Does not matter to me (and I suspect many others) how BG won, fact is that they were able to win their division (yes a weak one) and twice beat the best the west had to offer. I agree that flare of the rivalry has dimmed in recent years, my point was that it means less to me and I care less because at the end of the day you are judged by championships and beating and often pounding your rival year after year means much less if they walk away with the conference championship at the end of the year. You may place more importance on the rivalry then winning the championship, may be true in your down years, but while in the middle of a 13 year championship drought means little to claim the higher ground year after year by simply beating BG.