Rivalries in college, and really any school, have been around for ages. There’s always that one game, against that one school, that means so much more than any other. Your team could be having a losing season, but beating your rival makes everything a little better. In most cases, the rivalry game is the last game of the regular season. I’m sure there are many reasons for this; I like to think that it allows for maximum hatred of the other team. Instead of just a week leading up to the game where you rag on one another, you’re allowed the entire season with mini breaks every Saturday for that week’s particular opponent. After the game, though, you’re back to focusing on the different ways to show how much you can’t stand that certain team.
Wherever you attend school, if you don’t already know who your rival is, you soon will. Shortly after, you’ll be rooting against them in every sport there is. Never watched lacrosse in your life, but when you turn on the TV their playing? You must sit there and continue watching solely for the purpose of making sure they don’t win. If you come to school knowing your rival, participating in the rivalry already, you’re 10 steps ahead.
Among the hoards of rivalries, here are some that are thought to be the best. We have the Michigan and Ohio State game. They’ve met 111 times, with Michigan leading the battle 58-46-6. You’ve got the UCLA and USC game, where they’ve been meeting since 1929 and USC leads 44-31-7. BYU and Utah’s game, termed the “Holy War," began in 1896 with Utah leading 57-34-4. The “Civil War," with Oregon and Oregon State, has been played 118 times with Oregon leading 62-46-10. A classic for many is the Iron Bowl with Auburn and Alabama. They’ve met 79 times with Alabama leading 43-35-1. Clemson and South Carolina have met up 112 times with Clemson leading 66-42-4. Then, there’s Army and Navy who began playing one another in 1890. They have since met up 115 times with Navy leading 59-49-7. Last but not least, is the Florida and Florida State game. They’ve met 59 times with Florida leading 34-23-2.
For me, from the above stats, the FSU and UF rivalry has always been the one I paid the most attention to. Growing up, I was surrounded by garnet and gold. Honest to god, I learned how to spell Florida from a Florida State body pillow I had been given; I would sing the classic FSU cheer, where you spell out F-L-O-R-I-D-A S-T-A-T-E, in my room for hours on end until I memorized it. Hey, at least little seven year-old me was determined.
I didn’t know about rivalries or really anything about sports and different colleges outside of Tallahassee. Everyone wore garnet and gold and went for the Seminoles, so I assumed that’s what you were supposed to do. My brother, though, the rebel he is, decided he wanted to be a Gator and wear orange and blue. For many years, it became our own little rivalry. I went for FSU, while he went for UF. When they played each other, it was like we were pitted against one another.
As I got older, I realized there was a real rivalry between the two schools; it wasn’t just me against my brother. Around middle school, I came to my senses, finally, and started going for UF. That’s one way to make enemies in school… I swear none of the kids, including myself, actually paid attention to any of the games, but the fact that I was a “Gator” was, like, the worst possible thing I could ever be.
As I proceeded through school, I knew I wanted to go to the University of Florida. I didn’t really have any back-up plan except that FSU was not an option. Not because I hated them, but I wanted to get away from home. I think the weirdest thing for me is when people come to Tallahassee on the weekend just for fun. I guess it’s different for me to see people willingly come to a place that I always wanted to get out of.
Even with their obvious differences, their similarities don’t go unnoticed. Each has their team. Whether FSU or UF, they root for them through any and everything, putting their school above all else. I’m proud to come from Tallahassee, and I’m even more proud to be beginning a new journey in Gainesville.
Now as I’m surrounded by orange and blue everyday, I think back to me as a 5-year-old wearing an FSU cheerleading outfit and laugh. Oh, how the times have changed.
