What makes a team your rival? As I think about all the great rival games in high school football across the state I wonder what really makes that game a rivalry. There are games such as Trinity and Saint Xavier or Male and Manual. Also there are rivals like Mayfield and Paducah Tilghman that have been going on for a 100 years. Everyone will argue what the best rival game in the state. I am not here to debate who is the best. Because the one thing I have learned is every rivalry is important. I am more focused on what makes two teams a rival?

 

Is what makes a good rival game based on location? Most rival games across the state tend to cross town schools or neighboring counties. But there have been good rivals that are hundreds of miles apart. Take Mayfield and Danville, some would consider this game at time a rivalry. Talking with each schools fan base some consider it a rival game. Because typically when these two teams used to meet it meant the winner was moving on to the state finals.

So is a rivalry game based on what is at stake? Does there have to be a district or regional championship at stake in order to make an opponent your rival? I don’t think that is always the case because there are many rival games across the state and teams are in different classes. Danville and Boyle County are in different classes and has been a solid rival over the last 2 decades.

 

That brings a question, is a rival based on community? Many of the rivals across the state seem to have a community that is divided during the week of a rival game. It can create at times the heated behaviors among families. Example of this would be Franklin County and Frankfort High rival game. The community helps build the rival games and often the people that keep things going. Often is a conversation starter in some of the weirdest places, such as Sunday school class in church or in the men’s restroom at work.

 

I believe all that I have mentioned above help make a good rivalry. I am sure you may have other ideas of what makes a rivalry. But what I have learned in talking with people around the state about their rivalry is they all are important to the schools involved. They are also important to the fan bases of those teams. Rivalry games can make or break a season for some fan bases. I know that every coach across the state at some point will try to down play the importance of a rivalry game. But don’t let them fool you, the coaches know how important these games are. Deep down coaches want to win. Some will even lose some sleep the week leading up to the game.

 

As this football season is underway and these rival games pop up on the schedule I would like for each of you to sit back and think about what makes your rival game special. Then enjoy that week for what it’s worth. But at the end of the day remember the folks playing in these games are 14-18 year old kids and at the end of the day it’s just a game!

Great article Coach. Rivalries come about for different reasons, as you stated, some are do to proximity of the schools, some have playoff implications. I think some of the best in our area are due to proximity and the longevity of the series. Russell/Ashland is good rivalry, mainly because the schools are so close and they have played yearly for a long time. Raceland/Russell used to be a rivalry thirty years ago, and was rekindled for six years until that stopped this year. The two schools are five miles a part, so it was a natural rivalry. Now, the Raceland/Fairview rivalry takes on more of a playoff type situation due to both schools being the only 1A schools in the immediate area and in the same district.

 

I have heard people say that both teams have to win some of the games to be a "real" rivalry. I don't necessarily agree with that, it makes it better, but the fans and players still think it's a big game no matter who won the last five times the teams met.

To me, some things that make the best rivalries:

 

Proximity

Equal Talent Levels

History of Competitive Games

History of Playing with Large Stakes

Shared Feeder Schools/Neighborhoods

 

 

Some Things That Make the Worst/Nastiest Rivalries:

 

Poor Sportsmanship, Taunting, etc.

Lack of Respect Between Coaches, Players

Allegations of Wrong-Doing from One Side to the Other

Refusing to Play One Another Unless Forced to by Postseason Play

A true rivalry needs to have both teams competitive in their game over the years. Boone County was considered a rival in the late 80s and early 90s for Trinity because they saw each other in the playoffs and the games were usually very close. That is no longer the case.

 

The examples in the article are spot on. It can be based on neighborhood, district, neighboring counties, repeated visits in the playoffs......length of series-again as long as both teams have a shot to win.

 

Several of these factors come into play in the Trinity/St. Xavier game. It is a bonus that it is a district game once again. Family feuds, neighbors, grade school buddies playing against each other, series began in 1956 and St. X won their first of two consecutive Litkenhous State Titles. The state playoffs began in 1959 yielding several years with 2 games. Both schools have spirit week or pride week leading up to the game. Both institutions are fortunate to have this rivalry. This series is 37-36-2. I am hoping for a record crowd this October.

A true rivalry needs to have both teams competitive in their game over the years. Boone County was considered a rival in the late 80s and early 90s for Trinity because they saw each other in the playoffs and the games were usually very close. That is no longer the case.

 

The examples in the article are spot on. It can be based on neighborhood, district, neighboring counties, repeated visits in the playoffs......length of series-again as long as both teams have a shot to win.

 

Several of these factors come into play in the Trinity/St. Xavier game. It is a bonus that it is a district game once again. Family feuds, neighbors, grade school buddies playing against each other, series began in 1956 and St. X won their first of two consecutive Litkenhous State Titles. The state playoffs began in 1959 yielding several years with 2 games. Both schools have spirit week or pride week leading up to the game. Both institutions are fortunate to have this rivalry. This series is 37-36-2. I am hoping for a record crowd this October.

 

What's so great about this rivalry is its the greatest highschool rivalry in the country.

What's so great about this rivalry is its the greatest highschool rivalry in the county.

 

Fixed that for you.

Probably the biggest rivalries are the games that are never played on the field but are played out on BGP...Just sayin

Fixed that for you.

 

Do your research, the X T rivalry is the most attended high-school game in the country.

In NKY, I'd say that it is NewCath/Beechwood. CovCath v Highlands has long been one sided. Not much of a rivalry when a close game is 14 pts. Two wins in '06 and a 7 pt. game 6 years later doesn't make it much of anything. Both teams can try to shoe horn it into the definition of rivalry, but it isn't.

 

Cooper and Conner has the potential to be a good one for awhile.

Do your research, the X T rivalry is the most attended high-school game in the country.

 

Do your research, that doesn't make it the greatest, just that Louisville people don't have much to do.

Do your research, that doesn't make it the greatest, just that Louisville people don't have much to do.

 

When I said greatest I was using attendance as my support. But there are people from multiple states who come to see this game, it's also featured in the great American rivalry series.

 

On a side note, you responded to my comments in the Bg thread, go look at the "we can talk about BG all we wantl" thread and see exactly what I was talking about in regards to highlands fans.

When I said greatest I was using attendance as my support. But there are people from multiple states who come to see this game, it's also featured in the great American rivalry series.

 

On a side note, you responded to my comments in the Bg thread, go look at the "we can talk about BG all we wantl" thread and see exactly what I was talking about in regards to highlands fans.

 

Ok, attendance wise you're right.

Biggest rivalry on here is SK/Highlands!

Oldham County vs Shelby County was a big deal in the 80s. Then South Oldham came along......now Collins and North Oldham......this game has lost a lot of prestige.

 

St. Xavier vs Fern Creek was another good one for a few years. Trinity vs Butler in the 70s...tough playoff matches.

Bellevue/Dayton check the history.