What's that you say? Not a rivalry? You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about!!!! The hell I don't. Sheesh. It's been a veritable love-in on this board between BG and UT "fans" for the past couple of days. Selected comments from "rivals":

You were great hosts. Your team played exceptionally well and deserved to win.

The BG fans at the game represented their school very well and have earned my respect! You guys are class-acts.

Good luck against the Herd, I'm thinking you'll make it two in a row!!!

Great effort by your team. Congrats on a nice season.

BG is everything we thought they were too. Great game.

Both BG and NIU have had really good seasons!

Congrats to Toledo and good luck.



OK. Let's throw a scenario out here. Let's assume that Marshall beats UT. Does anyone in their right mind think that UT fans will be on here congratulating the Herd on a "great win?" Hell no. If UT does the unthinkable and beats Marshall, do you think any Marshall fans will be on here congratulating UT? Hell no. We'll hate them just as much. Toledump hates Marshall. Good. Marshall hates Toledump. Good. Give me a good "their team is a waste of oxygen" rivalry any day over this disgusting love fest between UT and BG. Hey. I've got an idea. Why don't you all just flip a coin to decide the winner? It will give you more time to hug.



Please feel free to lambast me with the "we know how to lose with class" claptrap at your liesure. I will merely quote G.S. Patton again: "I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed."

thats because we have mutual respect

I understand what you're saying, but you obviously don't understand. This rivalry is way older than any of us. At one time, it was every bit as acrimonious as UT/MUg. Hell, the 2 schools actually quit playing each other for awhile, it got so bad. But the thing is, we RESPECT each other. And we know that every game between us is totally up for grabs. All you have to do is look at the last 3 meetings and you'll see that. Remember too that we're only 25 miles apart down I-75. Many of us have family that have gone to the other school. Some of us have gone to both.

Do we hate them? Nah. But there's not much better than beating them. This week though, we'd feel a LOT better beating MUg.

Wow, mutual respect and good sportsmanship are a foreign concept aren't they.

FYI, BG and UT are only about 25 miles apart. Many people wind up going to both schools (like me) at one point or another or marry people the "other" school (like I did) or have siblings that graduated from one school or the other.

The fact that you think rivals have to dislike and disrespect one another is very telling. I'm tempted to comment on Marshall as a whole, but I don't think it's fair to judge a school based on the comments of a single, braying ******* :rolleyes:

Trust me MAKO....if BG and UT was like Marshall/anybody else....then all those BG fans that were in the heart of the Toledo student section woulda got something comin to them. But nobody cared that they were there...students did give them a hard time...but it was all for fun and we all laughed it off.

Flipper, you couldn't have said that any better.

Mako, would you feel better if I said BGsucks, their fans all drive tractors, their women are ugly, etc. etc. etc. A rivalry is not about making irrational statements about the opponent. It is about players making a statement on the field, and fans being proud of their school. Beating BG makes the year a sucess for Rocket fans. This was UT's year. Next year who knows.

The hate people have for Marshall is directed at some of its obnoxious fans; not its players, the City of Huntington, or Marshall Universtiy. Do you think berating the opponents fans effects the games outcome? All it does is keep the us from attending the game in person. Understand?

rockytop Wrote:Mako, would you feel better if I said BGsucks, their fans all drive tractors, their women are ugly, etc. etc. etc. A rivalry is not about making irrational statements about the opponent. It is about players making a statement on the field, and fans being proud of their school. Beating BG makes the year a sucess for Rocket fans. This was UT's year. Next year who knows.

The hate people have for Marshall is directed at some of its obnoxious fans; not its players, the City of Huntington, or Marshall Universtiy. Do you think berating the opponents fans effects the games outcome? All it does is keep the us from attending the game in person. Understand?

They do drive tractors though!

But. . . but. . . but I drive a tractor. :(

Anyway, like previously stated--being in a rivalry doesn't necessarily mean opposing sides must partake in the persecution of the other. Look at MSU/Ole Miss. Sure, there are the token fights amongst the drunks and constant bickering but at the end of the day most of the opposing fans live with or are related to the "enemy." Another prime example is FSU. FSU/UF have their brawls and such in the name of rivalry but is Miami, Fla/FSU considered a lesser rivalry because they don't often resort to fisticuffs.

There is no rivalry better in the MAC than CMU/WMU - but you'll find the same type of responses from CMU fans after WMU finally won in Mt. Pleasant this year. Does it mean CMU/WMU isn't a rivalry? No, it doesn't.

UT/BGSU is at or near the same level of rivalry as the CMU/WMU series (obviously from my perspective, the CMU/WMU is a notch above - forgive my short-sightedness and maroon colored glasses Toledo and BGSU fans).

There is no team in the MAC whose fans create more uproar and obnoxiousness on the board both before and after a game - or in the stands during the game, than Marshall's. Does that mean we all have heated rivalries with Marshall? No, it doesn't.

"Squeeky wheel" folks, you get the most attention and ire because you post and brag and whine the most. Perhaps it's a "new kids on the block" issue since UCF does it to some degree as well (and man, I really hate those Buffalo braggarts). Winning certainly adds to hate and ire and jealousy as well - but that still isn't rivalry. Until you can create enough history to be rivals with anyone - all you can do is pick a fight. Not the same thing, MAKO.

Marshall does not have a rivalry with West Virginia either - they have contempt, hate, jealousy etc. But because they do not play each other - or haven't played much...all they can have is hate --- not a rivalry. Without history, the closest thing to rivalry you can get is hate, but it's a poor substitute for a rivalry. OhioSt and NotreDame are not rivals but Michigan and NotreDame are. Why? They have a rivalry SERIES. Not a game here and there - but a series. Marshall has not been I-A long enough to qualify as a series for anybody.

Rivalries also require reciprication. They can't be your rival - unless you are also their rival. West Virginia does not feel that Marshall is their rival. This contempt and lack of recognition from the West Virginia side adds to the hate from the Marshall side - but it doesn't make it a rivalry. Otherwise, everyone in the Big11 would have OhioSt and Michigan as their rivals. They don't.

Even in an otherwise miserable season, a victory over the rival can "make the season" for fans. Do Akron fans, either of them (sorry both of you, I couldn't resist) feel like the season is made because they beat Marshall? I doubt it. Does WMU feel like the season is made by beating CMU at CMU? I bet they do.



<!--EDIT|nert|Dec 3 2002, 02:13 PM-->

Flipper Wrote:Wow, mutual respect and good sportsmanship are a foreign concept aren't they.

FYI, BG and UT are only about 25 miles apart. &nbsp;Many people wind up going to both schools (like me) at one point or another or marry people the "other" school (like I did) or have siblings that graduated from one school or the other.

The fact that you think rivals have to dislike and disrespect one another is very telling. &nbsp;I'm tempted to comment on Marshall as a whole, but I don't think it's fair to judge a school based on the comments of a single, braying ******* &nbsp;:rolleyes:

Well Said Flipper...

MAKO...I despise UT and HATE losing to them...in any sport at any time. But, I respect them. What the UT football program has done in the last 10 years has got to be applauded...as much as I hate to do it. That is what I want to see outta BG...competing for the title almost every year...and BG is close now and will be a better team next yr and we will be competing for the title every year.

But that doesn't mean I have to hate them personally. They are just as passionate for their school and team as we BG fans are of ours. And as others have said, the schools are only 25 miles away from each other.

Do I wanna beat UT all the time? You bet your arse I do! Do I want to throw stuff at them or hurl insults? No...it's a little thing called "class". I never want to be known as a fan or school that is classless.

so there ya go....and I still despise ut!!!!!

One last thing...

You see how fans from BOTH BG and UT have stated the same thing?
What that tells me is mutual repsect.

Neither of us wants to lose to the other...but only one school can win that game each yr.
I am already counting down the days until next yr's game at Perry Stadium :saber: (only 359 more to go!!!! GGRRRR!!!)

Cheers