This book is a definitive account of College Football rivalries across all divisions in FBS, FCS, Division 2 and Division 3. Full of historical information and game recaps of some of the memorable and notable games for each rivalry. This book is for College Football fans of all ages, being both entertaining and educational, it is a must read if you love college football.
"Big Games provides readers with an in-depth look at ten of college football's biggest rivalries and what puts them in such rare company"--Page 2 of cover
A must-have for football fans of all ages, this handsomely designed gift book is a comprehensive illustrated guide to the greatest traditions and rivalries in college football. Every Saturday each fall, millions of Americans watch their favorite college teams take to the gridiron, battling to make it to the coveted national championship bowl game in January. From the Cornhuskers of the University of Nebraska to the Nittany Lions of Penn State, the USC Trojans to Alabama’s Crimson Tide, the University of Michigan Wolverines to the Clemson Tigers, each school has its own traditions, trivia, and rivalries. This concise, illustrated handbook is a collection of the past and present lore of college football’s major teams for both novices and diehard followers alike. Focusing on the top schools from each division, this handy guide contains original full-color illustrations that showcase the biggest traditions and rivalries in the sport, along with a short description and fun trivia. Learn about the pink visitor’s locker room at Iowa State, the prisoner exchange preceding the annual Army–Navy showdown, and the University of Miami team’s dramatic smoke-filled stadium entrance. The book also includes a special section of quick facts on some other schools that weren’t fully featured. Fascinating and informative, filled with seventy full-color illustrations, College Football Traditions and Rivalries is a must for every college football fan.
College football is one of the most popular sports in the United States. Fans follow their favorite team with unfailing loyalty, and nowhere do the colors come out more fervently than when rivals face off. These games bring out the passion, the rituals, and even the rage of football fans across the country. Whether based on history and tradition, or proximity and local pride, college rivalry games have an intensity unmatched by any other sporting event. The Greatest College Football Rivalries of All Time: The Civil War, the Iron Bowl, and Other Memorable Matchups showcases the best of these competitions. Martin Gitlin details game highlights, the history behind the rivalries, and how the fans, players, and coaches have impacted the matchups. The fourteen top rivalries are covered, including the always-intense battles between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines, the great in-state rivalry between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide, and the historic contests between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen. In addition to capturing the action of the games, this book also covers the personal stories that heighten the passion and intensity of the rivalries—including pranks pulled over the years by opposing fans. With stats and series highlights detailed in each entry, and featuring historical and contemporary photographs throughout its pages, The Greatest College Football Rivalries of All Time is a must-read for every fan of college football.
There are many great rivalries in Division I college football, but only one can say it has been played the longest: Minnesota and Wisconsin. Since 1890, the Golden Gophers and Badgers have faced each other in the annual game known as the Border Battle. Early teams competed for the coveted "Slab of Bacon" trophy until 1948, when the winning team would take home Paul Bunyan's Axe, a tradition that continues to this day. Images of Sports: Minnesota-Wisconsin College Football Rivalry features magnificent games through the years, plus stories and images of remarkable players and coaches. Included are the historic national championships, Rose Bowls, All-Americans, and even fantasy teams, plus the involvement of presidents Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy in this enduring football rivalry.
Paperback Reading Length: 355 pages Embark on a true story of an annual quest for rivalry and revelry surrounding some of the most legendary college football contests. With deep roots in this beloved pastime, one dedicated couple uncovers the history behind the sport's most recognized venues and hilarious traditions. (Who knew a Pit Bull Terrier named "Pig" was the original mascot for the University of Texas?) Sporting a rich cast of real-life personalities, This Year's Game reveals how college football is steeped in this country and how much it matters to students, alumni, and our society - regardless of the size of the stadium or the size of the players. Unexpectedly, you'll discover how fans - both friend and foe - are willing to welcome outsiders into their communities, customs, and companionships. Texas - Oklahoma, 2000 Army - Navy, 2001 Florida - Tennessee, 2002 Miami (FL) - Virginia Tech, 2003 Michigan - Ohio State, 2004 California - Stanford, 2005 Auburn - Alabama, 2006 West Virginia - Oklahoma, 2007 Georgia - Florida, 2008 Texas - Texas A&M, 2009 Yale - Harvard, 2010 Texas Christian - Air Force, 2011 South Carolina - Clemson, 2012 Southern Cal - Notre Dame, 2013
It began in November 1896 when football was still in its infancy. About 500 people turned out on a soggy field in Worcester, Massachusetts to watch Holy Cross battler Boston College. That game initiated one of the great rivalries in football history. Itinvolved some of the most famous players and coaches to ever step on a football field. In its 91 years, the rivalry spawned controversy, contention, fierce competitiveness, elation, gloom, and great moments. It was also linked to heart-breaking tragedy. In the end, the rivalry of the two Jesuit colleges, Boston college and Holy Cross, would prove to be a microcosm of intercollegiate sports.
As Harvard graduate Roger Angell once said, “The Game picks us up each November and holds us for two hours and...all of us, homeward bound, sense that we are different yet still the same. It is magic.” For hundreds of thousands of alumni and fans, the annual clash between Harvard and Yale inspires a sense of nostalgia and pride unequaled anywhere in sports. For much of the year Ivy League football is overshadowed by powerhouse programs such as Miami and Michigan. But not on the third Saturday of November, when all eyes turn to New England for the legendary battle between the Crimson and the Blue. In The Only Game That Matters, Bernard M. Corbett and Paul Simpson explore what makes this iconic rivalry so revered, so beloved, and so pivotal in college football history. Known simply as “The Game,” this tradition-soaked Ivy League feud began in 1875, and it has been leading the evolution of college football ever since. Although the Ivy League hasn’t had a national champion in decades, The Game still stands alone in the college football pantheon. It is a living history, its roots reaching back to a time when young men took to the field for the sake of competition, not for a chance at a million-dollar pro contract. The Game, then and now, features the true student athlete. Of course, it also features bloody brawls, ingenious pranks, and breathtaking comebacks. The Only Game That Matters recounts the 2002 season through the eyes of players and coaches, interweaving the modern-day experience with great stories of classic games past. By tracing this venerable competition from its inception—looking at such legendary games as 1894’s Bloodbath in Hampden Park and Harvard’s 29–29 “win” in 1968 and such influential coaches as Yale’s Walter Camp, the father of football as we know it—the anatomy of a rivalry emerges. Culminating in the thrilling 2002 contest, The Only Game That Matters illuminates the unique place this storied feud occupies in today’s sports world. To the game of football, to the spirit of rivalry, to the Crimson and Blue faithful, The Game is the only game that matters. “In this book about the remarkable football rivalry between Harvard and Yale, Bernard M. Corbett and Paul Simpson capture the unique intensity of this famous game, as felt by the teams who go all out on each play, and by the families and the alumni in the stands who live and die by each touchdown.” —From the Foreword by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Harvard ’56 “The Only Game That Matters does a great job of explaining why Yale/Harvard is The Game – one that does matter, and should matter more. It is a shining example of what college football and amateur sports should be.” —From the Foreword by Governor George E. Pataki, Yale ’67
Simply known as "The Game," the history of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry - one of the oldest and, arguably, the fierecest in college football. With a history that stretches over a century, the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is one of the oldest in college football. The two teams claim a combined 19 national championships, hundreds of All-Americans, and 10 Heisman Trophies. Each year, millions of Buckeye and Wolverine fans watch the two teams with great disdain for one another battle in late November - usually for an opportunity to win the Big Ten championship.
This book is a definitive account of College Football Trophy games across all divisions in FBS, FCS, Division 2 and Division 3. Full of historical information and game recaps of some of the memorable and notable games for each trophy game/rivalry. This book is for College Football fans of all ages, being both entertaining and educational, it is a must read if you love college football.
