PREP FOOTBALL: RIVALRY RENEWAL
CULLMAN — Mark Britton has participated in the Cullman High-Hartselle rivalry many times, both as a coach and player. His players? Well, most of them haven’t.
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Football habit hard to break
Why is a Pottsville family at a loss as to what to do with their weekends after more than a decade of going to football games? And did the Penn State-Alabama game last Saturday prompt two Pottsville Area faculty members to resume their football-related z
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Football. Irish Set to Kick Off 2010 Season At Home Against Purdue
The University of Notre Dame will begin its 122nd season of varsity football on Saturday, playing host to Purdue at 3:30 p.m. ET in Notre Dame Stadium. It will mark the first game under new head coach Brian Kelly.
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Gulf Shores High School football team dedicates 2010 season to the community
GULF SHORES, Ala., — Music has been called the universal language. It is the one thing that transcends any boundary and can bond people together that may be thousands of miles apart.
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College football schedules are usually broken into their conference and non-conference portions and this is true with Penn State with its Big 10 and non-conference schedule. Usually the actual Big 10 schedule has its own dependable opponents you know will field good or even very good teams and create intriguing match-ups. The non-conference schedule is really a wild card as it changes each year, and usually it includes some cupcakes that are simply schedule fillers.
Within 2010 there’s 1 premier match-up within the non-conference schedule, and it is the Penn State vs Alabama game on September 11. This can be a dream matchup for PSU fans, and this will be a premier match up in the college football season in general. This game has everything, history, conference versus conference drama (Big Ten versus Sec), big name coaches (Joe Paterno and Nick Saban), and the game day scene ought to be incredible. This is not merely the best non-conference game on the Penn State schedule, but the best on their schedule period.
Nevertheless there are many additional great games on the PSU schedule as well. The the best Big 10 game is arguably the Penn State versus Ohio State football game. The Ohio State Buckeyes will likely be ranked in the top five or ten once the season begins. This game is actually later on in the season therefore things might change, but it’s very likely that Penn State and Ohio State will be 2 of the best clubs in the Big 10, and this game frequently decides who the champion is and who goes to the Rose Bowl. Its a safe bet that Penn State versus Illinois tickets at home will be tough to obtain.
Besides Ohio State, the game in-conference that intrigues me the most is versus Michigan State. For some reason, Michigan State is really a thorn with regard to PSU, and they have ruined many a good season for the Nittany Lions. This is the last game of the year, and We see there being something big on the line with regard to both teams once they meet at the end of November in Happy Valley. We hate to express it, but this is is going to be the nerve racking game for Penn State fans fans who are able to get a Penn State vs Michigan State ticket.
There are more great games on the schedule, especially in conference. Penn State versus Michigan and Penn State versus Iowa tend to be each important, meaningful, and fascinating games. However the game which probably will be the most talked about as much for the venue as the game may be the Penn State vs Indiana game at FedEx field outside Washington DC upon November 20. This really is essentially the street online game with regard to Penn State that has been converted by Indy into a PSU house game because they get a large paycheck, and it moves the game much closer to the Penn State alumni base. The actual atmosphere is going to be great with regard to Nittany fans.
Presently there certainly are additional games on the schedule versus Minnesota, Northwestern, even Temple that will be closely anticipated, however the Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan State games are the ones I’ll be looking forward to the most.
Looking for Penn State vs Minnesota Tickets or Penn State vs Ohio State Tickets? Or are you looking for a great Penn State Football Jersey, Sweatshirt, or “White Out” Merchandise? Check out www.PennStateCentral.com the All Nittany Lion Sports and Fan Store.
You just have to know Auburn – the Town, the University, and the Tradition – to truly understand Auburn Football and what it really means. Let me try to explain . . .
My earliest memories of Auburn are from about 1955. I remember walking down College Street from my aunt’s house, having a lemonade and grilled-cheese sandwich at Toomer’s Drug Store lunch counter, and then going to the Tiger Theatre (across the street) and seeing “Gone With The Wind.” I have very fond memories of summers in Auburn. This is why I understand what it means to be not only a fan of Auburn, Alabama, but of the Auburn Tigers!
Auburn Football has one of the most storied histories in not only the “Deep South” but in all of college football. We will start with the oldest rivalry in Deep South Football and in college athletics. Auburn and Georgia first played on February 20, 1892, in Piedmont Park in Atlanta! Since 1898, the Auburn Tigers have played the Georgia Bulldogs every year! That is 111 contests total (Auburn did not field a football team in the war year of 1943), with Auburn leading the series 53-50-8. Another first for Auburn football was the Tigers’ first bowl trip. The Bacardi Bowl is the only bowl game ever played outside of the United States. On New Years Day in 1937, Auburn and Villanova fought to a 7-7 tie in Havana, Cuba!
Another unique element of Auburn Football for many years has been where the games were played. Auburn’s chief rivals, Georgia, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Alabama would not come and play in “The Loveliest Village on the Plains”. Auburn’s “home” games with those schools were played in Atlanta, Montgomery, Mobile, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, or Birmingham! Finally in 1960 things began to change. In 1960, Georgia came to Auburn and lost 9-6. In 1970, Georgia Tech came South to Auburn and lost 31-7. In 1974, Tennessee came to Auburn and lost 21-0. And the Alabama Crimson Tide came to Auburn for the first time in 1974, losing 30-20. These victories proved that Auburn could finally enjoy a “Home” game!
Is doesn’t matter if you call them the Tigers, The Plainsmen, or the War Eagles, they all mean the same . . . Auburn! The “Tiger” is both the nickname and the mascot! “Plainsmen” refers to the city of Auburn, the “Loveliest Village on the Plain;” both references come from the poem by Oliver Goldsmith (the “Deserted Village,” published in 1770) “War Eagle” is both the Battle Cry and the greeting.
War Eagle, of course, is based on a legend that ties a wounded eagle to a wounded confederate solider. The bird is rescued by the solider. He raises the eagle while he is a student at Auburn and ultimately becomes a faculty member. The two were there that day that Auburn and Georgia played in Piedmont Park. When Auburn scored the first touchdown the old eagle broke free and soared above the field! Auburn people looked up at the familiar figure and cried “War Eagle”. At the end of the game the old eagle collapsed and died, he had given his all for Auburn victory. The eagle may have died, but his spirit lives on in the hearts of Auburn fans everywhere.
Tradition and pride continue to “fuel” Auburn football. John Heisman, the legendary coach for which college football’s top honor is named, was Auburn’s coach from 1895-1899 and posted a 12-4-2 record. Auburn is the only school where Heisman coached to have a Heisman Trophy winner. Auburn has two: quarterback Pat Sullivan won the award in 1971 and tailback Bo Jackson won the honor in 1985.
The very long tradition of Auburn Football includes national championships, undefeated seasons, and many, many household names in college football to be remembered, but this is only the beginning! Whether we win or lose, Auburn tradition and pride will always be felt at AUBURN and in the famous cry: “Waaarrrrr Eagles!”
Bobby Brister is a huge fan of the SEC and the Auburn Tigers. After 25 years of coaching high school football, he now writes often about his favorite past time, college football. You can check out his favorite Auburn Tigers gear.
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Stanhope Elmore looks to emerge from shadow of disappointing season
Stanhope Elmore’s Pat Milliner just shakes his head as he looks down, almost like he’s too shy to answer the question.
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NCAA Football Preview – Boise State Broncos
2009 SEASON IN REVIEW: The Broncos were again expected to be one of the leaders in the Western Athletic Conference in 2009, yet even they had to be somewhat surprised…
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New football program starts in tough economy
In his previous head coaching jobs, there were plenty of things for Bill Curry to worry about.
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NCAA Football Preview – TCU Horned Frogs
2009 SEASON IN REVIEW: A lot was expected of the Horned Frogs entering the 2009 season and they certainly did not disappoint, even though the Football Bowl Subdivision subsequently let…
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