the city celebrated Utah Pride 2009 — one of the most colorful parades and entertaining weekends all summer.

Pride kicked off Friday night with a reception and after party for Grand Marshal Cleve Jones, a social activist and lecturer who founded The Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and was depicted by Emile Hirsch in the movie Milk.

The festival gates opened Saturday at Washington Square with food, drink, music, dancing, and the comedic stylings of headliner Paula Poundstone.

Rain could not dampen Sunday’s Pride parade, which (with another day of festival fun afterward) culminated the three-day celebration. Participation in this year’s parade hit an all-time high, according to procession route insiders.

The University of Utah was well represented and had the most boisterous and enthusiastic marchers compared to its peers, Westminster and Utah State, who also took part in the event.

Drag queen divas, DJs on wheels, and less than half-clad hairdressers soaking in the raindrops, highlighted the parade’s floats. Overall the march struck a nice balance between the flat-out fun and the more down-to-business participants, like PFLAG, Equality Utah, Utahns for Marriage Equality, and the ACLU.