CampusGrotto College Sports

The Best All-Time College Football Rivalries

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:17:46 +0100

If there is one thing that is great about college football, it is the tradition that surrounds the game. This is often why many people enjoy college football over the NFL, because of the historic and heated rivalries that date back over 100 years ago. Let's take a look and some of the best all-time rivalries in college football: 1. Michigan vs. Ohio State This match up is considered possibly the greatest rivalry of all-time between all sports with the game usually deciding the Big 10 champion and usually having somewhat of an impact on the national championship game. Michigan leads the series 57-41-6 which began in 1897. The rivalry really intensified during the "Ten-Year War" from 1969 to 1978 when some of the programs best all-time teams faced off against each other. 2. Army vs. Navy Navy leads this rivalry 52-49-7, which has been going since 1890. It is usually played on the first Saturday in December and the game really serves as bragging rights between the two services. Until end of the season conference championship games started being played, it was the last regular season game played in Division I-A football. Starting in 2009, the game will be moved from the first Saturday in December to the second Saturday once again making it the last regular season game of the year. It was during this rivalry match up in 1963 that instant replay was first used in college football. 3. USC vs. Notre Dame What makes this rivalry so great is that both programs have been historically known to be one of the more prestigious programs in the nation. Each school has 11 national championships under it's belt. The intensity of this rivalry is quite impressive, considering these two teams are not in the same conference and are located so far away from each other.The Irish lead this series 42-33-5. 4. Harvard vs. Yale The Harvard and Yale match up, also called �The Game�, dates back to 1875. It is the oldest college football rivalry to date, in which Yale leads 65-51-8 in this annual classic. For many students and alumni of Harvard and Yale, The Game is an important event. The schools are located only a few hours from one another and because they are among the nation's most prestigious colleges the rivalry is intense. Beating the rival is often considered more important than the team's season record. Since Ivy League schools do not participate in post-season football games, The Game is usually the final game of the season for each team. The Game is an inviting target for pranksters, most famously Yale's "We Suck" prank (http://www.campusgrotto.com/harvard-vs-yale.html). 5. Texas vs. Oklahoma Known as the Red River Rivalry or Red River Shootout, the river that forms the boundary between the states. Since 1932 the game has been held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, during the second weekend of October. As of 2008, Texas leads this series 58-40-5. What makes this match up so intense is the significance this game has on a conference and national level, as both Oklahoma and Texas traditionally come into the game being ranked. 6. Alabama vs. Auburn Known as the Iron Bowl, Alabama leads this series 39�33�1 since the rivalry started back in 1893. The game was traditional played in Birmingham, Alabama, home to the Crimson Tide, because their stadium could seat more fans. Auburn's first true home game in the series was not until 1989, when expansions were made to their stadium to hold more fans. 7. Florida State vs. Miami Although this rivalry is present in all sporting events between the two schools, the main focus of the rivalry is the football game that is played every year between these two. The Hurricanes lead this Florida series 30-23, dating back to 1951. This rivalry really intensifies when both teams come into the game being ranked, which has usually been the case over the last 20 years. 8. Notre Dame vs. Michigan The Notre Dame and Michigan game was first played in 1887, the first year Notre Dame had a football team. Michigan leads the entire series 20-15-1. Michigan and Notre Dame football are considered to be among the most elite college programs. What makes this rivalry so great is that Michigan and Notre Dame respectively rank #1 and #2 in all-time wins and winning percentage (http://www.collegesports.campusgrotto.com/best-college-football-teams.html). 9. Georgia vs. Auburn The Georgia-Auburn game is known as the deep south's oldest rivalry. The first match up was in 1892 when Auburn defeated Georgia 10-0. Overall, Auburn leads the series 53�51�8. The rivalry is known to favor the visiting team, as the away team tends to fare better than expected. Since 1959, the visiting squad has a 29-16-2 record. 10. Florida vs. Florida State Since 1990, one or both teams have often been highly ranked coming into the game, adding national championship implications to an already fierce in-state rivalry. The 1990s seemed to be the most intense decade in the Florida-Florida State rivalry, as each time the two teams met they were both ranked in the top ten of the nation. Florida leads this "Sunshine Showdown" 33-19-2. Bonus 11. Florida vs. Georgia Any match up known as the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" deserves being considered as a top rivalry. The game takes place in Jacksonville usually on the last Saturday in October. Georgia leads the series 46-38-2, being very dominant at the beginning of the series that began in 1915. Since 1990 though, Florida has owned this rivalry.

2008 Preseason College Football Rankings

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:34:53 +0100

Welcome to another ripened college football season set to get underway. With high expectations, national powerhouses being upset, and Cinderella stories surely to be apart of the mix; ultimately to crown the 2009 National Champion. The forensic stat compiling and looming underdogs has brought fans, kids, and alumni from everywhere on the edge of our seats once again. With sophomores (Tebow) now winning the Heisman, one can�t help but ask, what will this season bring? Without further ado, here is our compilation of the pre-season Top 12. Florida - With early graduation this team is still an overpowering attack. It doesn�t hurt to have the Heisman winner as well. When Tebow gets into trouble look for Percy Harvin to have a very big season. USC - Another year of So. Cal. domination has Trojan fans calling this the year for Pete Carroll�s team, and you can�t blame them with prototype QB Mark Sanchez, and Rey Maualuga leading the way for a stacked defense. Watch out Pac-10, before it�s called the Pac-1. Ohio State - The highly hyped 2008 season has been all about the signing of Terrelle Pryor for the Buckeyes. But don�t overlook RB Chris Wells which is in preseason All-American magazines everywhere. With a cupcake non-conference schedule look for the Buckeyes to remain close to this ranking up until later stages of the year. Oklahoma - The Sooners are very excited about the season, and with Sam Bradford dropping back, they have all the makings of being a title contender. Also, with the 1-2 punch of Running backs Allen Patrick, and sophomore stud Demarco Murray it won�t hurt their cause. Clemson - Tiger Fans are in for another wild season. Tommy Bowden has still yet to win an ACC Title and wants to bring that to his resume. Clemson is stacked everywhere starting at running back, with the most consistent Tiger in James Davis. He just wears on the opponents, especially in the fourth quarter. Davis is complemented well with electric runner C.J. Spiller. The defense has lineman and ball-hawks all over the depth chart which will help their title chances as well. Georgia - Ranked at the top of most polls to start this season, the Bulldogs have a optimistic outlook this season. QB Matthew Safford�s progression from freshmen to sophomore season was catastrophic. Knowshon Moreno has whispers of a possible Heisman run, after his 1300+ yard, 14 TD season. Watch out though, they do play in the SEC, where anything can happen. LSU - Even though they lost tons of key components to the NFL, and graduation, look for the Tigers not to miss a beat. They have such a well balanced offense and seem to restack their defense every year. Look for a LSU/Florida match up in the SEC Title game. West Virginia - What a shocking off-season for the Mountaineers as ex-coach/alumni Rich Rodriguez jumped ship to Michigan. However, they still have Heisman hopeful Pat White leading the way. Also, Noel Devine will help keep a balanced running combo. This is still a tricky opponent of defense with the schemes they run.

Kansas Wins National Championship

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:13:12 +0100

2008 NCAA Championship: Kansas vs. Memphis Final score: Kansas 75 Memphis 68 The long road to a championship is over. What started at 65 teams was left as a face off of two number 1 seeds. Just one is crowned champion: Kansas. Kansas� road to the championship went like this: Portland St, UNLV, Villanova, Davidson and North Carolina. After surviving tournament cinderella Davidson and overpowering a true test in North Carolina, Kansas proved they were ready for the power and the speed of Memphis. Kansas faced a big test, and one thing was clear: no Big 12 team had ever won a National Championship. They were up against a Memphis team who proved they were ready for a championship after defeating two of the best teams in the tournament: Texas and UCLA. Not only was it a battle of two great teams, but two great coaches. John Calipari and Bill Self are only two of three coaches in NCAA Division I history to coach two different schools to a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. Both teams are very similar in that they have faced paced offenses that score about 80 points a game, while only giving up about 60. Dorsey, who didn�t score at all in the previous game against UCLA, started things off with the game�s first basket. Kansas faced its largest point deficit of the tournament when Memphis took an early 9 to 3 lead, but responded nicely with a 15-4 run of their own. The second half was very face paced with both teams going back and forth, keeping the game close. Kansas experienced a minor scoring drought, which allowed Derrick Rose and the Memphis Tigers to pull ahead slightly. Derrick Rose, who has shined throughout the tournament, had not scored fewer than 17 points in any NCAA Tournament game, although only averaging 13.9 points during the regular season. The Kansas defense had him held to only 3 points in the first half. Kansas had a big game inside, not only on scoring, but rebounding as well. It was enough for Bill Self and company in his first appearance in a National Championship. One thing in question was Memphis� free throw shooting, as they are shooting just 61.3 percent for the season. This wasn�t an issue when they faced UCLA, where they made 20 of 23 for a nice 87% average. It didn�t prove to be much of an issue against Kansas until a front end of a 1-and-1 was missed toward the end of the game. It was the missed free throws that led to overtime. Kansas played some great D against North Carolina and was pretty solid against Memphis. All eyes were on Brandon Rush, the Junior small forward who led a balanced attack against the Tigers. Look for Kansas Coach Bill Self to get a huge contract after this game.

Number One Seeds Face-Off

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:30:57 +0100

Fantastic Four Every March, the NCAA tournament brings forth countless memorable surprises, which are why it is regarded as one of the most highly-anticipated sporting events to date. This year, the intensity level is even greater. For the first time in NCAA history, four #1 teams will battle it out in the Final Four. North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA, and Memphis are set to compete this weekend, and Monday night a champion will be crowned. Though all of these teams experienced their struggles during the regular season, there is no question that they were the top four contenders (http://www.collegesports.campusgrotto.com/final-four-predictions.html) in the country. The Tar Heels will square off against the Jayhawks, while the Tigers will battle the Bruins. Each of these schools has bred some of the most influential players in basketball history, including Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, and Wilt Chamberlain, demonstrating just how successful each respective basketball program has been. Come Monday, one of these schools will reach another historic feat. What intensifies the North Carolina vs. Kansas match up even more is the fact that UNC head coach Roy Williams left the Jayhawks in 2003 to go coach at North Carolina, his alma mater. Many considered him a traitor for doing so, but either way it is clear that he was able to help make an impact with the Tar Heels, as was evident by the National Championship that he brought to North Carolina in 2005. Many find the NCAA tournament entertaining considering it brings out the best in every competitor. Two years ago, George Mason shocked the basketball world with their trip to the Final Four. This year, Davidson, a school of just 1,700 students, defeated a handful of the country�s top teams before losing a disheartening game against Kansas by a score of 59-57. The stakes in this year�s tournament only mean that certain players, such as North Carolina�s Tyler Hansbrough, UCLA�s Kevin Love, Kansas� Brandon Rush, and Memphis� Derrick Rose, will have to bring their game to another level. As mentioned earlier, each school has generated a handful of athletes that have gone down in sports history as some of the most recognized historical figures. This weekend, the game�s current top superstars will have a similar opportunity. Who is favored to come out on top? Most experts believe that North Carolina has the edge, especially since the Tar Heels have probably been the most consistent of the four over the past decade. The Memphis Tigers actually have something else to play for, as one more win will secure them the record for most victories by an NCAA Division 1 team in a single season. It is also interesting that these four teams headed into the season ranked as the top four in the country. Despite all of the leaps and bounds experienced in the regular season, we are back to where we started, and this weekend a definite champion will be crowned.

Indiana Hoosiers New Coach

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:10:51 +0100

A Crean Slate The Indiana Hoosiers� hunt for a new head coach is over. When rumors started to circulate that former Chicago Bulls head coach was next in line for the job, a deal did not seem far off. However, the IU athletic department was hesitant to make an abrupt, desperate decision. Tom Crean will take over as the new head coach for the Indiana Hoosiers, and according to him, accepting the job was a �hearty� decision. "This was a heart decision," Crean said, his voice cracking. "This was not a business decision or a legacy decision. I'd had other opportunities to walk away [from Marquette], and none of them felt like this. I'm going to miss those people a lot, but I'm excited to be here." Crean grew up a passionate Hoosiers fan, and now he will now get the opportunity to lead the team he followed as a child. For Crean, it only seems like days ago when he attended his first coaching clinic with future Hall of Famer Bobby Knight. It is obvious that he is looking forward to the job, but he unquestionably has some work ahead of him in cleaning up the mess that former coach Kelvin Sampson left behind. In addition to earning his lifelong dream job, Crean will also be bringing home a happy paycheck. Indiana has agreed to an eight-year deal worth over $18 million with Crean, making it clear that the Hoosier organization was willing to pay whatever price necessary to bring in someone to take the organization out of the hole that Kelvin Sampson put it in. "I'm going to look for people who understand why we wear the candy-striped pants and why we wear Indiana on our jerseys," he said. "It's going to take time." The unfortunate part is that Crean is literally getting everything thrown his way that still remains regarding the whole Sampson scandal. Two players, Armon Bassett and Jamarcus Ellis, who were dismissed from the Hoosier team, are expected to meet with Crean sometime soon to discuss their future with the organization. Crean will also have to be present for the scheduled hearing that the Hoosiers have coming up this June with the NCAA infractions committee. The players are also ecstatic to hear that they will now have a long-term coach. Crean has been their third in the past two months, and it was evident in the Hoosiers play at the end of the season that they were struggling under the circumstances. "It didn't seem quick enough, it's been horrible for us," Crawford said of the search. "It was a very long season, a lot of stuff happened, so it's good to start it over and have a better season."

Tourney Recap

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:33:48 +0100

The Tournament has been full of upsets so far. After the first weekend of the NCAA tournament there has been a handful of stunning surprises. Several teams, including Davidson, Western Kentucky, and West Virginia, have eliminated some of the top contenders, filling the next few weeks with uncertainty. However, one thing is for sure: two #2 teams will not be participating in the sweet 16 (http://www.collegesports.campusgrotto.com/ncaa-sweet-16.html). Let�s begin with Georgetown. Entering the tournament as a #2 seed, many fans (including myself) considered the Hoyas a final-four caliber club. The Davidson Wildcats proved these fans wrong. On Sunday, Stephen Curry (http://www.collegesports.campusgrotto.com/who-is-stephen-curry.html), son of former NCAA superstar Dell Curry, led the Davidson Wildcats to a 74-70 victory over the Georgetown Hoyas. Before this weekend, very few people knew that Davidson even existed, and even less thought that a school of just 1,700 students would be able to overcome the Hoyas. While the win over Gonzaga on Friday was viewed as an upset, Sunday was even more dramatic for Davidson given the unfavorable circumstances. "Never. That thought never crossed our mind," said Davidson senior point guard Jason Richards when asked if he and his teammates thought that the Hoyas, at one point hitting better than 70 percent of their shots, were simply too good on this day. "You can never think about that. We stayed focused, stuck to our system, and I mean like I said before -- you can't think you're not going to win the game, to fight the full 40 minutes. And that's what we did." On Friday, the Wildcats will have their hands full against the Wisconsin Badgers, the Big 10 champions. There is no question that it will take a strong effort from Davidson to pull off another upset. Either way, Davidson has left its mark, being the first team from the Southern Conference to earn a victory in the March tournament. But that wasn�t the only surprise this weekend. Coach Mike Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils were unable to surpass the Mountaineers of West Virginia, who held off Duke�s championship hopes until next season. Though this upset was probably not as shocking as Davidson�s victory over Georgetown, it is still difficult when trying to figure out what actually went wrong. It seemed as if Duke was under pressure the whole game, and with roughly 10:00 left in regulation it was as if Coach Krzyzewski hit the panic button. Some of the Duke youngsters, including Kyle Singler and Jon Scheyer, started tossing up three-point shots left and right without getting any good looks. This is the second year in a row that Duke has failed to make it to the sweet 16. From 1997-2006, Duke always made it through the first two rounds. What was the problem? Coach Krzyzewski felt that the struggles were due to a lack of leadership from their senior star DeMarcus Nelson. "I think he probably struggled with trying too hard," Krzyzewski said. "He's the only senior on our team and really one of the main reasons we've won 28 games this year. I think sometimes at the end, a person who cares sometimes puts too much on themselves. ... The last couple of weeks I think he's done that. It's just the fact that -- he's had a great year and he didn't have a real good game (against West Virginia). But the kid cares as much as he can. It's one of those things. I feel badly for him."