(04-24-2014 07:06 PM)DrGonzo Wrote: (04-24-2014 10:49 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote: I think the GS App rivalry is (was) the FCS equivalent of Ohio St Michigan. Each of us fighting for the top of the conference year in and year out, so many times where the lower ranked one has taken the higher ranked one down. Nine combined National Championships. Us breaking your long-ass home winning streak and being your only loss the Michigan win year, you guys stealing Armanti from us when we changed coaches, and owning us for the last few years. All the debates about blown calls. Plus the social/geographic juxtaposition of mountain rednecks vs. flatland rednecks, snow and cold vs. heat and gnats. There's A LOT that goes into it when you think about it. I have to admit that us moving up together has me feeling slightly brotherly towards yall these days, but I will fight through that and re-connect with my inner hatred soon enough.
Bottom line, even though we are FBS noobs, I have a hard time believing that ANY SB rivalry has the same amount of multi-layered, longstanding strength than the Black and Blue Bowl does.
The mutual respect coupled with white-hot hatred is what does it for me. I literally live on tobacco road. Duke/UNC is the sporting event of the year around here. When it comes to that rivalry you have blind hate and no respect.
App/Southern is something unique.
The Black and Blue Bowl is always the biggest game of the year for both of us. There is just something different in the atmosphere, an overwhelming sense of anticipation and a mix of excitement and concern.
"The mutual respect coupled with white-hot hatred" may be the best descriptor of the dynamic between our two teams.
I admit, I think a lot of us were cheering for App when they beat Michigan, but we were admittedly jealous and fired up for that game...which made our victory over you guys the same year so awesome.
On the other side of the coin, looking back on the 2013 season, beating UF was definitely not as sweet knowing we got walloped by App. However, I'm sure there were a good many App fans cheering us on and proud of that victory.
Over the years, we have developed a deep respect and an equally as deep hatred for each other. We want each other to do well and make a big splash...but we both want our splash to be slightly better...and win our match up each year!
Speaking for others in the conference, I still don't know why ULM and Louisiana aren't a bigger rivalry...looking from the outside in, at least.
I definitely see stAte and Louisiana as being the top rivalry in the conference, mainly due to their both being top dogs, right now, in football. Lots of support and a lot of the line.
