Best rivalry

[SouthDakotaGrizzly]

I know a lot of people are saying if/when the Griz move up that the Cat/Griz game will cease to exist...well I call straight bullshit on that. They will make it happen. It's in the top 5 for longest running rivalries, it won't die.

The concern is whether or not the WAC would allow it to happen (assuming that IF the Griz move up, they move to the WAC). Supposedly, the reason the Idaho-Montana rivalry died out was because the WAC enacted a bylaw saying that their member schools could not play road games at FCS schools (or maybe it was because Idaho got sick of losing to the Griz ). Just as Montana doesn't want to travel to Moscow every year to play the Vandals, I imagine the Cats wouldn't want to visit Wa-Griz for eternity. Of course, others say that UM and MSU are essentially attached at the hip and that if one goes up the other will follow, in which case the rivalry could continue.

In any case, my vote is for Griz-Cat (and I'll always call it that as long as the Griz lead the series.....so, forever ).

[AZGrizFan]

Personally I have to go with App State and Georgia Southern. Both high profile programs where there is good ole fashioned hate involved. Regardless of which team is "up" most games are highly contested bloodbaths both on and off the field. I have more fun going to Statesboro that any other away game just because of the passion of both schools supporters. As someone else said "hillbillies vs. rednecks" has got to be fun.

From what I know Montana vs Montana State might be the biggest on a national basis. I'm not that knowledgeable about the history of some of the historically black colleges and universities but I would guess matchups like Grambling and Southern would have a lot of history behind them too. Don't they draw more than 40K for their biggest matchups?

Bayou Classic attendance has been dropping but over the last 5 years the average is still 53K.

I believe Griz/sCat would draw 50k if there were a stadium large enough....

[GOKATS]

I know a lot of people are saying if/when the Griz move up that the Cat/Griz game will cease to exist...well I call straight bullshit on that. They will make it happen. It's in the top 5 for longest running rivalries, it won't die.

In any case, my vote is for Griz-Cat (and I'll always call it that as long as the Griz lead the series.....so, forever ).

Another dyslexic griz so noted. It's Cat/griz and always has been, live with it.

[AZGrizFan]

In any case, my vote is for Griz-Cat (and I'll always call it that as long as the Griz lead the series.....so, forever ).

Another dyslexic griz so noted. It's Cat/griz and always has been, live with it.

Maybe in Bozo-land, but in the football heartland, it'll always be Griz/scat.

[BigSkyFootball]

Montana State vs Montana is the best FCS rivalry, bar none. Take your pick on the best rivalry on any level:
USC vs UCLA, Michigan vs Ohio State, Florida vs Georgia, Harvard vs Yale, Texas vs Oklahoma, Alabama vs Auburn and my choice . . .Army vs. Navy

[∞∞∞]

JMU-ODU

[GOKATS]

Another dyslexic griz so noted. It's Cat/griz and always has been, live with it.

Maybe in Bozo-land, but in the football heartland, it'll always be Griz/scat.

One more dyslexic griz duly noted, but I already knew your head was fucked up.

The dylexia among griz fans has only been around for the last ten years or so there's no history to it. If it makes you feel better go for it but it's a better fit for griz band wagon fans who have no background anyway.

[green&gold75]

bandl vs andy7171. Montana State vs Montana pales by comparison.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Maybe in Bozo-land, but in the football heartland, it'll always be Griz/scat.

One more dyslexic griz duly noted, but I already knew your head was fucked up.

The dylexia among griz fans has only been around for the last ten years or so there's no history to it. If it makes you feel better go for it but it's a better fit for griz band wagon fans who have no background anyway.

It's been around for the last 10 yrs.

That's pretty good stuff.

[93henfan]

JMU-ODU

This thread is about men's sports. Football, to be even more specific.

[tampajag]

Bayou Classic attendance has been dropping but over the last 5 years the average is still 53K.

I believe Griz/sCat would draw 50k if there were a stadium large enough....

I wouldn't disagree with that, I'm know both teams have bigger fanbases than grambling does.

[GAD]

Montana State vs Montana is the best FCS rivalry, bar none. Take your pick on the best rivalry on any level:
USC vs UCLA, Michigan vs Ohio State, Florida vs Georgia, Harvard vs Yale, Texas vs Oklahoma, Alabama vs Auburn and my choice . . .Army vs. Navy

In a few major magazines I have seen Lehigh vs. Lafayette and Southern vs. Grambling ranked right there with the mojor FBS rivalries

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Montana State vs Montana is the best FCS rivalry, bar none. Take your pick on the best rivalry on any level:
USC vs UCLA, Michigan vs Ohio State, Florida vs Georgia, Harvard vs Yale, Texas vs Oklahoma, Alabama vs Auburn and my choice . . .Army vs. Navy

In a few major magazines I have seen Lehigh vs. Lafayette and Southern vs. Grambling ranked right there with the mojor FBS rivalries

UM/MSU has over 150 Satellite viewing parties that cover all 50 states. For not being nationally televised that's a hell of a rabid fan base for this game. There is really no other point of focus in the state for that week.

For us it really isn't about the pageantry, it's about THIS game.

I really can't give a lot of weight to the opinions of those magazines as I don't think they do much more than just give some props without really going and finding out for themselves but I have not been to the Lehigh/Layfayette game but I have seen the Grambling/Southern game and so forth and that really looks to be as much about the pomp & circumstance as anything else.

Course I could never see any other rivalry like I see the Griz/Cat rivalry as they just don't mean what this does to me so I ain't a good source either.

[Grizo406]

Brawl of the Wild - Montana/Montana State

True dat', dback!

Scrap your Cuba plans, come on back to Missoula this season and watch The Brawl! You'll be glad you did!

Cuba is always gonna' be there, but from the looks of things, this epic rivalry ain't always gonna' be here!

[Ivytalk]

Can't believe everyone's missed the elephant in the room:

I thought West Chester was our rival?

Beat me to it!

[tampajag]

In a few major magazines I have seen Lehigh vs. Lafayette and Southern vs. Grambling ranked right there with the mojor FBS rivalries

UM/MSU has over 150 Satellite viewing parties that cover all 50 states. For not being nationally televised that's a hell of a rabid fan base for this game. There is really no other point of focus in the state for that week.

For us it really isn't about the pageantry, it's about THIS game.

I really can't give a lot of weight to the opinions of those magazines as I don't think they do much more than just give some props without really going and finding out for themselves but I have not been to the Lehigh/Layfayette game but I have seen the Grambling/Southern game and so forth and that really looks to be as much about the pomp & circumstance as anything else.

Course I could never see any other rivalry like I see the Griz/Cat rivalry as they just don't mean what this does to me so I ain't a good source either.

It's hard to describe to an outside eye, yeah there's a lot of other activities that surround the game, but it all boils down to that Saturday at around 1 PM and seeing Grambling losing by 4 PM. Coaches lose their jobs over this game or get extensions. (I sure that happens in other rivalries as well) We were just fortunate to have two great minds in Eddie Robinson and Collie Nichloson push for something special. I'm not knocking anybody else's rivalry but it's something that must be witnessed to truly understand. I look at it this way if you don't feel like your rivalry isn't the sh*t then who will.

[Yote53]

Top 5 in no order...

Harvard/Yale
Montana/Montana St
Grambling/Southern
Lehigh/Lafayette
NDSU/UND, SDSU/USD
NDSU/SDSU, UND/USD

Fixed it for you. As good as you guys think SDSU/NDSU it doesn't compare to the rivalries they have with their in-state brethren.

As for the UM/MSU game never going away, look what happened in the Dakotas. 100 year rivalries can be dispatched pretty quickly.

[JBB]

There are a lot of great rivalries across the country. But for the Dakotas it has to be the NDSU/SDSU Border Marker. There are some that would tear away at it like it was invented but the games have been going on for 100 years. This is no small deal. But what makes it great?

Both schools have been down the path of the "hated rival" deal. I know the history. A lot of it comes from shared experiences from the ancestors. I keep the history after all.

Both schools have, in the past, done what they could to defeat the other, to humiliate them, to destroy them. But now both have become brothers. They whale the shit out of each other on the field or the court but afterwards there doesn't seem to be any animosity. To me thats what makes it great.

I have to say I almost enjoy the games at SDSU more the games at NDSU. Its our chance to play them in their environment. To meet people and have a great time. Our stands were rocking last year at Caughlin. I saw friends there I hadnt seen in several years. We had a blast, but we lost. It was fun though and the SDSU fans couldn't have been more gracious. I hope the NDSU fans will leave the same impression after the big win in Fargo this year.

[Yote53]

Funny JBB, since the U's have been seperated from the SU's the South Dakota v North Dakota games have taken on the exact feelings you just described when discussing the NDSU/SDSU games. I'd say UND v USD is just as important, as heated, as fierce, and as stoked in history (over 100 years) and tradition as the Marker Game. While you guys have been playing for the Rock, the U's were fighting over conference titles and (D2) playoff berths. Now we've taken that to the next level and it is THE GAME on the schedule every year.

See you in Fargo this fall. The Yotes get to sink their teeth into both NoDak schools this season.

[JBB]

I would agree. The Jr. Bowl is important.

[SloStang]

We all know the "REAL" universities in the Dakotas are the UXD's in both academics and athletics.

[Yote53]

I would agree. The Jr. Bowl is important.

Jr, Bowl, haha. Straight from the SU talking points. How Jr. will it be when the Coyotes roll into Fargo and whip some Bison a**??? You two cowbell ringing schools go play for your "rock". Just remember we U's had a "real" rivalry with a "real" trophy for about half a century.

Dang political correctness.

[SUUTbird]

See you in Fargo this fall. The Yotes get to sink their teeth into both NoDak schools this season.

I am definitely rooting for the Yotes in that game, kick some Bison ass and represent the Great West!

[OL FU]

I have said it before, the best rivalry is the one that your school participates in

[93henfan]

How cool is this site? How many people in the world can say they witnessed people from four colleges in the Dakotas get into an argument? This should be on NatGeo or TLC. They could have Jewel do the soundtrack. She's from the Dakotas, right?