Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
KUNews Missouri forfeits a century-old rivalry. We win.
#kubball#kufball#mizzou 19 hours ago
That doesn't come from a Kansas Jayhawks athletic department Twitter account or from the student newspaper. That's the university's official Twitter, and that tweet's been left up for almost an entire day now. To say Kansas has a deep, deep rivalry with the Missouri Tigers only begins to tell the story, and the school's policy toward Mizzou leaving for the SEC has not quite been congratulatory.
Drama was likewise not ducked when the chancellor's office sent out an official statement of its own:
We're sorry to see a century-old conference rivalry end. Missouri's decision may have implications for fans and for the Kansas City area, but it won't affect the long-term strength of the Big 12.
Conference rivalry, he said. Couldn't it last as an out-of-conference rivalry? For a little while, at least, it might have to:
@BlumbergOTB
#Mizzou-KU is under contract for 2012 at Arrowhead. The Jayhawks have a million reason$ to play it. Will they?
But beyond that, it could be many years before they decide to meet again. Missouri fans, for their part, have just about figured out how they'll move on, while KU fans lament the loss of something pretty great:
So long to our friends and/or enemies at Missouri. We'll see you a few more times over the next six months and then it's good bye. When I see you I'll still despise you, I'll cheer against you and never wish you well and I suspect you will do the same. But I will miss the experience, the stress and the ups and downs of what I considered one of the greatest rivalries in college sports. Sometimes in life you just need a worthy adversary.
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Comments
KU vs Mizzou, A&M vs Texas, OU vs Nebraska...
WTF is happening around CFB and why is everyone okay with it?
by Uncle Earmuffs on Nov 7, 2011 9:50 AM EST reply actions
Money.
The only traditions, it seems, that need to be kept alive are the traditions which keep the old teams in power and the only guys who get to be called “National Champions.” Money, the want of which is the root of all evil.
Elway is in, Zimm is in, Little is FINALLY in but don't forget: Randy Gradishar, Steve Atwater & Terrel Davis
by BlueNOrangeNIdaho on Nov 7, 2011 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
The bigger point, to me,
is why Texas and Kansas are choosing to be petty and end their rivalry games. Clemson-Carolina have managed to keep inter-conference rivalry games going without any problem.
Meet it is I set it down that one may smile, and smile, and be a villain--Hamlet, I, v
by PBCrook on Nov 7, 2011 10:04 AM EST reply actions
Clemson/South Carolina, Georgia/Georgia Tech, and Florida/FSU are all examples.
Your in-state rival doesn’t have to be in your conference for you to schedule them.
Texas and Kansas are just having hissy-fits and quitting in a huff. Given the history of the Big XII-ish, it doesn’t surprise me one bit.
Editor, Dawg Sports.
Go Dawgs!
by vineyarddawg on Nov 7, 2011 10:30 AM EST up reply actions
I agree...
This does seem to be pretty petty of both Texas and Kansas. These rivalries are not only a tradition but they are beneficial to both programs monetarily aren’t they? I can see it if it’s a case of only one team benefiting from such a game. For example BSU will no longer schedule Idaho because Idaho wants to keep it as a home & home. BSU sells out their 35k seat stadium for all home games, especially the Idaho game, but the only sell out all season for Idaho is the BSU game and their “stadium” only holds 16k. Plus, since Idaho is perennially one of the worst teams in the FBS, having them on the schedule hurts BSU.
Elway is in, Zimm is in, Little is FINALLY in but don't forget: Randy Gradishar, Steve Atwater & Terrel Davis
by BlueNOrangeNIdaho on Nov 7, 2011 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
I realize midwest geography isn't the SEC's strong suit
but Kansas and Missouri, amazingly enough, are actually in different states.
An in-state rivalry is one thing; you have political reasons to keep it going (and sometimes, you have it forced on you). Would someone point out to me the example of an interstate rivalry surviving a defection from a conference? Arkansas stopped playing all their old Texas rivals when they joined the SEC. Nebraska and Colorado aren’t playing anyone from the Big 8. Virginia Tech/West Virginia died when Tech left. There IS no example of an interstate rivalry surviving someone bailing out of a conference in the modern era. Not one.
Yet Kansas is “petty”? Damnit, you’re making me defend the Chickenhawks. That ought to let you know how silly the assertion is.
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by jonfmorse on Nov 8, 2011 7:22 AM EST up reply actions
Technically, Arkansas and Texas A&M renewed their annual rivalry game a few years ago.
But the eighteen-year layoff really only reinforces your point about lingering bitterness.
And yeah, why would Kansas/Texas/etc subsidize (monetarily, emotionally, or otherwise) a rival bailing on the conference? “Hey, I’m too cool for this club, so I’m quitting. But I still want the benefits of membership, and if I don’t get them, you’re the quitters.”
11 01 10
Veni Vidi Vixi
by WhereThere'sAWillieThere'sAMays on Nov 8, 2011 3:22 PM EST up reply actions
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