Newest FCS rivalry trophy

[Laker]

RedditCFB‏Verified account @RedditCFB (https://twitter.com/RedditCFB) 7m7 minutes ago (https://twitter.com/RedditCFB/status/1054427787543625728)More



Western Carolina, ETSU announce new rivalry name: the “Blue Ridge Border Battle” trophy features a rock from the Appalachian Trail: http://www.catamountsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12100&ATCLID=211777036 … (https://t.co/6dBWDPCnNf)

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DqIUcX2XcAEkEhd.jpg

[OhioHen]

I like the look of the trophy.

[IBleedYellow]

BATTLE OF THE ROCKS!

[Reign of Terrier]

Good ole boy socon fans may complain that the socon rivalries have kind of died down since App/GSU left, but now there are at least 3 trophies that are competed for in the conference.

The silver shako is obviously the most famous, and now this one. Wofford and the Citadel compete for the Big Dog Trophy (unfortunately, there's so many streaks in this rivalry that it has less hype around it).

Wofford and Furman need a trophy. We're already the battle of I-85.

Also, ETSU is probably a better rival than App State was for Western Carolina because App State always beat them.

Samford needs to entrench itself deeper against Samford/Wofford, those 3 being the most similar schools in the conference in terms of school size, academic prestige, and private school status. I know Mercer fits some of those descriptions as well, but they aren't as similar.

[Thumper 76]

BATTLE OF THE ROCKS!

Reminds me of........something


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[grizband]

Good ole boy socon fans may complain that the socon rivalries have kind of died down since App/GSU left, but now there are at least 3 trophies that are competed for in the conference.

The silver shako is obviously the most famous, and now this one. Wofford and the Citadel compete for the Big Dog Trophy (unfortunately, there's so many streaks in this rivalry that it has less hype around it).

Wofford and Furman need a trophy. We're already the battle of I-85.

Also, ETSU is probably a better rival than App State was for Western Carolina because App State always beat them.

Samford needs to entrench itself deeper against Samford/Wofford, those 3 being the most similar schools in the conference in terms of school size, academic prestige, and private school status. I know Mercer fits some of those descriptions as well, but they aren't as similar.
I've been following FCS long enough to remember fondly the SoCon of App State, Georgia Southern and Furman (and Wofford later) prominence. However, the SoCon appears to have been progressive in replacing blue blood programs with up and coming programs (ETSU, Samford, Mercer), while not flooding the conference with too many teams.

[Reign of Terrier]

Reminds me of........something


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It's almost as if geographic rivalries involving borders are common or something.

[Thumper 76]

It's almost as if geographic rivalries involving borders are common or something.

I was going more along the lines of rocks


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[AmsterBison]

I like the look of the trophy.

Me too!

Although I'm worried that it is going to be seriously top heavy. Could kill somebody hoisting it wrong.

[Reign of Terrier]

I was going more along the lines of rocks


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Fair enough, and you have a point: I would describe the Blue Ridge Mountains in many ways, but rocks is not what comes to mind.

[ElCid]

Good ole boy socon fans may complain that the socon rivalries have kind of died down since App/GSU left, but now there are at least 3 trophies that are competed for in the conference.

The silver shako is obviously the most famous, and now this one. Wofford and the Citadel compete for the Big Dog Trophy (unfortunately, there's so many streaks in this rivalry that it has less hype around it).

Wofford and Furman need a trophy. We're already the battle of I-85.

Also, ETSU is probably a better rival than App State was for Western Carolina because App State always beat them.

Samford needs to entrench itself deeper against Samford/Wofford, those 3 being the most similar schools in the conference in terms of school size, academic prestige, and private school status. I know Mercer fits some of those descriptions as well, but they aren't as similar.

I know a lot of folks didn't like VMI coming back in, but they are, by our natures, a good in conf rival. And they are getting better, at least this year.

I like the new trophy. And they are pretty close to each other. Just over mountain. I like the Furman/Wofford theme as well. All three SC schools are inherent rivals though and have good history.

All of these rivalries are good for the Conf.

[Reign of Terrier]

I think if Samford could solidify something official with Furman and Wofford, that would go a long way in terms of Samford's ties to the conference, being something of a geographic outlier.

I would really like to see Wofford and Furman compete for a trophy as well. It would also be pretty cool for Wofford, the Citadel, and Furman to compete for some sort of South Carolina FCS state champ trophy (which respect CSU, PC, and SC State), kind of like how the military academies have the commander and chief trophy.

[ElCid]

I think if Samford could solidify something official with Furman and Wofford, that would go a long way in terms of Samford's ties to the conference, being something of a geographic outlier.

I would really like to see Wofford and Furman compete for a trophy as well. It would also be pretty cool for Wofford, the Citadel, and Furman to compete for some sort of South Carolina FCS state champ trophy (which respect CSU, PC, and SC State), kind of like how the military academies have the commander and chief trophy.

The Palmetto Tree Trophy?

[Reign of Terrier]

The Palmetto Tree Trophy?

I don't know what you'd call it, but I think it's something worth looking into. The only state that has 3+ teams in the FCS AND 2 FBS+ schools that I can think of is Virginia. Coastal Carolina is in the sun belt, yes, but there's a clear 2-tier system in SC when it comes to football, and that will likely persist for the next 20 years (at least). To me, that's unique and worth celebrating, and not just because Wofford would have won the last few years worth

[DFW HOYA]

The only state that has 3+ teams in the FCS AND 2 FBS+ schools that I can think of is Virginia.

Lots of states do. Texas has 12 FBS and eight FCS teams and Pennsylvania and Florida have its share too.

[Reign of Terrier]

Lots of states do. Texas has 12 FBS and eight FCS teams and Pennsylvania and Florida have its share too.

South Carolina has 3 FBS Schools and will likely (almost certainly) have no more than that for the next 20 years. My point is that the D1 stratification is pronounced and likely static, perhaps permanent. I can only think of 3 southeastern states that have more FCS than FBS schools (and I may be wrong): Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

The Tennessee schools aren't traditionally great, the Virginia Schools have different long-term ambitions (JMU to FBS), but the South Carolina schools are here to stay.

[PAllen]

How cute, you have a trophy ;)

Seriously though, other than being a little too blue for my taste, it's a very nice trophy.

[PAllen]

South Carolina has 3 FBS Schools and will likely (almost certainly) have no more than that for the next 20 years. My point is that the D1 stratification is pronounced and likely static, perhaps permanent. I can only think of 3 southeastern states that have more FCS than FBS schools (and I may be wrong): Virginia, Tennessee, and South Carolina.

The Tennessee schools aren't traditionally great, the Virginia Schools have different long-term ambitions (JMU to FBS), but the South Carolina schools are here to stay.

Louisiana? Looks like Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Kentucky are all # FBS= # FCS

[walliver]

What the SoCon now lacks are nationally meaningful rivalries. In the 1990's and early 21st century, games involving ASU-FU-GSU were not only rivalry games, but had relevance to SoCon championships and playoff berths. Furman dropped back a little (and then a lot) in the early 21st century and Wofford moved into the conversation. When ASU and GSU left, those big games went away.

Interestingly, of Woffords two big rivalries, few of those games have been particularly significant as far as SoCon Championships and playoff implications. Most nationally meaningful games were against ASU and GSU.
For The Citadel, 2003 and 2016 were meaningful (2003 may not be obvious as The Citadel's season collapsed after that game). 2016 is the only year both have made the playoffs.
For Furman, 2002 and 2017 come to mind, as does this year. It is rare that Wofford and Furman have great teams at the same time. I believe that 2017 is the only year both have made the playoffs (and don't get me started about 2002).

Citadel vs VMI rarely has national meaning. FU-Cit similarly.

[OhioHen]

Louisiana? Looks like Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Kentucky are all # FBS= # FCS

Louisiana has five of each

[ngineer]

How cute, you have a trophy ;)

Seriously though, other than being a little too blue for my taste, it's a very nice trophy.

Tru dat--"Real Rivalries" don't need a trophy!!xsmiley_wix


But I agree it is a nice accessory for the den.

[OL FU]

Tru dat--"Real Rivalries" don't need a trophy!!xsmiley_wix


But I agree it is a nice accessory for the den.

That's kinda what I was thinking. I realize that I am one of those that poo poos the Furman - Wofford rivalry. But honestly, I do think Wofford is our rival in the future. Close proximity. Lots of similarities in the schools. It's just gonna have to wait until all the old Furman fans like me kick the bucketxeekx:p

[The Cats]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oHFnRXaWZw

[Reign of Terrier]

That's kinda what I was thinking. I realize that I am one of those that poo poos the Furman - Wofford rivalry. But honestly, I do think Wofford is our rival in the future. Close proximity. Lots of similarities in the schools. It's just gonna have to wait until all the old Furman fans like me kick the bucketxeekx:p

I read this as "I'm going to die before I admit Wofford is our rival":p

[Nor Eastern]

I don't know what you'd call it, but I think it's something worth looking into. The only state that has 3+ teams in the FCS AND 2 FBS+ schools that I can think of is Virginia.



NC has 14 Division 1 Teams.

FBS: App State, Wake Forest, UNCC, NCST, UNC, Duke, ECU
FCS: WCU, Elon, Campbell, Davidson, Gardner-Webb, NCA&T, NCCU,

[OL FU]

I read this as "I'm going to die before I admit Wofford is our rival":p

-:) almost! The real trouble is I grew up cheering for wofford. Old habits are hard to break. On the other hand , there is the citadel!

[ElCid]

-:) almost! The real trouble is I grew up cheering for wofford. Old habits are hard to break. On the other hand , there is the citadel!

Furman sucks.

[PAllen]

Louisiana has five of each



Grambling State Tigers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grambling_State_Tigers_football)
Grambling State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grambling_State_University)
Grambling (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grambling,_Louisiana)
Louisiana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana)
1927
SWAC (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwestern_Athletic_Conference)


McNeese State Cowboys (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNeese_State_Cowboys_football)
McNeese State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McNeese_State_University)
Lake Charles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Charles,_Louisiana)
Louisiana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana)
1950
Southland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southland_Conference)


Nicholls Colonels (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholls_Colonels_football)
Nicholls State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholls_State_University)
Thibodaux (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thibodaux,_Louisiana)
Louisiana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana)
1972
Southland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southland_Conference)


Northwestern State Demons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_State_Demons_football)
Northwestern State University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northwestern_State_University)
Natchitoches (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natchitoches,_Louisiana)
Louisiana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana)
1907
Southland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southland_Conference)


Southeastern Louisiana Lions (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_Louisiana_Lions_football)
Southeastern Louisiana University (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeastern_Louisiana_University)
Hammond (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammond,_Louisiana)
Louisiana (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana)
1930
Southland (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southland_Conference)


Southern Jaguars (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Jaguars_football)

[OL FU]

Furman sucks.

It’s always fitting from a bell hop. My luggage is in the corner of the room-:)

[ST_Lawson]

The only state that has 3+ teams in the FCS AND 2 FBS+ schools that I can think of is Virginia.

Others have given other examples, but Illinois fits into that category too. We aren't really a "football" state (although there's some really good high schools in the Chicago area) and we have:
FBS - Illinois, Northwestern, Northern IL
FCS - IL State, Western IL, Southern IL, and Eastern IL

[walliver]

The Palmetto Tree Trophy?

I prefer a more Citdog-ish title "The FCS National Champion of the Sovereign State of South Carolina"