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- Jan 30, 2012
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College sports have plenty of great rivalries;
Michigan v OSU
Texas v Oklahoma
Bama v Auburn
UNC v Duke basketball
But all of those rivalries have one thing in common-geography. They are all neighbor v neighbor rivalries with PERCEIVED differences. When the reality is that there are no real differences between the players and fans of those rivalries. The players were mostly recruited by both schools. The fans have family on the other side of the rivalry. And you can argue that is what makes them interesting, but I would argue all those rivalries are nothing more than 2 neighbors yelling across a fence. Yes they are yelling, but they CHOSE to live in the same neighborhood.
I grew up in Ann Arbor and was told “we” hate OSU. When I asked why as a kid, the answer was ‘because they live in Ohio’. Never mind the fact that Michigan and Ohio share so much in common in terms of Midwest values.
Miami v ND has nothing to do with geography. It is a rivalry based on history of competing against the best, and a belief that “they are not like us”. And they are not. Whether it was Jimmy stepping on Faust in his last game, Cleveland Gary being robbed, Catholics v Convicts t-shirts, or anything else, these 2 programs truly see themselves as different from each other. This is a professional rivalry.
Lakers v Celtics
Dodgers v Yankees
Steelers v Cowboys.
No geographic issue. Just a sincere belief that “we” are not like ”them”. Both sides live it and believe it. If it was up to me, Miami and ND would play every single season. When these programs are good, they are the best story in college sports. They divide even the casual fan who tends to identify more with one program than the other; traditional, Midwest, admittedly “whiter” vs flashy, S FLA to the core, and minority dominated.
People in NYC and Los Angeles could care less about Auburn v. Alabama. But Miami v ND is a like the Godfather. A classic that draws in everyone.
Michigan v OSU
Texas v Oklahoma
Bama v Auburn
UNC v Duke basketball
But all of those rivalries have one thing in common-geography. They are all neighbor v neighbor rivalries with PERCEIVED differences. When the reality is that there are no real differences between the players and fans of those rivalries. The players were mostly recruited by both schools. The fans have family on the other side of the rivalry. And you can argue that is what makes them interesting, but I would argue all those rivalries are nothing more than 2 neighbors yelling across a fence. Yes they are yelling, but they CHOSE to live in the same neighborhood.
I grew up in Ann Arbor and was told “we” hate OSU. When I asked why as a kid, the answer was ‘because they live in Ohio’. Never mind the fact that Michigan and Ohio share so much in common in terms of Midwest values.
Miami v ND has nothing to do with geography. It is a rivalry based on history of competing against the best, and a belief that “they are not like us”. And they are not. Whether it was Jimmy stepping on Faust in his last game, Cleveland Gary being robbed, Catholics v Convicts t-shirts, or anything else, these 2 programs truly see themselves as different from each other. This is a professional rivalry.
Lakers v Celtics
Dodgers v Yankees
Steelers v Cowboys.
No geographic issue. Just a sincere belief that “we” are not like ”them”. Both sides live it and believe it. If it was up to me, Miami and ND would play every single season. When these programs are good, they are the best story in college sports. They divide even the casual fan who tends to identify more with one program than the other; traditional, Midwest, admittedly “whiter” vs flashy, S FLA to the core, and minority dominated.
People in NYC and Los Angeles could care less about Auburn v. Alabama. But Miami v ND is a like the Godfather. A classic that draws in everyone.
