The Power and Passion of College Football Rivalries

Are you ready for a heart-pounding exploration of college football rivalries like no other? Buckle up, because we're about to tackle the passion and emotions that fuel these iconic clashes. We're ripping open the playbook on matchups like the Iron Bowl and the legendary Ohio State vs. Michigan game, or as it's better known, 'The Game.' And if that's not enough, we're bringing mascots into the mix, those unique characters that add an extra layer of fun to the rivalries. With conference realignment on the horizon, we ponder the future of some of these classic face-offs. So, sit tight as we kick off a discussion that covers all bases and keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Now, let's dive deeper into one of the most ferocious rivalries out there, Ohio State vs. Michigan. As proud Ohio State alumni, we're baring our scarlet and gray hearts and sharing our personal experiences with this storied rivalry. From the annual blood drive to the snake dance, we're pulling back the curtain on our traditions. But hold on to your helmets, because we don't hold back on our strong feelings for Michigan, especially given the recent controversy surrounding their football program. Is it tough to keep the respect for the rival team alive amidst such intense competition? You bet. But that's what makes these rivalries so powerful and captivating. So, whether you're a hardcore college football fan or just dipping your toes into this vibrant world, this episode is sure to fire up your passion for the game.

Transcript

Speaker 2 0:06

the beer brothers proudly present the best of a podcast about the best of everything, from the mundane to the ridiculous. Just three buddies sitting around the car table talking about things that absolutely matter to no one rival re week.

Speaker 3 0:22

You said it right.

Speaker 1 0:24

It is very difficult to say, but we have reached in college football rivalry week and we are talking the best of rivalry week.

Speaker 2 0:36

He's just trying to say it now Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely.

Speaker 1 0:39

I don't screw it up. I'm Mark, I'm Chris, I'm Greg. So college football rivalries, you know they. There are traditional ones, there are newer ones. Obviously, with conference realignment, over the next couple of years we're going to see a lot of changes because everybody wants to come to the SEC. Well, I think you've got, just means more. That's true. You've got these two massive conferences that you know sucking up everybody else.

Speaker 1 1:08

So, you know, what's it going to do to the traditional rivalries and are there still going to be? You know, some of the, some of the classic games, you know. Is USC still going to be playing you UCLA? You know, for that matter, usc and Notre Dame, are they still going to continue? What? What they're going to do when USC goes to the Big 10. Lots of questions, but we're going to be talking about what makes college football rivalries so intense and so much fun. We're going to talk about some of our favorites. Who wants to start Greg?

Speaker 3 1:48

I'll leave Kentucky's to you and I will talk about one of the games that I like to watch. I will leave Ohio State to you, but the other game I like to watch is the iron bowl. Oh yeah, absolutely. I don't know that it's going to be great this year. Consents Auburn beat by New Mexico State by a gazillion and had to pay $1.8 million to take up that kind of weapon.

Speaker 1 2:12

Yeah, I guess it just means more.

Speaker 3 2:16

Well, look, the SEC has proven that their money is no object this year. I mean when you're paying a guy $76 million to not coach my team. That's the problem.

Speaker 2 2:26

I wish I had that job.

Speaker 3 2:28

Right, I want that. But the iron ball Always a great game has some memorable endings. Yes, the kick off or the field goal that got returned back to touchdown a few years ago.

Speaker 1 2:39

I still can't believe that that happened. I watched that and when that went down, you know how do you react to that?

Speaker 2 2:48

That was at Auburn too, though right when Auburn won it, right Pretty sure it was at Auburn.

Speaker 3 2:52

I believe so.

Speaker 1 2:53

I think it was. I think it was, but I mean even Saban when that went down he had this look like what just happened.

Speaker 2 3:04

Wouldn't melz on the coach at Auburn? Wouldn't that happen too?

Speaker 1 3:07

I think it was before him.

Speaker 3 3:09

I think it was before him as well.

Speaker 1 3:10

Was it Chiswick?

Speaker 3 3:13

Gene Chiswick Could have been. Yeah, maybe Where's Gene Chiswick coaching at now? I have no idea.

Speaker 1 3:18

Is this a fun fact? Yes, oh, is there a fun fact?

Speaker 3 3:22

I think this is my first fun fact ever.

Speaker 2 3:25

I am shocked.

Speaker 3 3:27

Used to be on SEC Network as a commentator, he is now the defensive coordinator at the University of North Carolina. Oh, I did not know that.

Speaker 1 3:34

I mean that's useful information to have. I did not know that I was not aware of that it's useless information but Congratulations.

Speaker 3 3:42

Iron bowl for a non yeah Team that we support. Yep, I consider it a good rivalry game.

Speaker 1 3:49

I have only one question about that right. You know the iron ball, and that is what is war eagle. When they are the Auburn Tigers, why do they say war eagle?

Speaker 3 3:58

They actually have an eagle that flies down at the beginning of the game to like midfield every game.

Speaker 1 4:06

So this is like Transylvania University they can't figure out who their mascot is.

Speaker 2 4:09

Yeah, correct, I'm sorry, let's just keep going about the iron ball. Yeah, bull tide, and our mascot is an elephant An elephant named Al yeah.

Speaker 3 4:18

It's awesome.

Speaker 2 4:19

No, yeah, I mean.

Speaker 3 4:19

I don't get it. He is my second favorite mascot in the SEC, Behind Brutus oh SEC.

Speaker 1 4:25

I see Okay, there, brutus, the buck, brutus.

Speaker 3 4:29

We have a old buck.

Speaker 1 4:30

I'm sorry, this is amazing. We have an artificial nut with arms, legs and a body. Now look, my guys are not artificial, they are poisonous.

Speaker 2 4:39

They're tasty.

Speaker 3 4:41

The best mascot in college football, not totally off topic. Uh, that bulldog is pretty awesome.

Speaker 1 4:51

Yeah, Anyway iron ball. Fair enough Iron ball. Okay, you want me to go?

Speaker 2 4:57

Yeah, you go yeah.

Speaker 1 4:59

You know where I'm going with this Amazing blue. That's the game, is it?

Speaker 3 5:04

played in Lima this year. It is Okay. This is a good time to do this this is a good episode to talk about the line it is not, it is not the game Uh.

Speaker 1 5:14

the Ohio State University versus that. That's it Is it, the game, it is the game, the the um the Ohio State. It's the game. I mean, we don't refer it in any other way other than that it is the game, and when you're raised in Ohio, you are raised to hate that team up north.

Speaker 3 5:34

Where did that team up north come? From Michigan, I mean, I know it's Michigan.

Speaker 1 5:39

Oh, I'm sorry. Where did that saying come from? I don't know. I've always heard that, so I assume it's Woody Hayes but, that's.

Speaker 3 5:47

That's always my answer to Ohio State.

Speaker 2 5:49

I just think it's a little bit. I just think it's unique because Michigan is north of Ohio, so it would be that team up north.

Speaker 3 5:54

So they're. So. They're better, because they're up top.

Speaker 1 5:56

Well, they're on the top back in the 60s and 70s. Little little fun, little fun fact here back in the 60s and 70s there was a what was known as the 10 year war between that team up north and the Ohio State University and really kind of started it all. I don't know if you ever want to, you ever want to watch some some fun YouTube videos, go go to look up the 10 year war and watch when Ohio State, in one particular game, when Woody Hayes was the head coach, was just, you know, kicking the tar out of Michigan. And now I just I just said that.

Speaker 2 6:34

I was going to say who's the team up north.

Speaker 1 6:36

He just said I should edit that out.

Speaker 2 6:38

There's just.

Speaker 1 6:39

I need to pay a quarter into the jar. Anyway, they were kicking the tar out of them and at the end of the game Ohio State's driving down the field scored touchdown and Woody Hayes decided to go for two. Just to rub it in further, after the game the reporters asked him, coach Hayes, why on earth did you go for two? At the end of the game he was like well, because they wouldn't let me go for three.

Speaker 3 7:03

I have no issue with that, and it was according to the internet, which has got to be true. Yes, woody Hayes is the one who came up with that phrase.

Speaker 1 7:12

OK, I like it. Woody Hayes once told an assistant coach, as they were driving back from that state up north when they were recruiting a kid. Basically not to stop the car because he did not want to put any of that state's gas into his vehicle, and they posted across the state line on fumes before they filled that.

Speaker 2 7:34

That sounds like made up to me. Could be, but it's a good story.

Speaker 1 7:38

It's in his book. Another fun fact, the Woody Hayes book. Any any guesses on the title? Woody Hayes, you win with people. Fantastic book. Anyway, it's ingrained in you as as a. I'm sure it is in that, that state.

Speaker 3 7:57

I was getting to say. Is it just the exact opposite?

Speaker 1 8:00

I think 100 percent agree. Truly there's. You know, the two states once fought a war. I don't know if you all were aware of that.

Speaker 2 8:07

You just told us it was the 10 year war Not, not an actual war.

Speaker 1 8:11

Not an actual war, when Ohio seeded properties in the upper peninsula and Ohio got Toledo out of the deal.

Speaker 3 8:20

Congratulations Out of the past, but the war was worth it. Congratulations.

Speaker 2 8:26

What was? What did Michigan get for losing? I mean they got rid of Toledo Exactly.

Speaker 3 8:32

But now, if they could have got Lima it would have been.

Speaker 2 8:35

This really would be a good time to tell a lot of story.

Speaker 1 8:38

No, I do want to shout out to a lot of you know, several of my Ohio state buddies, including my college roommate Dave, who I'm sure will be listening to this podcast.

Speaker 2 8:47

Hey Dave.

Speaker 1 8:50

You know it's ingrained in you and Dave from Toledo, so he does he saw it, so he wishes he was.

Speaker 3 8:56

spoils the war.

Speaker 1 8:58

He really did see both sides of it, because it's so the proximity to that state up north is is you know when was that?

Speaker 2 9:05

when was this war you're talking?

Speaker 1 9:06

about. It would have been the late sixties through the mid seventies.

Speaker 2 9:10

No, the actual war the physical, Not the net. The physical war.

Speaker 1 9:15

Late 1700s, I believe.

Speaker 2 9:17

Oh, just when you were a child then.

Speaker 1 9:19

Yeah, I mean, actually it was my daddy. Oh, I should have.

Speaker 3 9:23

So, and I don't know the answer to this, so if it's the team up north, then who leads the series?

Speaker 1 9:31

Oh, I don't know the answer. It's the team up north, and I think.

Speaker 3 9:35

But like Ohio State's, won, like all of them, but like the last two years.

Speaker 1 9:40

If you go back 20 years, I think Ohio State is has won all but three. There was a game in 2011 that they lost in the last two. Then. Otherwise it hasn't been much of a rivalry. When I was in college we were on the short end of the stick quite a bit. Frankly. Coach John Cooper was a tremendous college football coach but he couldn't beat that team up north.

Speaker 3 10:03

Did he get fired? That sealed his fate so well. If they lose again, will Ryan Davy?

Speaker 1 10:07

gone, there will be an enormous amount of pressure because that'd be three in a row.

Speaker 3 10:13

Yeah. And that's, that's not and then Walmart pants would not even be on the sidelines and beat it 100%, and Urban Meyer for whatever flaws he had.

Speaker 2 10:25

Oh my heart, oh my heart, my chest was seven and oh, versus that team up north.

Speaker 1 10:30

Seven and oh and is revered.

Speaker 2 10:33

Well, he come back and coach again when they get rid of Ryan day.

Speaker 1 10:37

I wouldn't want to speculate. I think he's done coaching, but as an Ohio State fan, I would have zero issue with it. Sure, didn't he?

Speaker 2 10:46

quit just out of random blue multiple places Florida.

Speaker 3 10:50

He has a headache, that's right.

Speaker 1 10:53

So that's easily mine obviously Seriously go and watch some of the watch, some of the YouTube videos. There was one time back in the early 70s when the Ohio State players tore down the, the, the banner that the like the football club banner. Yeah, the football club, they tore it down. And the, the audacity, the broadcaster from that team up north, the audacity of these, oh, you know, the players to turn this down. Yeah, seriously, go check that.

Speaker 2 11:27

That's a criminal activity. I'm not so sure I would appreciate that either. I mean that's speaking of which.

Speaker 1 11:32

I'm gonna go ahead and turn it over to Chris.

Speaker 2 11:36

So I thought that this one a lot. I've really thrown this matter. Now I think mine is probably gonna be Campbell'sville and Lindsay Wilson. I think that's the one Great, the best great rivalry down in South Central Kentucky, right the the fighting Campbell'sville Tigers versus the Lindsay Wilson blue Raiders. I think Lindsay Wilson wins that one most of the time. But there's so many rivalries you talk about the UCLA, usc, the whole deal. Of course we don't see that stuff on TV much here.

Speaker 2 12:05

I mean you think about it out in California, so I have to go with the local rivalry. Excuse me that. You know grown-ups a kid.

Speaker 2 12:14

It was always the University of Kentucky versus University of Tennessee and those of us who were you know that part of the state Hate Tennessee as much as we do the rival we have now with the University of Loserville, and Although Kentucky leads Loserville in this rivalry 19 to 15, right, and we've won, I think, the last three in a row by a combined score of like 500 to 12 or something less for the row. Oh, excuse me, last for the row.

Speaker 1 12:47

Getting a little ahead of ourselves, are we?

Speaker 2 12:50

And you know, by a rather large amount, especially when they had the Heisman, heisman winner there, and I can't remember that guy's name either, lamar Jackson, lamar Jackson, when he fumbled, you know, and we got the ball back but, anyhow, the University of Kentucky University, louisville rivalry, to me it's, it's, you know, it's the greatest thing around here, especially for us football fans. Now, I'm afraid that this year, you know Louisville's 10 and 1 and the University of Kentucky is not.

Speaker 3 13:21

Are they ball eligible?

Speaker 2 13:22

Yes, we're always ball eligible, okay.

Speaker 3 13:25

If we'd pony up a little bit more money we'd get better play and say that we can't say pony up, Especially when you're talking about how Georgia pony is out right, you can.

Speaker 2 13:37

I'm a big fan of the UK UofL rivalry took. The kids went down there two years ago. I've been several times and and man, I gotta tell you there's just so much hatred between anything UK UofL. You know basketball related, football related, any anything. Well, let's talk about that for a second. But we call them Louisville, we don't call them that team out West string like that.

Speaker 1 13:56

Now you just called them loserville just.

Speaker 2 13:58

I do call loser. Well, that's so.

Speaker 1 14:00

Hatred. Yeah, how much of college football rivalries really does get to hatred? That's what something I'd like to explore.

Speaker 2 14:07

The bad thing is, I don't know if it's I say hatred, I don't know if it's the teams it is in ours the teams that hate each other. I think it's, I Think everything about it, right. I mean there's no way to do it. I don't think the players feel the way the fans do would you agree with that?

Speaker 1 14:23

Well, when you were it, when you were at UK, was the rivalry in Existence with Louisville at that time?

Speaker 2 14:32

not a more about Tennessee. Tennessee. It was more about Tennessee, because we didn't start the game back in football until what? 1990, seven or eight, yeah I mean, but they hadn't played forever.

Speaker 3 14:45

So the yeah, the UK rivalry started back in 96, okay, see, I was. No, I take that back 94, but they hadn't played since like 20, 24.

Speaker 2 14:56

Okay, since then yeah, so so we've hated them in basketball. I mean, that was the rivalry, yeah see, that's the game.

Speaker 3 15:02

I, when you say the game, that's that's what I was thinking, yeah. And now this year yeah.

Speaker 2 15:09

Louisville not great right, but we, you know we hated prior to that. We hated Tennessee, just Tennessee was our rival and and I think at one time Tennessee really looked at us the same way. Now, quite frankly, in football we didn't know, we couldn't even hold our own with them.

Speaker 1 15:27

I remember in college at Ohio State, my sophomore year, when the that week happens, so it really begins. I mean, frankly, on Sunday night after the Saturday game. So on Sunday night there's a snake dance through the streets.

Speaker 3 15:46

Ritualistic kind of weird. So are there handling of snake?

Speaker 2 15:51

No, this is not Kentucky, I'm talking about oh sorry, you got me on that one.

Speaker 1 15:56

No, but there's a. There's all kinds of competitions that go on that week between the two schools outside of football. One that was always very popular was a blood drive. We did.

Speaker 2 16:09

We did. They're Tennessee, still do, still do. Just went on last week.

Speaker 1 16:12

And I remember that week giving blood. I want to say I know it was at least two times, it may have been three times what you gave blood three times in a week. I know I gave it twice. I can't remember on the third because you gave it twice, right.

Speaker 3 16:29

Because was it for the cookie? Was it for the cookie they were giving?

Speaker 1 16:34

We were not going to get beaten by that team up north, or that.

Speaker 2 16:37

Wow, ok, I've got to admit there's never been a rivalry that big. No, nothing. Listen for the UK. U of L Rivalry week. Did I say it right? Rivalry week.

Speaker 3 16:48

Nothing happens. Nothing happens. There's nothing goes on. So so like talk about what you just said about what happens on the Ohio State campus, yeah, if you.

Speaker 1 16:55

If you go to campus today and you guys have been to campus every M on campus, on street signs, on building signs, every M is marked out. This week it's a. It's something that's been going on for years. If you go to Twitter right now anyone who's associated with the Ohio State University they have a big X to every M on every one of their tweets.

Speaker 3 17:17

It's just you know it's actually kind of cool. Yeah, I like that, but it conditions conditions is not.

Speaker 2 17:23

Kentucky football. And again, you guys know I've been a season taking holder for 26 years. Big fan Don't miss any games. We don't have any traditions. Yeah we just don't. It's a party, that's it. That's it, and so the fourth but there's nothing for the rivalry week. We do nothing. There's nothing special, it's just the game.

Speaker 1 17:39

Yeah, and that kind of stinks, yeah. So that same sophomore year I can tell you just that.

Speaker 3 17:47

I was extremely anemic. Do you remember whatever? Oh yeah.

Speaker 1 17:51

I do?

Speaker 2 17:52

You didn't drink anything that we did. I'm not going to comment on any of this.

Speaker 1 17:56

But I will say that at the end of the, at the end of the snake dance back, you know the parade through the streets. The band would come out and just their street clothes and play and you know, long story short, it ended at Mirror Lake and it was this little pond on campus that's like three feet deep and everyone would jump in Mirror Lake. And we're talking Columbus, Ohio, in the middle of November. It's cold, cold and I remember jumping in Mirror Lake. I had this like leather bomber jacket that was ruined forever, but I didn't care because you know that's just part of the deal. Then, a few years you know past, and some some kid actually dove into Mirror Lake and got paralyzed and either died or was paralyzed. So they've closed Mirror Lake. It's not, you know, something you could do anymore, Thankfully. But. But I will say that if you, if you ever have an opportunity just to be on campus during that rivalry week, it is worth it just to be there.

Speaker 3 18:58

Let's drive up there to get some donuts. Oh, but God donuts.

Speaker 1 19:02

Yes, I'm, I'm there.

Speaker 3 19:03

Let's go.

Speaker 2 19:05

Can we stop at Schmitz on the way back home?

Speaker 1 19:07

in German or German village. I'm telling you, I'm 100% there I'm in. Yeah, it's a rivalry week.

Speaker 3 19:17

So I mean it's, I think it's clear Ohio State and Michigan's the base it's better than anything Kentucky's got.

Speaker 2 19:26

Oh, no, absolutely.

Speaker 3 19:27

I agree with that. It's special. And I don't know if Auburn and Alabama are that way, you know, I just don't know enough about it. I think they hate each other equally.

Speaker 2 19:37

I don't know enough about it. You know, I work with a lot of Auburn fans, a lot of Alabama fans, and I know they hate each other equally. But I don't know if they have. I'm sure they have traditions like that.

Speaker 1 19:46

Here's the thing I want to say, though. You respect the rivalry also, and it was easy to respect the other team until this year. I have zero respect for that other team.

Speaker 2 19:57

Is this on the level of Milky Way's?

Speaker 3 20:00

allegedly 100% way worse, allegedly.

Speaker 1 20:03

There's no allegedly.

Speaker 3 20:04

No, it's alleged.

Speaker 1 20:05

She's been proven.

Speaker 3 20:06

It's she does. No, it's not been proven. It's alleged proven, it's not. Yeah, I mean, look, that's. That is the bias. Oh, I can tell that.

Speaker 1 20:15

Oh, okay, it's not been proven.

Speaker 3 20:17

Hey, just real quick.

Speaker 1 20:18

Yeah, they. They had no reason to fire their linebackers. Coach of a number one defense in the country.

Speaker 3 20:24

He may not have been doing a good job.

Speaker 2 20:26

How's all ball doing right now? He's just still hanging out Right. He's watching the games.

Speaker 3 20:31

Dude's getting paid Cheaters and he's got his Walmart pants and that disrespects the rivalry.

Speaker 1 20:38

You know if you went on the field great, but you know when you have to resort to cheating, to win on the alleged.

Speaker 2 20:45

how do you know how's it? I mean, it's really cheating. It's a really cheating 100%.

Speaker 1 20:50

it's really cheating.

Speaker 3 20:50

Yes, but they didn't take away the Houston Astros World Series when they were cheating True Apples and dishwashers.

Speaker 2 20:57

A little trash can bang in there.

Speaker 3 20:59

Yep, I'm confused Apples and dishwasher.

Speaker 1 21:01

They were still on signs I they're wrong for not taking away that championship.

Speaker 3 21:09

in my opinion, I got no problem with that, but they got caught for sure. Michigan's Michigan is innocent until proven guilty.

Speaker 1 21:16

Spoken like a true lawyer. We are out, boys.

Speaker 2 21:26

And thanks for listening to this week's podcast, the best of presented by the beer brothers.

Speaker 1 21:32

The best of is available on all formats. Wherever you listen to podcasts, be sure to catch our next episode. You never know what or who will be the best of next. Have a great day, everyone.