what rivalries should be

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Schnauzer

Schnauzer

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I was just in Madison this past weekend for my daughter's graduation. She had a great 4 years there and is already filled with memories, as any college grad would be. She has always known to address me with respect over the whole sports rivalry thing and has never trash talked or purchased a red "Wisconsin Dad" sweatshirt for me for father's day. She gets it. I appreciate that and it is easy to be proud of her regardless of her higher ed choices.

Anyway, Wisconsin offers a graduation ceremony in the football stadium for ALL their grads at once, unlike the UofM. So there is this moment where the stadium fills and the stadium surface is covered in 10K students. One part that I ironically appreciated was the moment they were introducing one of their faculty speakers. His advance degrees were from the University of Minnesota. As they announced that, the stadium erupted in boos. I appreciated that. It was funny. It is the way a rivalry should be and I always get irritated when I see the Wisconsin/Minnesota rivalry not listed or listed far too low in one of the endless off season "best rivalries" lists on social media each year.
 

Schnauzer said:
I was just in Madison this past weekend for my daughter's graduation. She had a great 4 years there and is already filled with memories, as any college grad would be. She has always known to address me with respect over the whole sports rivalry thing and has never trash talked or purchased a red "Wisconsin Dad" sweatshirt for me for father's day. She gets it. I appreciate that and it is easy to be proud of her regardless of her higher ed choices.

Anyway, Wisconsin offers a graduation ceremony in the football stadium for ALL their grads at once, unlike the UofM. So there is this moment where the stadium fills and the stadium surface is covered in 10K students. One part that I ironically appreciated was the moment they were introducing one of their faculty speakers. His advance degrees were from the University of Minnesota. As they announced that, the stadium erupted in boos. I appreciated that. It was funny. It is the way a rivalry should be and I always get irritated when I see the Wisconsin/Minnesota rivalry not listed or listed far too low in one of the endless off season "best rivalries" lists on social media each year.
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Good stuff. We live in Madison. The school my daughters go to had a teacher's appreciation week last week and did themed days. Friday was badgers day.

One of the local tv station sports directors has kids that also go to the same school. He clearly has connections and he was able get some of the wisconsin marching band to come to the school to play for the kids in the gym on badgers day. There were several photos shared by the school and the local tv station of the visit. And right in the middle of one of them was my oldest, among a sea of red, proudly wearing her maroon and gold Gophers shirt. Proud moment.
 

I was glad, perhaps irrationally, that the "powers that be" somehow found a way for the Gopher-Badger rivalry to add to the Continuously Longest Played Streak in 2020.

Maybe with the USC-Notre Dame rivalry ending on an annual basis, the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe can move into the Top 10 on this list.

www.nfl.com

Top 10 college football rivalry games

What is the greatest rivalry in college football? The College Football 24/7 staff came up with an epic list of fine showdowns that bring out the passion in fans and players alike.
www.nfl.com www.nfl.com
 

It's a great rivalry, but I think outside of the region it's hard to get the attention it deserves unless it's a season like 2019. The post season/conference title/national title implications elevate the ones usually getting the spotlight.

What I think helps the rivalry, though, and makes it unique, is it's one that has some professional ties, with the Packers and Vikings being rivals as well. There's plenty of crossover in fans so it makes the border battle feel more intense for people in both states.
 

Ope3 said:
I was glad, perhaps irrationally, that the "powers that be" somehow found a way for the Gopher-Badger rivalry to add to the Continuously Longest Played Streak in 2020.

Maybe with the USC-Notre Dame rivalry ending on an annual basis, the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe can move into the Top 10 on this list.

www.nfl.com

Top 10 college football rivalry games

What is the greatest rivalry in college football? The College Football 24/7 staff came up with an epic list of fine showdowns that bring out the passion in fans and players alike.
www.nfl.com www.nfl.com
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Oregon-Oregon St in the top 10 is comical!
 



Ope3 said:
I was glad, perhaps irrationally, that the "powers that be" somehow found a way for the Gopher-Badger rivalry to add to the Continuously Longest Played Streak in 2020.

Maybe with the USC-Notre Dame rivalry ending on an annual basis, the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe can move into the Top 10 on this list.

www.nfl.com

Top 10 college football rivalry games

What is the greatest rivalry in college football? The College Football 24/7 staff came up with an epic list of fine showdowns that bring out the passion in fans and players alike.
www.nfl.com www.nfl.com
Click to expand...
Don't forget Carleton v St Olaf!!
 

Speaking of our kid's graduations on enemy soil: My son is a Gopher undergrad, but graduated from U of Michigan's Dental school - I saw a lot of Wolverine pride the weekend we were there.
Some of the dental school professors even ended their speeches with "Go Blue!" Has anyone heard a "Go Gophers!" at any commencement speeches in Minneapolis?
 





IceBoxGopher said:
It's a great rivalry, but I think outside of the region it's hard to get the attention it deserves unless it's a season like 2019. The post season/conference title/national title implications elevate the ones usually getting the spotlight.
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Prior to expansion, it was an attainable goal for the football program to make the Axe game a de facto B1G championship semifinal. 2014 felt like Kill was on the precipice. 2019 felt like there would be many more opportunities.

Then Covid, then (further) expansion, then a rotating final game, and now Bucky is nearly as diseased on the field as its fans are in their hearts. Long may that remain.
 

STPGopher said:
Meaningless trivia for $5. Northfield makes some fine industrial tools.

Tool bowl?
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I took a field trip there as a kid. Pretty fascinating operation.
 




@Schauzer, you're nicer than I am. Both of my kids knew/know that attending the University of Wisconsin or the University of Iowa meant one thing, and one thing only.

I would still love them, and they would always be welcome at the table, but they would sleep in a tent in the backyard.

One will graduate from Iowa State, the other from the University of Arkansas.
 

caliGopher said:
@Schauzer, you're nicer than I am. Both of my kids knew/know that attending the University of Wisconsin or the University of Iowa meant one thing, and one thing only.

I would still love them, and they would always be welcome at the table, but they would sleep in a tent in the backyard.

One will graduate from Iowa State, the other from the University of Arkansas.
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Well, she may end up pushing me even further. She will be in law school next year and she is still figuring out where. Iowa is a distinct possibility. Another whole set of team gear I don't have to ever worry about adding to my closet.
 

Just for fun i wanted to know what is the oldest rivalry west of the Mighty Mississippi:

The rivalry between the Cornell College Rams and the Coe College Kohawks is the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi River, dating back to 1891. Separated by only 20 miles in eastern Iowa (Mount Vernon vs. Cedar Rapids), the two schools clash annually in both football and across a broader all-sports series.

Also found this for their hoops game: Kinda cool:
 

alaska said:
Just for fun i wanted to know what is the oldest rivalry west of the Mighty Mississippi:

The rivalry between the Cornell College Rams and the Coe College Kohawks is the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi River, dating back to 1891. Separated by only 20 miles in eastern Iowa (Mount Vernon vs. Cedar Rapids), the two schools clash annually in both football and across a broader all-sports series.

Also found this for their hoops game: Kinda cool:
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I attended Cornell for a year back in the mid 90's as they do a block plan for class schedule (1 class at a time for 3.5 weeks) It's known as the Macalester of Iowa. Very left-leaning campus and usually non-competitive in athletics. The Cornell v Coe rivalry was pretty good though. They do take pride in that.
 

To answer the original question "What rivalries should be"....I think GopherHole should pool our resources and assemble a "Danny Ocean" type of crew. The quest? Break into the offices of Camp Randall and reacquire the Slab of Bacon.
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
To answer the original question "What rivalries should be"....I think GopherHole should pool our resources and assemble a "Danny Ocean" type of crew. The quest? Break into the offices of Camp Randall and reacquire the Slab of Bacon.
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I cannot be the little Chinese acrobat guy for this operation.
 


DarrenTheGreek said:
To answer the original question "What rivalries should be"....I think GopherHole should pool our resources and assemble a "Danny Ocean" type of crew. The quest? Break into the offices of Camp Randall and reacquire the Slab of Bacon.
Click to expand...
I was thinking more along the lines of the Italian Job...
 

Schnauzer said:
Well, she may end up pushing me even further. She will be in law school next year and she is still figuring out where. Iowa is a distinct possibility. Another whole set of team gear I don't have to ever worry about adding to my closet.
Well, she may end up pushing me even further. She will be in law school next year and she is still figuring out
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All kidding aside, you must be proud of her. Congrats and good luck to her wherever she lands.
 
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Good rivalries are fun and petty. A little booing is good fun.
 

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