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UofLSig · 06-24-2002 10:45 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by JD Heel:
UofLSig: Please explain your claim that UNC/dook isn't the biggest rivalry in college basketball. You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but don't leave us hanging like that....

Once again, this comes down to whether we are talking about all sports (meaning every sport) or one sport out of them all.

If we're talking one sport from all the choices, then UNC/dook basketball would definitely be near the top of the list. If you don't believe me, then go to a game sometime -- or be on one of the campuses during one of the games (or anywhere else fans of the two teams are watching the games).

-JD<hr /></blockquote>It frankly amazes me that folks in the media think that the home of college basketball is on Tobacco Road.

Who were the top three attendance programs in college basketball last year?

Notice where they are all from?

Have you ever been to a UK-Louisville game?

Have you ever been to a UK-Indiana game?

Just because Dukie V. is on the ACC's jock, and all the rest of the country's media hacks follow right along.

Herd Swimming · 06-26-2002 09:30 AM

Sorry, duh duh duh double post

[ June 26, 2002, 04:55 PM: Message edited by: Herd Swimming ]

JD Heel · 06-26-2002 10:17 AM

UofL: Notice that I did not say that UNC-dook basketball was the undoubtedly the greatest rivalry. I said it has to be considered near the top....

I realize that Tobacco Road isn't the only place basketball is played. In my opinion, there are three states where basketball reigns king: Indiana, Kentucky, and North Carolina (probably in that order). Please don't confuse my pragmatism about the significance of basketball around here with ignorant smugness.

For a program that went 8-20, our attendance was in the top 10 last year, which ain't bad. Usually we are second or third -- with the demand for a lot more (Kentucky and Syracuse often finish higher than us, but they have a higher capacity). I don't think you want to argue attendance with dookies either when it comes to their fanaticism about basketball. NC State was also 20th. These are three schools within mere minutes of each other.

I also think that Kentucky-Louisville is one of the top rivalries in the country, along with Indiana-Purdue. And, any mix of those schools is sure to be intense also.

My only argument is that before you consider the Carolina-dook rivalry overhyped, go to a game (and/or hang out with fans of those two teams during gametime). You'll see just how much it means to us. Consider the fact that UNC fans reveled on Franklin Street last year after a regular season win in Cameron.

The pathetic dookies (after seeming and feeling invincible up to that point), were so stunned and saddened that some of them formed a group with locked arms to "protect the jump circle" at Cameron (chanting "Go to hell Carolina, go to hell" the entire time). I mean, what else could make a bunch of people act that stupid on national TV except for unbridled hate? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

-JD

Herd Swimming · 06-26-2002 12:18 PM

#1 Pitt - West Virginia

Obvioulsy biased towards my region, but I can remember this one from my early childhood.
Coaches described it to the players as the millers(Pitt) versus the miners(WVU).
This game has lost some of its luster, but this rivalry is as heated as any there are.

#2 Kentucky-Indiana

These two basketball traditional powers meet yearly in all sports, and no holds are barred.

#3 Michigan - Ohio State

This matchup is usually the game that decides who wins the Big Ten, and quite often knocks one or the other out of national title contention.

#4 Florida - Florida State

The winner of this game usually makes a run towards the football crown. Spurrier and Bowden's chilly relationship aided this immensely.

#5 Army - Navy

Not near the game it used to be on the college football national importance scale. But there is none grander. Very special for kids who may go straight from the gridiron into combat.

UofLSig · 06-26-2002 04:23 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Herd Swimming:

#2 Kentucky-Indiana

These two basketball traditional powers meet yearly in all sports, and no holds are barred.<hr /></blockquote>The Kentucky-Indiana rivalry has been around longer, and played more... but any Kentucky fan would be lying if they said that it is more heated or nastier than the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry.

Especially after this whole Rick Pitino thing.

All 4 major news stations in Louisville, and 2 in Lexington pre-empted normal television and showed live coverage of the column of cars containing Rick Pitino going down the highway towards Louisville from the airport.

People were lined up at the airport with signs, and standing on overpasses with signs as the cars and police escort drove under them.

Rick Pitino also had reported death threats from Kentucky fans. He drew such historical references from Kentucky fans as Benedict Rick, Brutus, and last but not least Satan.

This rivalry is pretty nasty.

06-26-2002 10:20 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by UofLSig:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by JD Heel:
It frankly amazes me that folks in the media think that the home of college basketball is on Tobacco Road.

Who were the top three attendance programs in college basketball last year?

Notice where they are all from?

Have you ever been to a UK-Louisville game?

Have you ever been to a UK-Indiana game?

Just because Dukie V. is on the ACC's jock, and all the rest of the country's media hacks follow right along.<hr /></blockquote>well have you been to a Duke/UNC game?

Duke and UNC fans fight all year round-not just during basketball season. and the game is usually of national importance. both teams have great tradition. Duke season tickets have been sold out since the early 80's. Duke/UNC tickets sell on Ebay for $5000. UK and UL are a big rivalry but Duke/UNC is one of the best.

JD Heel · 06-26-2002 10:42 PM

In my opinion, they are both "one of the best" -- but I feel like UNC-dook is the best.

-JD

UofLSig · 06-27-2002 01:17 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Laettner's Legacy:
well have you been to a Duke/UNC game?

Duke and UNC fans fight all year round-not just during basketball season. and the game is usually of national importance. both teams have great tradition. Duke season tickets have been sold out since the early 80's. Duke/UNC tickets sell on Ebay for $5000. UK and UL are a big rivalry but Duke/UNC is one of the best.<hr /></blockquote>I've been to parties for both games, and there just doesn't seem to be as much intensity in the Duke/UNC rivalry as there is for UK/UofL, maybe it was just the party I went to.

UK/UofL also is year-round, each year the football season starts off the season with the UK/UofL game, and it is talked up from April to September.

The other reason there is more importance placed on the UK/UofL game, IMO, is that there are only two major schools in Kentucky, and those two major schools can't stand each other.

In North Carolina you have Duke, North Carolina, Wake Forest, NC State, East Carolina that all play Division 1-A for All-Sports.

I also think that basketball is seen more as a form of legitimacy in Kentucky, where it is perhaps an important sport in North Carolina. Kentuckians historically took basketball to prove that (yes, I know this is sad) Kentucky was worth something. Kentuckians viewed basketball as a way for us to say "see, we're not all backwoods, hicks". If you haven't seen the ESPN "The Season: Kentucky Basketball" I'd recommend it.

Also, Duke/UNC has NEVER had a scandal like the Rick Pitino thing. He was the coach that Kentucky fans named their kids after, he bolts for the Celtics, then comes back to coach their hated rival? OUCH, that took the rivalry to a whole new level, death threats and all.

"Duke season tickets have been sold out since the early 80's." This doesn't impress Kentuckians in the slightest. Especially considering Duke plays in a glorified High School gymnasium. What, like 9,000 seats?

They are both great rivalries, all 4 teams are among the greatest 10 programs of all time, and both have their traditions and hatred.

Championships, Final Fours, Decades of Tournament Appearrances... all 4 schools are what big-time basketball looks like.

I just think that Duke/UNC gains too much of the spotlight, frankly, because a single sportscaster promotes the game year-round.

Jenibu · 06-27-2002 11:55 PM

it seems to me that most people in this thread keep arguing that their school (or the one they are a fan of) is in the top rivalry. juat that whichever place you are a fan of must have the most hated relationship with another school. of course it makes sense, i mean i would do the same but Maryland doesnt have a real rival (:wishes they did:). anyways- since most people claiming to have the most heated rival dont know much about the people saying that their rival is more heated, I dont think either party has the info needed to make the decision to which is the biggest. and by fighting about rivals, arent you creating another rival within itself? (example- duke/unc's rivalry rival is kentucky/louisville)

Longtrainn · 07-14-2002 02:57 AM

All right, here's my top 5 for what it's worth.

1. Auburn/Alabama - C'mom people.

2. Army/Navy

3. Duke/UNC in B'ball

4. Georgia/Georgia Tech

5. Texas/Texas A&M

Mich/OSU gets no respect from me.

Terpy · 07-14-2002 09:08 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Longtrainn:

Mich/OSU gets no respect from me.<hr /></blockquote>Why not??? That game is huge. IMO it is definitley one of the best rivalries in football.

Longtrainn · 07-14-2002 11:32 AM

I think the games with the most ferocity and year-round impact have to be in-state rivalries (Army/Navy excluded). I mean, I've lived in Ohio all my life, and while the Mich/OSU rivalry is big, and always impacts the Big Ten, it loses something since it's not an in-state game. When you only have one big school in your state with a decent team, it's so boring because EVERYONE cheers for them and there's no one to argue with or brag to when you win. Sure Michigan has some fans in our state, but not enough to make it worthwhile. With Auburn/Alabama, you can go to work on Monday and heckle half the people there if you win, and you can burn the score of the game into your neighbor's lawn, which fans of Alabama and Auburn have been known to do from time to time. This is why it's so big a deal. If you win, it's great, and if you lose, it's 365 days of ribbing and getting heckled. That's why I'll never put a border-war in my top 5, only intrastate rivalries and of course Army/Navy just because it's so cool. Oh, and by the way, most Michigan fans will tell you they hate Michigan State more than Ohio State, so that's why I can't include that rivalry.

[ July 14, 2002, 12:35 PM: Message edited by: Longtrainn ]

rocketfootball · 07-14-2002 03:00 PM

Longtrainn - it must depend on where you live. I have lived in Toledo, Ohio and Bedford, Michigan. Since both areas are right near the Ohio-Michigan border, the OSU/Michigan game is huge. There are several fans for both teams and many have big bashes the day of that game.

[ July 14, 2002, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: rocketfootball ]

Longtrainn · 07-14-2002 03:40 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by rocketfootball:
Longtrainn - it must depend on where you live. I have lived in Toledo, Ohio and Bedford, Michigan. Since both areas are right near the Ohio-Michigan border, the OSU/Michigan game is huge.<hr /></blockquote>Well that I can understand. The same can be said of the Alabama-Tennessee border, Texas-Oklahoma, etc. But when you have games between intrastate rivals, they tend to spread themselves out. Sure when you get in the vicinity of Tuscaloosa or Auburn more fans will be for the nearer team, but otherwise, it's pretty close to even.

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> There are several fans for both teams and many have big bashes the day of that game .[/ <hr /></blockquote>Also, the whole state of Alabama has a big bash during most of the entire week leading up to the Iron Bowl.

[ July 14, 2002, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: Longtrainn ]

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