The Strength of the Rivalry

[tbozeglav]

As requested by Dave in Green...Answer the poll on how you think the rivalry is in its current state. Discuss as will.

[ZachTheZip]

The rivalry is affected by many things. The basketball rivalry bleeds into the football rivalry and vice-versa.It's pretty strong, and there's always something to keep up the intensity, like the last-second wins the past two years, and their stadium being vandalized.

[ZachTheZip]

[MDZip]

I went with Pretty strong (I think it only gets to intense when there is something on the line like it has been in basketball the last few years). I think a lot of it has to do with proximity too, there are a ton of local grads in the area who at least care a little and a lot of families (including mine) that have graduates from both schools. Just because we don't speak to my sister ...

[ctmjbowes@sbcglobal.net]

W-E-A-K. Now, basketball, now you're talking. MAC powerhouse versus MAC wannabe. THAT I can get interested in. Football? Maybe some day when the game means something, to either team, in the larger context of their programs and their seasons. Thanks for the poll. All good. Oh, and GO ZIPS.STZ

[johnnyzip84]

I went with moderate, but like I've stated in another thread, I think the football rivalry has a chance to increase greatly with Can't improving and the Zips struggling in 2009. I look forward to 4 years of Nicely vs. Keath.

[Dave in Green]

Wow, that was fast. Thanks, UAzipsMan. Looks like I'm with the majority at pretty strong. I think basketball is intense right now and football less so. But rivalry can ebb and flow in different sports depending on many variables. The key point is that true college rivalries are always there to at least some degree in one or more sports with a fair number of people (more than 10). I suppose a rivalry could disappear completely for lack of interest, but I'm not aware of any in particular that have in college football.

[zip37]

INTENSE FOR ME!

[Zip Watcher]

Rivalries are fueled when one team can deny the other something that they want.It might be a championship .. it might be a wagon wheel .. or it might be the first bowl birth in over THREE DECADES. That's what's at stake here .. and that's why the rivalry matters.The Zips are having one of their worst seasons EVAH .. we know that. But up in wanker county, the flushes are creeping ever closer to the magical 7 wins which would virtually assure them a bowl bid in the current FBS climate (too many bowls, not enough eligible BCS teams).The point of the rivalry couldn't be easier to see this week. Does a win erase the embarrassment that this season has been for the Zips? No. Does a win take a little bit of the sting out of it? Maybe .. but does a win put a damper on Can't State's postseason dreams and possible help knock them out of bowl consideration? .. absolutely .. and that's what makes this game more important that all the rest .. even when the Zips are 1-7.Go Zips!

[Hilltopper]

All you have to do is look back a few years ago to see how important this game is for the Zips. From the 006 Media Guide;

Akron won its first Mid-American Conference title and first leaguecrown in school history with a 31-30 win over Northern Illinois in theMAC Championship game on Dec. 1. A week earlier UA picked upits first MAC East crown with a 35-3 win over Can't State

Game 11: Akron 35, Can't State 3Nov. 24, 2005 • Rubber Bowl • Akron, Ohio(AP) - Brett Biggs ran for 149 yards and scored twice tohelp Akron beat Can't State 35-3 and take home the Mid-American Conference's East Division title.The Zips (6-5, 5-3) will play West Division champsNorthern Illinois in the conference championship Dec. 1 atFord Field in Detroit.The Golden flushes (1-10, 0-8) faltered early in a gamethat started in 27-degree weather with winds of 23 milesper hour. Can't State fumbled twice in its first three snaps.Brion Stokes scooped up the second one and returned it16 yards to the end zone to put Akron up 7-0.Biggs scored late in the first quarter on a 7-yard run.Can't answered with a 26-yard field goal early in the second.Biggs, who accounted for 231 yards of offense, caught a17-yard touchdown pass from Luke Getsy just after halftimeto make it 21-3.With Can't State punter Joshua Brazen standing near hisgoal line on the next series, the Zips blocked the kick. JayRohr recovered for a 2-yard touchdown return.Akron wrapped up the scoring midway through thefourth with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Domenik Hixonfrom Getsy, who had two touchdown throws despite justfive completions for 47 yards.Can't State quarterback Michael Machen managed only7 yards on 4-of-12 passing.Akron won the East Division tiebreaker over Miami andBowling Green because the Zips' opponents in the WestDivision had a better record than the teams Miami andBowling Green played.

With Temple, OU and Can't in a heated race for the MAC east championship, nothing would be more satisfying than dening the flushed a chance to be the MAC champs.