Earlier in the week, the Wall Street Journal ran a must-read article that chronicled the intensity of the annual "border war" rivalry game between Kansas and Missouri. The rivalry transcends football (which isn't surprising, given the historic level of success, or lack thereof, that both programs have enjoyed).
The "border war" continues tonight, and for a change, this year's "border war" has national championship implications. Since Kansas is undefeated and Missouri is 10-1, tonight's game is probably the most important edition of this venerable rivalry. One of these teams will walk off the field knowing that it's no longer in BCS contention. And that's unfortunate, because it would be nice to see both programs play in a BCS game (I figured I'd see a Sasquatch before I'd ever see Kansas or Mizzou in contention for the national championship).
Last week, this blog recognized Ohio State vs. Michigan as the best rivalry in college football. Everybody knows how big that rivalry is. But few people know about the intensity of the Kansas vs. Missouri rivalry. Tonight's game could do a lot to change that (provided that people actually watch the game -- despite the importance of the game, Kansas and Missouri aren't exactly marquee names in college football). But given the nature of this rivalry, and considering the mutual dislike between people from Kansas and denizens of the Show Me State, the rivalry's place in the consciousness of the American public will have little affect on the intensity of the "border war."
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5 comments:
Man!! Y'all don't have eeeny i-dea wut y'll's talkin' bout!! I'm tellin' y'all right now there ain't no rivalry like Arkansas LSU!!! And there ain't nobody better than Darren McFadden!!! Boy, I'm tellin' y'all that y'all don't know football!!! Ohio State and Michigan ain't nuthin'!!! The only thang they's ever playin' fer is ta see which overrated crappy Big 10 team's goin' git they ass whupped by an SEC team in the BCS!!! Y'all yankees don't play no footall up there and y'all don't know nuthin' 'bout football!!! Auburn vs. Alabama!!! Florida vs. Georgia!!! Man, it don't get no better then that rightche 'air boy!!!!
SEC baby!!! Yee Haw!!!
As an aside, I'd like to point out that PC Police ordered a change of this game's official title. Since 9/11 (IN NO WAY am I donwgrading the importance of that atrocity in our country's history )the game has been renamed "The Border Battle." I guess the "battle" title is apropos, considering Kansas and Missouri were both intregal in the birth of the Civil War. I'll leave that kind of material to the historians, tho. Otherwise, you did a fine job with this piece. People should know about this gem of a rivalry, or "battle," as they say.
I have seen a Sasquatch.
Why did Kansas get picked over Missouri for the BCS. It makes no sense. It's like asking the fat girl to prom when the beauty wants to be your date.
Tora,
You said that by taking Kansas over Missouri, the BCS was essentially "asking the fat girl to prom."
Well, it may not be the prom, but the BCS definitely asked the fat coach to the Orange Bowl.
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