Rivals That Should Play

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Rivals That Need to Play More Often

These are games that for one reason or another haven't been played recently or aren't being played enough. With the new 12 game schedule there is no reason these schools can't play each year. Would you rather see Clemson-Georgia or Clemson-The Citadel?

1. Florida vs Miami (Miami leads 28-25-0)-In the last 2 decades these are 2 of the best programs college football has to offer. 7 National Championships between the 2 schools since 1983. You would think the instate rivals would play more often, but since 1987 the two schools have only met four times and unfortunately only one of these games were when the 2 programs were both at their peak(2001 Sugar Bowl). The two do meet in 2008 and 2009, with the 12 game schedule there is no reason these two shouldn't play each year.

Memorable game-In 1971 with the Gators up big late in the game, Florida players actually layed down so Miami could score a meaningless TD.  The reason for this is because Florida wanted enough time on the clock to get QB John Reaves back in the game to break the all time passing record at Florida, which he did get.  After the game Florida players celebrated by jumping into a pool that housed "Flipper", the Miami Dolphins mascot. This game is known as the "Florida Flop" game.

Fun Fact-The teams have met twice in bowl games. The 2001 Sugar Bowl and the 2004 Peach Bowl. Miami won both of these games.

2. Texas vs Arkansas(Texas leads 55-21-0)-At one time you could argue this was the biggest rivalry in college football. Under Darrel Royal and Frank Broyles these 2 teams established themselves as Southwest Conference powers. When Arkansas left the SWC in 1991 the series basically ended, with only 3 games since. In 2008 the two teams will meet again in Austin, but a Hog deal with Texas A&M has likely ended the chances of these two meeting on a yearly basis. Arkansas will get to host the Horns again sometime in the next decade, but after it could be awhile before we see the Horns-Hogs again.

Memorable game-"The Game of the Century" was played on December 6, 1969 in Fayetteville, AR. Texas was 10-0 and ranked #1 nationally. Arkansas was 10-0 and ranked #2 nationally. The winner was to be awarded the National Championship by Richard Nixon who was flown in by helicopter. Down late, Texas was able to rally and pull off a 15-14 win.

Fun Fact-The Hogs have won 3 of the last 4 in the series. This includes a 27-6 thumping of Texas in the 2000 Cotton Bowl.

3. Clemson vs Georgia(UGA leads 41-17-4)-In the 80s there were few rivalries that meant more to Southern Football than Clemson-Georgia. Both teams were regulars in the top 10 nationally and both won National Championships in the early 80s. A couple of the games have been decided by last second FG attempts.

Memorable game-In 1980 the Georgia Bulldogs won the National Championship under Coach Vince Dooley. Clemson went 6-5 and failed to make a bowl game. When the 2 teams met on September 19, 1981 UGA was the obvious favorite, but the Tigers' defense dominated the game and Ford's team won 13-3. This win was the biggest in a season that saw Clemson win its first and only National Championship.

Fun Fact-Clemson, SC and Athens, GA are only 78 miles apart from each other.

4. West Virginia vs Virginia Tech(WVU leads 28-22-1)-Recently we've seen both of these former Independents become two of college football's best teams. Unfortunately in 2006 and in 2007 we didn't get to see White and Slaton against Foster's defense. When Virginia Tech left the Big East, they hurt what could've become a classic College rivalry game

Memorable game-In 2002 the rivalry was on showcase by ESPN. WVU entered the game at 7-3, Virginia Tech was at 8-2. In a hostile Thursday Night atmosphere in Blacksburg, West Virginia was able to sneak past the Hokies 21-18 in a win that built momentum for Rich Rodriguez's big run at WVU.

Fun Fact-Both schools were Independents prior to joining the Big East.

5. South Carolina vs North Carolina(UNC leads 34-17-4)-Last year we saw what a game between these two can mean to both fan bases. South Carolina fans traveled in huge numbers to Keenan Stadium for an ABC broadcast. The game provided lots of excitement and in the end the Gamecocks held on for a 21-15 win. The 2 schools will meet again in 2010 in Columbia, but it will only be the 2nd game the two have played since 1990. South Carolina is making an effort to play more ACC schools, but a proposal to play UNC on a yearly basis in Charlotte(The Panthers Stadium) has never been approved.

Memorable game-On October 24, 1981 UNC was ranked #3 nationally and the Heels were 6-0. The Heels had won 20 of its last 21 games dating back to 1979. Heisman winner George Rogers graduated from USC the year prior and the Gamecocks were struggling at 4-3 in Jim Carlen's final season. Few gave the Gamecocks any chance, but USC dominated the Tarheels and ended up with a 31-13 victory. South Carolina finished the season 6-6 that included losses to Hawaii and Pacific. UNC finished 10-2, its other loss was to another Palmetto State team in Clemson.

Fun Fact-This was also a huge basketball rivalry when South Carolina was in the ACC. Hall of Famer Frank McGuire coached both programs and won the 1957 National Championship at North Carolina.

6. Georgia Tech vs Auburn(Auburn leads 47-41-4)-When the Bama series halted for several decades there were many that believed Tech was Auburn's biggest rival. Keep in mind that at the time Georgia Tech was a member of the SEC and that these schools are only 108 miles apart. Wreck Tech! Wreck Tech! Wreck the hell out of Georgia Tech! was a cheer that could be heard by many Auburn fans back in the day. The last 2 times the rivalry has seen Georgia Tech pull upsets over Auburn in 2003 and 2005. The game has been played a few times over the years at Birmingham's Legion Field.

Memorable game-In 1987 Georgia Tech was up on Auburn late in the game 10-6. In the final 22 seconds Auburn scored 2 Touchdowns to win the game 20-10. A 4 yard pass in the back of the end zone to Lawyer Tillman and a Audray Bruce returned INT 45 yards for a TD on the final play.

Fun Fact-Beginning in 1906 Georgia Tech refused to play Auburn away from Atlanta because the Tigers' facility was too small. So for 54 consecutive games the 2 teams only played in Atlanta.   Now Jordan Hare Stadium seats 35,000 more than Bobby Dodd stadium.

7. Southern Miss vs Ole Miss(Ole Miss leads 18-6-0)-While the 2 schools compete in baseball and now even in basketball, the Golden Eagles and Rebs haven't played on the gridiron since 1984. Ole Miss dominated the series early on, but Southern Miss has won 5 of the last 7 games between the two.

Memorable Game-The final game between the 2 in 1984 saw 1-5 Southern Miss pull off a 13-10 upset win over Billy Brewer's Rebs who were 3-3-1 entering the game.

Fun Fact-The series has only been played in Hattiesburg 4 times, which is the same number of times the series has been played in Jackson, MS

8. Southern Miss vs MSU(Southern Miss leads 14-12-1)-Another Magnolia State Rivalry. The two programs haven't met since 1990, a 13-10 win for MSU. The two are powers in college baseball and meet on the diamond, but the football rivalry is now only one of words. USM has won 10 of the last 14 between the 2 schools.

Memorable Game-1980 was one of the best seasons in Mississippi State football. Emory Bellard's Bulldogs finished the regular season 9-2 and ranked #19 nationally. If not for a 21-15 loss to Florida, the Dogs would've had its first SEC title since 1941. Who was the other loss to? Well, it happened on October 11, 1980 when Bobby Collins Golden Eagles went to Starkville and whipped the Dogs 42-14. MSU and USM combined for 18 wins that season

Fun Fact-Southern Miss is credited with 2 forfeit wins over MSU in 1975 and in 1976. Take away these wins and MSU leads the series.

9. East Carolina vs NC State(NC State leads 15-10-0)-The rivalry between Duke and UNC often casts a shadow over this one, but it shouldn't as this is the better football rivalry. Two of the most rabid fan bases in the Tarheel State are separated by only 84 miles. On a couple of occasions East Carolina have actually run onto the field at NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium and tore down the goalposts! In 1987 ECU beat NC State 32-14 and when the Pirate fans stormed the field a riot broke out, damage was done to the stadium, and a security guard was injured.   It wasn't until 1999 that NC State played in Greenville. In front of a record 50,092 fans at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, ECU pulled off a 23-6 win.

Memorable Game-In 1991 the rivalry was showcased in the Peach Bowl. NC State coming off a 9-2 regular season was playing 10-1 East Carolina. At a sold out Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, ECU won a classic battle 37-34. ECU ended the year 11-1 and ranked #9 nationally, its best D-1 season ever.

Fun Fact-In September of 1999 Hurricane Floyd did damage to the ECU campus in Greenville. NC State officials were kind enough to let the Pirates play their home game against the Miami Hurricanes at Carter-Finley Stadium. ECU upset the Canes 27-23, causing Pirate fans to once again tear down the goal posts at their rival's stadium.

10. Newberry College-Presbyterian(PC leads 57-33-5)-When the Blue Hose moved up from D2's SAC to 1-AA in 2007, it killed one of the South's top small college rivalries.   Clinton, SC and Newberry, SC are only about 20 miles apart from one another and for many years the 2 were bitter rivals. During a basketball game in the mid 90s a riot broke out at a basketball game making ESPN's Sportscenter. The game was known as "The Bronze Derby" in which the winner would get a Bronze Derby Trophy.

Memorable game-The final game of the series saw the two programs at its best. PC was coming off a 10 win season and Newberry was undefeated going into the game. For a program that had struggled for many years it appeared Zak Willis' team had finally gotten over the hump and was ready to whip PC.   Unfortunately for the Indians, Tommy Spangler's last game saw the Blue Hose upset Newberry 10-0 and keep the Bronze Derby in Clinton possibly forever.

Fun Fact-For many years the series was played on Thanksgiving Day. The last game played on Thanksgiving saw PC win 30-13 over the Indians.

Matt Barber
dixiefriedsports@gmail.com