DISQUS

hricane23 · 1 year ago

The problem with any national publication compiling a list is they will lean towards rivalries with national implications. Rivalries where conference, or even national, championship opportunities are made or ruined. It doesn't make any rivalry more or less of a rivalry. It just means that these listed rivalries have traditionally had more of an impact, at least recently, on the national scene than Army/ Navy, or Pitt/ W Va.

To me, a great rivalry is one where you can throw out the teams records that year. Anything can happen. The type of game where a 1-loss team meets up against a 1-win team, and Vegas has it as a Pick 'Em.

Of the CFBDW list, I don't consider Texas/ Arkansas a great rivalry anymore, since they haven't played for so long. Michigan St./ Notre Dame is also off my list, since Notre Dame can simply take them off their schedule at any time.

And I don't think USC/ Notre Dame would be at the top of the list, if it wasn't for USC's recent success.

I don't see how Tennessee/ Florida didn't make the cut. It's been a much bigger game than Texas/ Arkansas.

I'd also heavily consider Miami/ Boston College, but that may be getting back to WEA's subjectivity.

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

hricane23 since Arkansas left in 92 the Horns-Hogs have met a few times and even though it is no longer an annual event, it still considered one of the top rivalries nationally.
Go to the game in Austin this September and have fun. Decorate your vehicle with burnt orange next time its played in Fayetteville, see if its not vandalized, or if you dont get in a fist fight, wear Burnt Orange in Fayetteville, I'll double dare ya. The Hogs hate the Horns thats rivalry right there I don't care who you are.
Last time they met the series went 1-1 with the visiting team winning both games.
Ya I know its not #1 vs #2 and the president is not in attendance like the good old days and Jimmy Johnson,Barry Switzer,Jerry Jones,Ken Hatfeild,Tommie Nobis,Steve Wooster and Earl Cambell are no longer on the feild, it still ought to be a heck of a game
Hookem-Horns

hricane23 · 1 year ago

Tomcat,

Don't get me wrong, I understand the "love" between the Horns and the Pigs. And I'm aware of the historical significance of this once-great rivalry. But nowadays, it's just that... a rivalry. To me, it's not one of the best. Which gets back to WEA's difference between objectivity and subjectivity. To Horn-fans and Pig-fans, it's a HUGE game, to be sure. But I wonder if you'd say that it's as big as, say, the OU game, or the A&M game? As far as I'm concerned, I don't know if it's as big now as Nebraska/ Colorado, and I don't think I'd put that game in the Top 10, either.

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

Thanks for your reply, I'm glad that WEA included these two games, because they are truley great rivalries and even though they are not played annually ever year, they are real big games between bitter rivals
Its kinda cool to be a Longhorn fan, because you know that some teams like OU and A&M structure their entire program upon beating UT. Now a days the level of competition has improved greatly and certain teams like UT can no longer circle three games on their schedule as in years past. To host an old foe like Arkansas gets fans from both teams all worked up and this series should somehow become annual again, if not then, maybe both programs can work together to face each other as much as possible, I'm sure that the networks and their national sponsers are drooling at the chance of airing such a great historical rivalry of national importance. B-12 vs SEC
Hookem -Horns

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

I thought about disqualifying series that aren't played annually anymore, but it just didn't seem fair to the history of CFB.

Oklahoma-Nebraska--entirely preventable that it was killed off on an annual basis...

Texas-Arkansas--definitely starting to wane if they don't try to tune it up like they're doing this year...

Auburn-Ga Tech--pretty much dead, with only 2 games played in the last 21 years. Glad it wasn't in the top ten...

OU_Ron · 1 year ago

WEA, Oklahoma and Nebraska was a great rivalry, and a lot of respect was shown between schools and the fans of each school.

A complete travesty would be if Oklahoma and Texas were to cease every year where there's absolutely no respect between anyone..

Ben Prather · 1 year ago

This measure of a rivalry is severely flawed. This is a better measure for teams involved in a great series series that have persisted over the decades.

I would argue that a great rivalry is better judged by the equality of the teams involved more than the strength of those teams.

National Championships, SOS and all time winning percentages do not measure the intensity of a rivalry game to anywhere near the level equal competition does.

If you want to judge rivalries judge them by how close they are. Does one team have a serious lead over another, like Texas-Arkansas or Notre Dame-Michigan State? Granted this could be adjusted if one team has recently stepped up compared to the other, but then the duration of the rivalry should only be extended to where the PCT is roughly even.

What about teams that flip flop regularly and produce games where one team is often strongly favored, but which team alters periodically to yield an even record? This rivalry would hardly be as compelling as one that year in and year out produced close battles of epic last minute heroics.

If one is going to discuss the best rivalries, from the excitement of the game on the field, the best measure I can see is RMS margin of victory, margin capped at 21 points. If it is apparent that the matches extend back before the rivalry, one team dominated before a given point in history, the rivalry could be truncated to the point where one became competitive.

Combine this with the total times the teams have met, since the rivalry began, and a greatly improved measure of the competitiveness of a rivalry will be obtained.

This would significantly increase the merit of the Army-Navy rivalry, as well as Pitt-WV.

jake · 1 year ago

I completely concur with everything you wrote. Many of today's big time rivalries have been intensified due to TV contracts. Also, despite the context of college football, I think it is critically relevant to consider if the game is a football-only rivalry or all-sport rivalry. For example (not that they should make the top 10 list by any means), IU-Purdue and Oregon-OSU are two rivalries that come to mind in which the two schools consider each other rivals in every athletic event - often calculating the W/L in a given year between the schools.

Ben Prather · 1 year ago

Utah and BYU have just introduced such a cross sport competition with each sport given a weight to make the more popular sports more significant. A sweep in football and mens basketball (two games) would assure a school of victory.

Unfortunately BYU won the inaugural year.

Zac · 1 year ago

Great Post, Ben!!! I guess that's why you're a sports writter and most of us are just bloggers. My hat's off to you.

Ben Prather · 1 year ago

Same pay, either way.

Clemson_Joe · 1 year ago

Maybe I missed something, as admittedly I didn't read the whole thing due to time constraints, but where is Army - Navy?
Series Record: 49 - 52 - 7

OU_Ron · 1 year ago

# 2 yeah Texas sucks, TC I'm trolling in deeper water today.....

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

Thanks Ron
remember to fish in the current, Heck its real easy for me
some fish bite by smell, they grab a holt and wont let go
Laughing right now
Hookem

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

Thanks WarEagAtL another good one, just remember we used to refer to the old Big-8 conference as Oklahoma and the 7 dwarfs, now these teams have excelled since the formation of the B-12 ,but two of these great rivalries that you mentioned are no longer annual affairs.
The Texas vs Arkansas and the Oklahoma vs Nebraska two great rivalries that need to be played every year.
Coming next week #1 Texas vs Texas A&M
#2 Auburn vs Alabama
#3 Clemson vs USC
#4 Fla vs FSU
#5 USC vs UCLA
#6 BYU vs Utah
#7 Texas Tech vs Texas A&M
Depending upon the author of the thread, you can rearange the order
For example Kev, WEA and Ben would probably change the order my list
Oh BTW
Hookem-Horns
O-who?

Ben Prather · 1 year ago

Best rivalries of college football: (my honest attempt to be unbiased):

1) Army-Navy
2) USC-Notre Dame
3) Oklahoma-Texas
4) Ohio St-Michigan
5) FSU-Florida
6) Auburn-Georgia
7) USC-UCLA
8) Georgia-Florida
9) Utah-BYU
10) Your teams and their top rival not listed above

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

These are the Best Border Rivairies that I would "pay" to go see.

1) Oklahoma and Texas
2) Michigan - Ohio State
3) Georgia - Florida
4) Colorado - Nebraska
5) Ohio State - Pennsylvania State aka Penn State
6) Alabama - Tennessee
7) Oregon - California
8) Michigan - Notre Dame
9) Alabama - Mississippi
10) West Virginia - Pittsburgh

Zac · 1 year ago

I can't argue with your list, Ben, except to say #2 & #7 aren't boarder wars. #2 is arguably one of the greatest rivals of all time, but CA is far removed from IN; #7 is historically just about equal, but these schools aren't just in the same state; they're in the same town. In more recent years, I would have expected to see FSU/Miami up there. But hey, like polls & opinions...

PittsburghTiger · 1 year ago

I think you can throw in the Pitt-WVU series as well.

The level of hatred is pretty high. Pitt leads 58-32-3.

Clemson_Joe · 1 year ago

I agree, I definitely would put them in the list. That game is so intense, you'd think it was an intrastate rivalry.

Zac · 1 year ago

It's always puzzled me how it took so long for the college football world to finally appreciate this rivalry. Yes, there's a great deal of disparity in the win/loss column. Yes, to Pitt's credit, they have more upsets in the series than WVU. Still, only 75 miles separates the "Steel City" from an old coal town. Since before1970, the B-Chapter (Pitt) & LO-Chapter (WVU) of APO have taken turns running a football from the visiting campus to the home campus. Even before each school benefited from new stadiums the atmosphere at each of these games was great. I can imagine it being a little better elsewhere, but not that much better.

WVU has since begun promising rivalries with Louisville, S FL, and to a lesser extent Rutgers, UConn, & Cincy. While there's no greater rivalry in the Big East than Pitt/WVU, the one rivalry I will miss until it's reborn is the Black Diamond Trophy: VA Tech/WVU.

bevo · 1 year ago

I agree that Texas-Arkansas and OU-Nebraska should be removed because they are not annual series anymore.

I would replace them with Pitt-WVU (Backyard Brawl?) and Army-Navy (The Civil War?). Give an horrible mention to Mizzou-KU (The Border War). Both these teams stunk for so long I would not add them to the list yet. If the both teams can continue their success for another 10 years, then we may need to add them to the list.

As to the order of the list, UGa - UF should be number 1 and OU-Texas should be number 2 because (1) both games are played at neutral sites with half the tickets going to one school and (2) both have cool nicknames for their games.

I have not been to UGa-UF but I have been to OU-Texas, Texas-Arkansas (the last game of the annual series) and OU-Nebraska (the last three games of the annual series). The neutral site games get the edge because it feels like a bowl game, live an event. The rest of these games are just home games.

Hook 'Em!

OU_Ron · 1 year ago

My guess would be Auburn--Alabama as # 1 and Texas --ATM as # 2.......
There's no love lost between Okla and Okla St ( sheep molesters ) but I don't think they would be even close to the top 10.......

schmed · 1 year ago

Notre Dame-Southern California...and the only one on our list where the two teams' states don't share a border.I didn't get a degree in geography from LSU, but even natives of Mississississississississippi know Louisiana and Alabama don't share a border.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Yea, but natives of Georgia don't. We can't see past Alabama...

Kevin @ Fanblogs · 1 year ago

Great list. Great INTERSTATE rivalries here. I sat here for a couple minutes, but the only thing I could come up with that has any vigor would be Kansas-Mizzou (although it lacks the substantial national stage).

Great job!

One suggestion for the INTRASTATE list (to add to the ones above).... FSU - Miami.

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

The thread stated border wars (rivarlies). Notre Dame and Southern California? Indiana and California? Oklahoma and Nebraska does not border one and other and Alabama and Louisiana State. Kansas and Missouri was big last year but they have been terrible and the past!

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

Your right Kev definetly top 10 intrastate FSU vs Miami
the Ok st vs OU I dunno maybe
PSU vs Pitt
Louisville vs KY
TCU vs SMU
UVA vs VTech
looking forward to the rest UGA vs G Tech??

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

1Tomcat...I am surprised you did not list "Border Rivarlies" that SHOULD BE PLAYED every year REGARDLESS. My TOP 10 should be:

1) Arkansas - Texas (They claim they dislike each other.)
2) North Carolina - South Carolina (The Carolinas!)
3) Oklahoma - Arkansas (They border each other.)
4) North Carolina - Tennessee (They make it happen for basketball!)
5) Louisiana State - Texas (Texas borders Louisiana more than Arkansas!)
6) Missouri - Illinois (They play alot, then stop. Now they are playing again and talking about stoping again. Don't understand that?)
7) Pennsylvania State aka Penn State - Maryland (Why this hasn't happen only Joe Pa knows!)
8) West Virginia - Ohio State (They share alot of border as well and might dominate their conferences for awhile!)
9) Colorado - Utah or Colorado - Brigham Young (Why it hasn't happen?)
10) Iowa - Nebraska (Why?)

Zac · 1 year ago

Kevin, has it ever been determined which is the rivalry that has been around the longest, and if so, which is it?

Ben Prather · 1 year ago

It would be hard to go back further than Rutgers-Princeton, as they played the first football game ever.

Zac · 1 year ago

True, but when was the last time Rutgers played Princeton? I would think a rivalry would have to be a continuum. . .in a manner of speaking.

rebelNutt24 · 1 year ago

Ole Miss-LSU?

rebelNutt24 · 1 year ago

What about Ole Miss v LSU.... 6 national titles or so between them.. the hatred is as intense as any where in the country. No matter who the rebs are playing people always yell GEAUX to Hell LSU after the national anthem no matter what sport it is

Ben Prather · 1 year ago

Reminds me of certain other unsportsmanlike fans who append "Screw the Y!" to the end of their fight song (in place of Go Team!, names changed to protect the guilty), regardless of sport being played.

JB · 1 year ago

As an LSU fan i dont really feel the hatred because we dont feel threatened by Ole MIss in the recent years....... our more intense rivalry is with Alabama now for obvious reasons.


Although there is no history really what about the LSU-Auburn game every year??? It has produced fireworks and the winner usually plays in Atlanta

Ben Prather · 1 year ago

I have begun working on a top ten based on the criterion listed above.

Auburn's opponent, that they have played 40 or more games with, that has consistently yielded the closest games is LSU. I expect this game to be in the top ten. About half way done it sits at #3.

Alabama is not even in the top 5 for Auburn. They are behind, in order, LSU, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi State. A similar situation happens for Utah and BYU, who have had long runs of one team dominating the other that have managed to balance out over the long haul. Neither of these two intense rivalries would be in the top 50 based on RMS MOV, capped at 21 points.

From outside the SEC, Auburn vs LSU is much more appealing than Auburn vs Alabama.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Bite your tongue, Ben Prather! Alabama is still our biggest rival no matter how crappy they've been this century. They're all this envious, inferiority-complexed cow college has.

Ben Prather · 1 year ago

But does anyone really care about this game outside of the state of Alabama and the loyal fans of these two institutions?

My point is, although I understand the intensity of this rivalry and that no other game matters more to a fan of these teams, from an outsider it does not produce the quality games that Auburn and other teams have historically.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Let's see, LSU has three legit titles and Ole Miss has none. Did somebody sneak three into the stadium?

JB · 1 year ago

Yah and i wonder which team it is

Welcome to Mississippi: set your clocks back one second

Clemson_Joe · 1 year ago

LOL. That's hilarious! I can honestly say that I've never heard that one.

rebelNutt24 · 1 year ago

Dont feel threatened? i believe it was just two years agto it took you overtime before you even took the lead from an Oregeron coached team. I was there and i have never heard death valley more quiet. IF the university is gonna claim three titles who am i to say any diffrent... and your now intense rivalry for the obvious reason is now what one season old?

JB · 1 year ago

yea......if you wanna claim a rivalry that is great i am just saying we dont see it that way

GeauxTigers0107 · 1 year ago

Rebel, we've hated Tuscaloser long before Saban got there. It just doubled since he took the job. I remember the overtime game too. It was a nail biter but the better team prevailed. Looks like the last time Ole Miss beat LSU was in '01....some guy named Manning was the QB. Maybe that's the reason for the "Geaux To Hell LSU" chant...IDK.

I like Orgeron though. He's from our neck of the woods. I think he was cut loose too soon but that's just me. Glad to see him land with the Saints.

Most of the games have been close though. With the exception of last year and in '05 when LSU won 40-7.


Geaux Tigers
Geaux SEC

GeauxTigers0107 · 1 year ago

Read my mind WEA. Good job on the article though. There are no gimme's in the SEC..any team can surprise you at anytime..(see Kentucky and Ark in 07). Personally, I've never considered Ole Miss a rivalry. We give them their due respect and don't take 'em lightly but rivalry??...nah. And I didn't know they yelled that at the end of the national anthem..lol. What the hell did we do?? LOL. I know the week we play them everyone refers to them as "Ole Piss" but it stops late Saturday night.

Oh well, whatever blows your dress up.

Geaux Tigers
Geaux SEC

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

You guys keep wanting to bring SUBJECTIVITY in describing your rivalries, which is fine, and I believe that is a major factor when it comes to the subject, but this article is an attempt to rank these rivalries OBJECTIVELY, so we have to go where the data takes us. Having a subjective discussion of the topic amounts to a free-for-all, and that's not what I wanted. I know you guys really value my opinion, but I wanted to give more than just that.

BTW: The term 'border' is used rather loosely. I really should have used 'regional'. ND-USC is the only one that's at least not regional...

JB · 1 year ago

Yea and as an idea for a future blog...what about Top 10 football environments on gameday?

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

Hey WEA we understand, great thread, looks like its getting alot of response.
Sometimes even though the criterea was explained.Folks have their own idea of what should be a top-ten list and some do not understand the difference between intrastate and interstate.
To be quite honest everything is kinda geographical too whether we like it or not, for example a Hurricane fan doesnt really see the Texas vs Ark game as one of the greatest and a UT fan might not recongnize or acknowledge the FSU vs Miami, because as a Horns fan it really doesnt make much difference to us, and the result of a FSU vs Fla game wouldnt matter much to say a Texas A&M fan, who lives for generations dreaming of beating UT on Turkey day. I think you did a great job on your list and looking foward to others.
How bout rivalry games with trophies
Wisc vs Minn
TCU vs SMU
Rice vs Houston
These games and many more like them might not be too big on a national scale, but are great games for their universities regionally or locally

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

1Tomcat instead of Oklahoma and Texas playing for a trophy how about this: If Texas beats Oklahoma from now on, the Sooner wagon is brought out to mid field and burned. If Oklahoma beats Texas, Bevo is brought out to midfield and slaughtered then barbequed. I think a lot of hungry folks will be fed this year! Oklahoma 52 Texas 10. Crimson -N- Cream True!

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

Well Lennie the Golden Cowboy hat trophy is what we have. I kinda like your suggestion, but we really don't want to burn anything. Beleive it or not Bevo used to be killed and BBQ'ed after the Texas vs Texas A&M game.
I predict this years game to be alot closer than you think after Bradford gets hurt and his replacement throws 3 ints, the Texas running game will once again dominate those Sooners and those babies will cry on their way home across the Red River back to were they belong and Texas fans will celebrate another outstanding victory.
Look Lennie I'm laughing right now-nothing but fun man
Hookem-Horns
Peace Out
Adios Tomcat

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

1Tomcat...you can't even name Texas starting running back so how in the heck they gone have a running game. The only running Texas will be doing is running to the bus to get back to Austin after a 35+ point victory for the Sooners!

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

Ya Lennie nobody can because every spot is open including running back.Texas has always had a strong running game and even our defensive lineman can run the ball against OU. Heck Texas is loaded with talent and our linebackers and safties can run the ball too, most of them were Qb's and Rb's in H/S ball.
Vondrell McGee,Antwan Cobb,Foswhith Whttaker,Jeremy Hills and Cody Johnson are names you will rembember at running back.
Heck our QB's Chiles,McCoy and Harris will also run the ball.
Main topic is rivalry UT vs OU is one of the greatest
Hookem-Horns

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

Texas sure ran the ball last year against! Jamaal Charles up the middle for a touchdown (Homer Simpson oops sound!) No a fumble recovery by the Oklahoma defense. Oklahoma defense is gone be hittin' Texas running backs, quarterbacks, and receivers like these gas prices are hitting the drivers! Cream & Crimson Solid! Crimson -N- Cream True!

Clemson_Joe · 1 year ago

Oh, how I miss playing Georgia every year. That was a fun rivalry...all the way back to trading National Championships. At least we get that one back in a few years.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Remember Butler and Treadwell winning a few of those with their legs?

Clemson_Joe · 1 year ago

I was young, but I remember them vividly. Those were classics. Then, Gardocki and Butler ended up playing together with the Bears. I always loved that pairing.

hricane23 · 1 year ago

Throwing out the requirement that the game has to have national importance, and throwing in objectivity, Missouri v. Kansas (the Border Showdown, nee War) is a pretty strong rivalry.

As the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi, this one actually dates back far longer, to pre-Civil War days, when Missourians and Kansans fought against each other in countless bloody battles to try to keep Kansas a free state. After all that was settled, though, it turned into Missourians throwing batteries and empty liquor bottles at the KU band and fans.

And on a sidenote, I went to the ESPN College Gameday filming at Arrowhead Stadium this last year. I had a sign that said, "Missouri was a slave state." Despite my sign being based on a historical fact, they wouldn't let me in and tried to confiscate it. They even threatened me with police involvement if they saw it again. They did, however, allow Missouri signs that read, "Missouri - 152, Kansas - 0", referring to the number of Kansans killed during Quantrill's bloody raid and sacking of Lawrence.

JB · 1 year ago

hricane23..this is because people nowadays are too liberal and dont wanna hurt anyones feelings i have a similar story...i was at Gameday for LSU vs Florida and had a massive flag. below the flag i " hung" an alligator and was told to take it down because it was a noose

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

hricane23...even though your sign was RIGHT, some people believe not talking about or avoiding race issues will somehow make the problem go away. But at least the Kansas and Missouri rivarly now gotten exposure. Oh...how did I forget Georgia - Clemson as border rivarlies that should be played, REGARDLESS!

hricane23 · 1 year ago

Too right, Lennie. I thought it was particularly interesting how they made me get rid of it, but they opened the show talking about Missouri being a slave state, and Kansas being free, and the bloodshed that ensued.

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

Trust me hricane23...I brought the subject up last week and boy did I make people angry. BUT when a thread about North Texas and racism accusations was posted last year the comments pour in like a breech dam! But to get back to the subject...how is Notre Dame and Southern California, Louisiana State and Alabama, and Oklahoma and Nebraska considered "border' rivalries?

OU_Ron · 1 year ago

Lennie, WEA has stated back up the road a bit, that he used the term " Border " loosely, he said he should have used the term " Regional ", anyway most people knew what he was talking about.......

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

I think they should coin that phrase because they play alot but I think rivals that "border" each other are more fun then REGIONAL aka Celtics and Lakers. Oklahoma and Texas has MORE punch than Oklahoma and Nebraska although I miss them playing every year. Doggone Texas teams done messed it up for OU & NU!

grcunning · 1 year ago

"Even though your sign was RIGHT..."
You think that makes it OK????
If you have a sign that says:
"People in your state enjoyed lynching negroes",
that could be considered factually correct also, but in my mind it would also be thoughtless and cowardly, and likely to start a riot and hurt a lot of innocent peole.
This country is still trying to heal from some pretty horrible wounds, and tearing them back open because you think it's funny, or because you say "It's a fact" isn't just innapropriate, it's irresponsible.

hricane23 · 1 year ago

I don't feel the sign was inappropriate, nor irresponsible. And a major difference, I think, between my sign and your "suggestion" is that I didn't even use a racial term. I would expect a fight if I put the word "negroes" on anything!

The fact is the Kansas/ Missouri rivalry is deeply rooted in the history between the two pro-slavery and anti-slavery sides. The Border Showdown is a forum for Kansans to remind Missourians of their negative history; and for Missourians to remind Kansans, especially those from the town of Lawrence, that Quantrill killed 152 and literally burned a great portion of the town to the ground during his raid.

And I have to tell you, I've spent a good amount of time trying to keep my response civil, but I'm a little upset with you calling down on me from your holier-than-thou pedestal, calling me "irresponsible" and "inappropriate", and suggesting that I think slavery and racism is "funny", all without being even a hint knowledgeable of the history of the situation.

Did Martin Luther King, Jr. sweep slavery under the rug? Does Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton sweep racial issues and tensions under the rug? No, sir. They bring it to the forefront of the news. They bring it into every American home. Because that's how the next generations will learn how wrong it is. Those that fail to learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

This is hardly the place to discuss race issues, and if we did, I imagine that the only thing we'd disagree on is how to handle it. I say open the wounds and pour gasoline on them, to remind us how much it hurts. You say, "What slavery? What racism? There's nothing to see here."

So, in summation, go smoke your peacepipe somewhere else, hippie.

Zac · 1 year ago

Grcunning, I was at an auction once where there were some kids in the audience. A rather buxom & sultry wench was sporting a T-Shirt that read "F. . .ck Ho. . .sework" (I'll let you buy a vowel.). I had just gotten up the nerve to stroll on over to this chick and introduce myself as Housework, not to mention suggesting where we might go to do the deed, so to speak. That's about when I realized this 6'9" gargantuan was apparently her boy-friend. So much for that experiment and the scientific method, discretion prevailed instead.

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

Grcunning, what sign are you talking about? I did not go to the Missouri and Kansas game last year or never!

Zac · 1 year ago

Relax, Lennie, I think he missed his target. It's easy to do with this new format.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Too bad. Gators aren't naturally hung anyway... :-)

Hey, wait a minute. Didn't you used to be someone else, or did you just borrow the Maybelene-lashed,Tiger-eye avatar?

JB · 1 year ago

I had my full name out there but then i changed it to my initials.........hey, here we hang gators, to cook them haha

Hotty_Toddy · 1 year ago

You don't "see it" as a rivalry? So I guess thats why Tiger fans bought as many frickin' tickets as possible for this past years Ole Miss-LSU game at Oxford and the yellow and purple nearly matched the red and blue in the stadium? Not to mention countless LSU fans who took the time to "pimp" theirselves out in lavish attire that consisted of wide pants, vests and feather hats, while lining the Walk of Champions while the Rebels were walking out, chanting "Tiger Bait, Tiger Bait" ..

Yeah, take that nonsense somewhere else.

1Tomcat · 1 year ago

Hey Hotty Toddy seems like yall play Memphis every year, has that been going on like forever and do yall consider those Tigers as a rivalry ?
Glad yall got coach Nutt and I hope yall whup them Hogs this year
Hookem-Horns and whoever is playing against Arkansas or Oklahoma

GeauxTigers0107 · 1 year ago

Hotty, the Tigers travel very well, regardless of the opponent. And every opposing team is Tiger Bait....it's nothing personal. As far as the garb, it's all part of the experience that is LSU tailgating. You don't think LSU fans/teams get taunted either? If not, you haven't been to too many college football games.

If it makes any difference, I pull for you guys when you play M St.....lol.

Geaux Tigers
Geaux SEC

Zac · 1 year ago

I just gotta know. Does that mean female LSU fans under the age of 18 should wear LSU/striped shirts with the words "jail bate"? Sorry, I had to ask.

hricane23 · 1 year ago

Perhaps one more requirement of a rivalry is that both teams have to believe that it is one.

TheMayor · 1 year ago

I doubt any of you are aware but the Oregon Washington rivalry is pretty intense out here on the West Coast, certainly more so than Cal/Oregon.

Zac · 1 year ago

. . .not to mention the 2 interstate rivalries: OR/OR St & WA/WA St.

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

Hey, TheMayor, you are right BUT since it Pacific 10 and Southern California playing against its opponents seems to get all the press from that conference.....it goes unnoticed!

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Yea, once you guys up in the northwest find a rivalry, you tend to stick with it... Quite a few lengthy ones, I noticed...

TheMayor · 1 year ago

Old yes, but inconsequential unfortunately. Still it’s fun to get fired up about something other than the Trojans.

Hotty_Toddy · 1 year ago

Regardless of what either side thinks, Ole Miss-LSU is considered an official rivalry. Whether some of either side's fans recognize it or not. I wanna say its called "Southern Tradition" or "Southern Hate" ... but I could be very wrong. I think I saw it called one of the two on one of the NCAA games.

Tomcat, no we don't consider them rivals. I think the contract for the series ends in 2009, pending further renewel.

JB · 1 year ago

OK man it isnt that big of a deal, i was just trying to say that both sides have bigger fish to fry

also here is an interesting article on proposed names for the game http://forthegreaterglory.blogspot.com/2008/05/...

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

That's what some Alabama fans say about Auburn when they start to fear that they may lose control of the series: "We don't really think of them as rivals". Yep. Roger that.

I think Texas may say that about ATM, but they may have a point. The Aggies are less rivals than they are stalkers... Don't get me wrong, I think ATM has a lot of school spirit, but it's a little creepy how overly-fixated they are on the Horns.

What do you do when you want to be someone's rival, but they won't rival you back? Is it better to have rivaled and lost, or to have never rivaled at all?

JB · 1 year ago

Haha WEA without disrespecting the Rebs i doubt a power struggle in this one anytime soon

Hotty_Toddy · 1 year ago

Don't worry, the failure known as the Orgeron Era is over. Lets get back in the game ;)

GeauxTigers0107 · 1 year ago

Good luck to you guys Hotty. Except for that one game.......


Geaux Tigers
Geaux SEC

TampaGator · 1 year ago

WEA:

Very provocative article. Good job in defining the parameters of what you were ranking...not so good in applying them (e.g.--"borders")--may as well have left it a subjective anaylsis--but, hey, it apparently made for good discussion...

...that is, until a particular poster felt compelled to hijack the thread in order to pursue his obsession with racial issues...

b/t/w: I may have missed it, since I just kinda' scrolled throgh the posts, but no mention--even in passing (like an honorable mention), of UF v. AU? That was one very intense rivalry before the SEC split into diviions, and whenever it does resume, seems to pick up right where it left off...

...with each of us grabbing the others' troat!

Good stuff...enjoyed it!


GO GATORS!!

flgators · 1 year ago

I agree. This is the year of theSEC again. I am a Gator and love me. Secondary still hurting. Dawgs look strong but a rough schedule. The Gators have a good shot at the title

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

Don't you mean it's the year off the cat, flgators! How about the year of the dragon or monkey?

ksuwild · 1 year ago

If we're talking border wars then MU - KU has to at least make the top 10.

http://mutigers.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-r...

Their are no two schools I can think of that hate each other more.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Nice little chart within your link of the closest of the long-running rivalries, which gives me an idea...

Just kidding. One more rivalry thread and I'm done for a while...

dithridge · 1 year ago

this is a great chart. i would like to see an expanded version with more series.

flgators · 1 year ago

No, I don't mean the year of the cat, dragon, monkey, or any other zoo animal. Would expect that much from a Sooner.

Lennie Collins · 1 year ago

Then you should know this, MAN! CRIMSON -N- CREAM PROUD! Oklahoma will be the 2008 National Champions. Forget a SEC!

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Wow, big hook out there for Tomcat, but nary a nibble, Ron.

Army and Navy have the history, but don't have enough historic individual success to rate their series on this list. Sure, it's a fan favorite, but it doesn't rank using the emperical evidence.

Same with the Backyard Brawl, but it did place 15th in my tabulations...

14th: Washington-California

13th: Penn State-Pittsburgh

12th: Auburn-GA Tech

11th: Minnesota-Wisconsin

OU_Ron · 1 year ago

WEA, the season is still young and and a lot of bait left.......

dithridge · 1 year ago

there's not much talk about the most played division 1-A rivalry: minnesota-wisconsin

Clemson_Joe · 1 year ago

I have a hard time taking much stock in a interstate rivalry poll that doesn't even have the top rivalry (Army - Navy) in the top 10. 4 National titles, always watched by millions around the world regardless of the records, past games where one has "loaned" the other fans, and not in the top 10? It doesn't make sense to me, but maybe that's just me.

Zac · 1 year ago

Pitt/Penn St: That's the one Pitt fans miss as much as WVU fans miss VA Tech/WVU.

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Tried to correct that, but it didn't take. Insert Washington-Oregon for 14th, move Washington-California to 13th, and delete Penn State-Pittsburgh. That is an intrastate rivalry...

War_Eagle_Atlanta · 1 year ago

Just remember, it has to be a clash of titans to make the list. And it has to have substantial history--70 games for this one. Will probably lower that threshold for intrastate rivalries down to around 50 games. Some states could have more than one on the list.

A lot of current great rivalries just don't have the history. That's why I used that as a major factor to weed out the johnny-come-latelys. (so to speak) In the SEC alone, Auburn-LSU, Tennessee-Florida, Florida-LSU, Auburn-Tennessee, Georgia-Alabama, and Tennessee-Georgia come to mind.

Don't worry. I have a few more ideas with rivalries...

jake · 1 year ago

overall, good article. Just an idea for a future blog that I got from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/36726-colleg... : The top 10 ambiguous traditions of college football revealed, discussed, and explained. Seriously, what is Hotty Toddy?

Clemson_Joe · 1 year ago

So does Georgia Tech - Clemson not qualify? It always seems to be close and there's certainly no love lost between the two. Series record is 46 - 24 - 2.