(03-14-2013 11:35 PM)fsquid Wrote:  sorry for the old bump, but how did the MTSU-WKU rivalry start?

Can't be that close and not have a rivalry. Once USM and Tech start up again every year I think you'll see some similar rivalry.

Not sure why there has always been such deep down hatred (i.e. 100 Miles of Hate). One of the salient moments in my lifetime came when WKU left the OVC and was invited by the Sun Belt. Funny they're wining about us talking about them being left behind, because they had fans, coaches, even adminstrators dogging Middle Tenn during that time when we were essentially left behind in the OVC. Basketball was king back then. Now that football drives the bus and situation has reversed their massive egos have taken a hit and they have a massive little man complex right now. And you guys will find out when they get here. No one has a bigger collective group ego than Western fans. We're often amazed their basketball program hasn't been invited to play in the NBA's Eastern Conference based on their perspective of themselves. Seriously, though it can be a fun, but it won't take long for it to grow tiresome for the rest of you.

(03-15-2013 11:59 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(03-14-2013 11:35 PM)fsquid Wrote:  sorry for the old bump, but how did the MTSU-WKU rivalry start?

Can't be that close and not have a rivalry. Once USM and Tech start up again every year I think you'll see some similar rivalry.

Not sure why there has always been such deep down hatred (i.e. 100 Miles of Hate). One of the salient moments in my lifetime came when WKU left the OVC and was invited by the Sun Belt. Funny they're wining about us talking about them being left behind, because they had fans, coaches, even adminstrators dogging Middle Tenn during that time when we were essentially left behind in the OVC. Basketball was king back then. Now that football drives the bus and situation has reversed their massive egos have taken a hit and they have a massive little man complex right now. And you guys will find out when they get here. No one has a bigger collective group ego than Western fans. We're often amazed their basketball program hasn't been invited to play in the NBA's Eastern Conference based on their perspective of themselves. Seriously, though it can be a fun, but it won't take long for it to grow tiresome for the rest of you.

This man speaks the truth.

(03-15-2013 10:40 AM)MTowho Wrote:  One sided indeed.

Football
2012 - MT
2011 - WKU
2010 - MT
2009 - MT
2008 - MT

Men's Basketball
2013 - MT/MT
2012 - MT/WKU
2011 - MT/MT
2010 - MT/MT

Women's Basketball
2013 - MT/MT
2012 - MT/MT/MT
2011 - MT/MT
2010 - MT/MT

Yes, MT has owned WKU in those sports for the last 4 years and congrats to them. However, moving to FBS football had NOTHING to do with MT winning in men's basketball. WKU had a bad coaching hire in men's basketball in 2009. It happens. Luckily, in a program like WKU we don't keep a bad or mediocre coach for long. The expectations are way too high. We fired him halfway through the season last year so we corrected that problem.

Also, just a little info about the football wins. I notice he didn't list 2007 when WKU beat MT in our first year of transition from FCS to FBS in Murfreesboro. We were still FCS at the time. The 2008 MT win was our second year of transition to FBS.

In essence, MT lost to a FCS team in 2007, beat that FCS team in 2008, and then beat WKU, a fledgling FBS program 3 out of 4 years since then. Congrats.

In basketball, MT was able to beat WKU 4 games in a row in one of WKU's lowest periods (2010-2011) and one of MT's highest points in it's history. Congrats. Since our new coach took over last January 2012, WKU beat MT in the last game of the regular season (WKU had a losing record and MT had one of it's best teams in decades). WKU went on to win the SBC Tourney and played in the NCAA. MT went to the NIT. This year, WKU had 8 players injuried after an 8-2 start. MT won in Murfreesboro when our roster was depleted and WKU was playing with football players recruited to fill in spots. All our injured players were healthy when we played MT in the last regular season game this year. WKU, playing with a full roster that hadn't played together much in 2 months and with only 1 senior was able to give MT one of it's toughest games of the year and the game was tied with a minute to go. MT won. Congrats. Once again, MT choked in the SBC Tourney and WKU won the tourny and will be in the NCAA tournament again this year.

As to how the rivalry started. WKU and MT were in the Ohio Valley Conference together from 1952 to 1982, plus we're only 100 miles apart.

Oh and for what it's worth, I'm still very doubtful WKU gets an invite to CUSA. Just don't think it will happen. Realignement is too fluid at the moment and anything can happen to change the situation.

As to the "arrogance" of fan bases. Here's a bit of history. Until WKU moved to FBS football, very few WKU fans posted on SBC Message Boards. As most of you know, and MT fans will agree, WKU has always been a basketball school so posting on the SBC Boards was moot until we moved to FBS football. I used to read the board all the time and rarely, if ever, did a WKU fan post there because few SBC fans wanted to talk about basketball. Nevertheless, MT fans would continuously spread their propaganda about the arrogance of WKU fans, at every opportunity. They'd copy/paste from our WKU message board regularly to somehow demonstrate our arrogance. Some of the other school's fans began to believe it because well, if it's on the Internet and has been stated many times, it must be true. I see MT is laying that groundwork here as well, should WKU join. Nice tactic if you think about it.

Yes, we have arrogant and ignorant fans and what you'll find is that they are on our board....just as arrogant and ignorant MT fans are on their boards. Most, except for 1 or 2 WKU fans on the SBC board keep it civil. We all have "those" fans. Are we a bit arrogant? Of course. We've been to the NCAA Tournament 7 of the last 13 years in the SBC. MT hasn't been to the mens NCAA Tournament in 24 years. Is it arrogance, pride, or just fact?

7 of 13 is fact

Everthing else that comes with it is arrogance. Well, arrogance is an understatement. As much as it pains me to say Memphis is more humble. Every fan base has a a few d-bags and few more delusional fans, but I don't know of any school that has a higher percentage than Western (and I went to an SEC school mind you).

All that said and to our C-USA friends, Apollo is a good dude. He's one of the more level headed fans Western has on the boards. If they get in welcome Apollo with open arms. How's that for some groundwork amigo?

BTW Apollo any rumblings about the MAC there? I mention this here since it could affect C-USA membership.

I know the MAC contacted MT and Western last year after we were passed over. We weren't ready to pull the trigger on that at that time and I also know the MAC still wants to add at least one school, but I haven't heard who they want yet. I've only heard a couple of rumors I haven't been able to substantiate yet.

(03-15-2013 12:36 PM)WKUApollo Wrote:  Oh and for what it's worth, I'm still very doubtful WKU gets an invite to CUSA. Just don't think it will happen. Realignement is too fluid at the moment and anything can happen to change the situation.

As to the "arrogance" of fan bases. Here's a bit of history. Until WKU moved to FBS football, very few WKU fans posted on SBC Message Boards. As most of you know, and MT fans will agree, WKU has always been a basketball school so posting on the SBC Boards was moot until we moved to FBS football. I used to read the board all the time and rarely, if ever, did a WKU fan post there because few SBC fans wanted to talk about basketball. Nevertheless, MT fans would continuously spread their propaganda about the arrogance of WKU fans, at every opportunity. They'd copy/paste from our WKU message board regularly to somehow demonstrate our arrogance. Some of the other school's fans began to believe it because well, if it's on the Internet and has been stated many times, it must be true. I see MT is laying that groundwork here as well, should WKU join. Nice tactic if you think about it.

Yes, we have arrogant and ignorant fans and what you'll find is that they are on our board....just as arrogant and ignorant MT fans are on their boards. Most, except for 1 or 2 WKU fans on the SBC board keep it civil. We all have "those" fans. Are we a bit arrogant? Of course. We've been to the NCAA Tournament 7 of the last 13 years in the SBC. MT hasn't been to the mens NCAA Tournament in 24 years. Is it arrogance, pride, or just fact?

All I know is that I've been around a few decades and I can't remember an extended period of time when the Hilltoppers weren't relevant in basketball. Most anyone who has been around the game will include Western as a top 40 or 50 program of all time. I don't know if it's still true or not, but at one time the Hilltoppers had one of the top 10 winning percentages of all time, had a series leading record with Louisville and I believe that the series with Memphis is +/- 1 game.

I don't know much about WKU's football program and didn't realize that the Hilltoppers played FBS football until they were mentioned on this board, but WKU is a very well known entity in the basketball world.

(03-15-2013 02:59 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  All I know is that I've been around a few decades and I can't remember an extended period of time when the Hilltoppers weren't relevant in basketball. Most anyone who has been around the game will include Western as a top 40 or 50 program of all time. I don't know if it's still true or not, but at one time the Hilltoppers had one of the top 10 winning percentages of all time, had a series leading record with Louisville and I believe that the series with Memphis is +/- 1 game.

I don't know much about WKU's football program and didn't realize that the Hilltoppers played FBS football until they were mentioned on this board, but WKU is a very well known entity in the basketball world.

Yes, I believe we are currently the 7th Winningest NCAA program by percentage, behind Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Duke, Syracuse, and UCLA. And yes, we lead the series with Louisville but I think it's now 39-38. The last time we beat them was when they were #3 in 2008. That was our last Sweet 16 year. I'm not sure what the record is with Memphis.

(03-15-2013 01:29 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  BTW Apollo any rumblings about the MAC there? I mention this here since it could affect C-USA membership.

I know the MAC contacted MT and Western last year after we were passed over. We weren't ready to pull the trigger on that at that time and I also know the MAC still wants to add at least one school, but I haven't heard who they want yet. I've only heard a couple of rumors I haven't been able to substantiate yet.

I have heard no rumblings about the MAC but as I think I said on the SBC Board, any SBC program not looking at all options and having Plan A, B, and C in hand, needs to seriously consider a new AD. I wouldn't doubt that there have been talks with the MAC. Personally, I'm not in favor of WKU to the MAC. No offense to those programs but I love the South and am more likely to travel to away games in the Fall and Winter against CUSA teams over MAC teams.