Rivalries Make Sports Interesting

[NewsCopy]

Rival - hated foe - the enemy. When it comes to college football there are plenty of rivals. Every state has two schools that really hate to lose to the other. I grew up in Alabama and every child has to declare at birth his or her allegiance to either Alabama or Auburn and their parents hope their first words spoken are "War Eagle" or "Roll Tide." As a third generation Auburn man, my favorite colors are orange and blue. The war between the Tigers and the Tide was played for years in Birmingham, thus the title - "The Iron Bowl". It is the greatest rivalry in college football as it literally stops the state on the day of the game. The teams didn't play from 1907 to 1948 because of various arguments between the schools. Alabama leads the series 38-31-1, but Auburn has now won four in a row. As proud Troy University graduate, the team we Trojans hated was Jacksonville State. The Battle for the "The Ol' School Bell" was the most important game of the year when I was a student and a short-term member of the Sound of the South marching band before focusing on my journalism future. When Troy began its move up to Division I-A, the game was halted, but the road trips to Jacksonville and the parade at Troy the week of the JSU games were something I will always remember. Here in Louisiana there are also several rivalry games that are played at the end of each season. The rest of the story Tom Dodge Heads or Tails Column

[Turbine]

Every one else has a huge rival game - why not ULL and ULM?

UL used to have a rivalry with McNeese, La Tech and if you go back some more Northwestern.

Over the past 4 years, I think ULM is beginning to beat their way into a rivalry and it is up to UL to beat them out of one. We are on our way.

Example: LSU beat their way out of a rivalry with Ole Miss. That rivalry was HUGE in the 50's and 60's and early 70's. Now, not so much. LSU beat their way out of it.

jmo

[Clutch0364]

Who is our biggest rival?

(poll started)

[Clutch0364]

I believe our biggest rival is Louisiana Tech. The rivalry with ULM has kinda been forced upon us but its not one I really get excited about. But when we play Tech I get pumped regardless of the sport.

[Hammer58]

Who is our biggest rival?

That's tough because we don't really have one team in conference that is a constant rival in every sport. I'd say MT has developed into a nice football rivalry and they are very good in women's basketball. But probably not as big rivals in baseball and basketball. WKU was a pretty good rivalry in basketball and baseball but they don't play football. Same with South AL.

[ulforlife]

Who is our biggest rival?

hmm, hard to say. as for ULM, they are NOT our rival, and i hate people trying to make it look that way. they are a small school and they suck. but again, hard to say

[shof]

That's tough because we don't really have one team in conference that is a constant rival in every sport. I'd say MT has developed into a nice football rivalry and they are very good in women's basketball. But probably not as big rivals in baseball and basketball. WKU was a pretty good rivalry in basketball and baseball but they don't play football. Same with South AL.

I thought about MT; but went with Ark State, mainly because we have been in conference with them for a long time. I'd like to see the LaTech series redevelop in football and I do feel they are our longest rivalry (something like 100 football games between us); but it just hasn't happened for about 10 years now. Maybe down the line.

[Choppie29]

Who is our biggest rival?

In the hearts and minds of most UL fans I would have to say LSU. For it to be a true rivalry, you have to play the rival team in football, basketball, baseball and in this case softball, nearly every year and beat them as much as they would beat us. This isn't applicable with LSU.

I would have to say Tech, because when I was a kid coming to Cajun Field and we were playing Tech, the crowd was always a little more fired up. Plus, my dad and especially one of my uncles, can't stand Tech. So, I guess that carried over to me.

I don't think we have a true rival in the Sunbelt as far as football goes yet.

[shasta]

well as a one semester ULM student and UL grad... i really hate ULM and to me, thats the one game i get most excited by a win, because i seriously hate those guys, buncha hillbillies

[Cajun Express]

Depends on the sport, and time. At one time UNO was our biggest basketball rival, but they have fallen off. I suggest it is now WKU. At one time UNO was our biggest baseball rival, again they have seen too many hard times and USA is our biggest baseball rival. Football we have been so bad for so many years we have no rivals we desperatly want to beat any one any time.

To those who voted for ULM? Are you NUTS? Are you without logic?

[shof]

To those who voted for ULM? Are you NUTS? Are you without logic?

I'd guess those who voted for ULM as the rival are either recent grads or current students. Understandable. The SunBelt has opened the door to ULM as our new conference mates, and let's face it, we don't want to lose this game.

Those of us who were in school back "in the day" fondly remember games vs. LaTech on a yearly basis; not to mention McNeese. Those were great times and fierce rivalry games. To a great degree (mostly football) we have moved on WRT McNeese (D-1A vs D-1AA). Ditto for LaTech with their move to the WAC. Personally I'm glad to see the addition of the McNeese game next year - should be fun. And perhaps some day in the not so distant future we can rekindle the rivalry with Tech should we end up in a conference together again.

Ask this question on the LaTech BB and you'd see a similar response to us as their rival. Many feel they have moved on and want regional rivalries with the likes of So.Miss, Tulane, SMU, etc. Seems as they are more "desperate" for a CUSA affiliation than we are; but at the same time see us, NT, even Troy as potential hurdles in the next go-round of conference moves.

[CajunAmos]

I thinks its different for different sports;

Basketball Western Kentucky
Baseball South Alabama
Football Louisiana Tech