Most hated schools

[gordonmann]

As others have written, the "most hated school" of any program is very specific to that program's geography, conference affiliation, recent level of success and personalities of the coaches.

When I was in college at Trinity in Connecticut from 1996-2000, the natural rival was supposed to be Wesleyan based on geography, if nothing else.  But the football games against Amherst and Williams, which were more successful programs, always seemed bigger.   And since the NESCAC schools wouldn't play schools from other conferences, no one would've considered any of them rivals. 

Then I covered Cortland for a few years and their deepest rivalry was with Ithaca, just as it is now.  The rivalry theoretically gets more heated when Cortland joins the Empire 8, but I'm not sure it's possible to add much more heat to that rivalry.  It's already the most intense I've seen at this level, at least in this part of the country.

Now I've covered Delaware Valley for 10 years and their biggest rival depends on whom you ask.  The press-ready answer is that Widener is the biggest rival and there's certainly an added level of tension in that game, especially now that both programs are consistently competing for the MAC title.  But some of the coaches in prior years told me that Albright was the bigger rivalry and I personally always felt like the games against Lycoming are just as tense as those against Widener. 

[02 Warhawk]

I'd only speak for a couple of them but there are so many cases to be made. For TN I highly doubt it's Trinity. Sewanee's rival is probably Depauw. But given the SAA connections I think it's likely Centre is the boogeyman in both Rhodes and Sewanee's case. For Maryville I'd say Methodist, but I doubt you get much consensus.

In VA saying Bridgewater just won't cut it. 10 years ago, probably. 20 years ago it would have been E&H. Today? Probably HSC. The ODAC schools are looking up at HSC, and the Tigers and CNU have played enough recently to share some history. Not too mention the RMC - HSC rivalry is the big one in the state. Bridgewater hasn't really scared anyone in almost a decade.

Delaware is either Salisbury, the traditional rival of Wesley even if the series has been one-sided, or UMU, the traditional end of Wesley's road. In AL you have only two teams and they are disliked rivals of each other. Such as it is the top half of the state will go Huntingdon and the bottom half Huntingdon. There isn't another option.

MS is going with Centre again as the stumbling block for Millsaps. The SAA schools dumped Trinity, which shows either a lot of respect or a lack of respect. Either way, they killed that as a potential rival and neither side seems interested in scheduling the other. To have a rivalry you have to have games.

I would agree to most of these. However, Wesley has lost to MHB now three times in the past two seasons. And has faced them 9 times in the past 10 years (playoffs and regular season). I'm interested in getting a Wesley fan's POV on that.

Thanks for the insight about TN!

[02 Warhawk]

As others have written, the "most hated school" of any program is very specific to that program's geography, conference affiliation, recent level of success and personalities of the coaches.

When I was in college at Trinity in Connecticut from 1996-2000, the natural rival was supposed to be Wesleyan based on geography, if nothing else.  But the football games against Amherst and Williams, which were more successful programs, always seemed bigger.   And since the NESCAC schools wouldn't play schools from other conferences, no one would've considered any of them rivals. 

Then I covered Cortland for a few years and their deepest rivalry was with Ithaca, just as it is now.  The rivalry theoretically gets more heated when Cortland joins the Empire 8, but I'm not sure it's possible to add much more heat to that rivalry.  It's already the most intense I've seen at this level, at least in this part of the country.

Now I've covered Delaware Valley for 10 years and their biggest rival depends on whom you ask.  The press-ready answer is that Widener is the biggest rival and there's certainly an added level of tension in that game, especially now that both programs are consistently competing for the MAC title.  But some of the coaches in prior years told me that Albright was the bigger rivalry and I personally always felt like the games against Lycoming are just as tense as those against Widener.

Awesome...good stuff. Thanks!

[02 Warhawk]

AL: Wesley - Much like in Mississippi, both Birmingham-Southern and Huntingdon compete with the Wolverines for the lone Pool C bid. (Open for suggestions on this one).

Personally I dislike BSC much more than Wesley. I have plenty of respect for Wesley as one of the top programs and playing them gives us a good measuring stick to where our program is at. BSC? Nope, don't like 'em at all.

The thing is, I'm sure they dislike Huntingdon right back, so it's kind of a push. You have a DI Auburn/Alabama thing going on at the DIII level. That's why I went with someone you might both mutually don't care for. Unless we can prove who doesn't like who more.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I'd disagree about Michigan - no one hates Albion (or even thinks about them).  Although it doesn't work for football since Calvin doesn't have a team, the most hated school for Hope fans is Calvin, and vice versa.  All other teams are rarely even thought about.

[Mr. Ypsi]

As others have written, the "most hated school" of any program is very specific to that program's geography, conference affiliation, recent level of success and personalities of the coaches.

When I was in college at Trinity in Connecticut from 1996-2000, the natural rival was supposed to be Wesleyan based on geography, if nothing else.  But the football games against Amherst and Williams, which were more successful programs, always seemed bigger.   And since the NESCAC schools wouldn't play schools from other conferences, no one would've considered any of them rivals. 

Then I covered Cortland for a few years and their deepest rivalry was with Ithaca, just as it is now.  The rivalry theoretically gets more heated when Cortland joins the Empire 8, but I'm not sure it's possible to add much more heat to that rivalry. It's already the most intense I've seen at this level, at least in this part of the country.

Now I've covered Delaware Valley for 10 years and their biggest rival depends on whom you ask.  The press-ready answer is that Widener is the biggest rival and there's certainly an added level of tension in that game, especially now that both programs are consistently competing for the MAC title.  But some of the coaches in prior years told me that Albright was the bigger rivalry and I personally always felt like the games against Lycoming are just as tense as those against Widener.

With the key phrase being 'in this part of the country'.  Cortaca is intense, but the Monon Bell (Wabash/DePauw) is a freakin' war  (DePauw considers all-male Wabash to be knuckle-dragging cavemen and homos, Wabash gets their revenge by marrying half the DePauw co-eds)!  And, while Calvin doesn't have a football team, in basketball and all other sports, Calvin/Hope dwarfs even the Monon Bell.  (With the rivalry being exacerbated by doctrinal differences between very similar Christian schools, and being only 20 miles apart.) (St. John's and St. Thomas also deserve mention - those folks just don't like each other!  St. John's considers the Tommies to be a bunch of spoiled rich kid snobs, while the Tommies consider the Johnnies to be a bunch of rubes.)

[02 Warhawk]

I'd disagree about Michigan - no one hates Albion (or even thinks about them).  Although it doesn't work for football since Calvin doesn't have a team, the most hated school for Hope fans is Calvin, and vice versa.  All other teams are rarely even thought about.

With Calvin not in the picture for football...I'm curious what MIAA football program the MIAA "gets up" for the most? Since 2011 I would think Albion has that bulls-eye on it's back.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Despite Albion's run, I'm not sure it is them.  Maybe Hope.  Maybe Olivet (despite utter failure in the past).  This year, probably Adrian.  Despite their NC season, Albion in general just doesn't have the success to be targeted.  Hope (and Calvin in most sports) have the perennial success (in tennis, it is Kazoo).  This year I would guess it is Hope and Adrian.

sac would be the better source of info.

[thewaterboy]

I'd only speak for a couple of them but there are so many cases to be made. For TN I highly doubt it's Trinity. Sewanee's rival is probably Depauw. But given the SAA connections I think it's likely Centre is the boogeyman in both Rhodes and Sewanee's case. For Maryville I'd say Methodist, but I doubt you get much consensus.

In VA saying Bridgewater just won't cut it. 10 years ago, probably. 20 years ago it would have been E&H. Today? Probably HSC. The ODAC schools are looking up at HSC, and the Tigers and CNU have played enough recently to share some history. Not too mention the RMC - HSC rivalry is the big one in the state. Bridgewater hasn't really scared anyone in almost a decade.

Delaware is either Salisbury, the traditional rival of Wesley even if the series has been one-sided, or UMU, the traditional end of Wesley's road. In AL you have only two teams and they are disliked rivals of each other. Such as it is the top half of the state will go Huntingdon and the bottom half Huntingdon. There isn't another option.

MS is going with Centre again as the stumbling block for Millsaps. The SAA schools dumped Trinity, which shows either a lot of respect or a lack of respect. Either way, they killed that as a potential rival and neither side seems interested in scheduling the other. To have a rivalry you have to have games.

I would agree to most of these. However, Wesley has lost to MHB now three times in the past two seasons. And has faced them 9 times in the past 10 years (playoffs and regular season). I'm interested in getting a Wesley fan's POV on that.

Thanks for the insight about TN!

From a Wesley fan's perspective. There is definitely a rivalry between MHB and us. Don't know if I can say they are one of the most hated teams for me because there is a lot of respect between the two teams. A little dislike there maybe from the first 4-5 matchups, but a lot of respect. Maybe because the last 3 meetings you kind of got the feeling that UMHB was a better team. In the past two regular season matchups, they did not really impact the postseason prospects for Wesley. I think if Wesley was left out, there would be a little more animosity there. Salisbury is a little more "hated" IMO, even though the series has been one sided. Those games (with the exception of this year) are always pretty close and there is always some sort of national recognition that the winner gets (yes, Wesley gets a little boost from the Route 13 Rivalry).

For myself, Mount Union is up there as well. I dont know if its because I live in Ohio or what but, I do feel a little bit of animosity there. I think the past two meetings in 2011 and 2013 Wesley had the opportunity to win and it is an interesting experience playing in Mount Union. I think the 2011 team led by McSweeny was Wesley's best shot at winning the Stagg as well. Going through Hobart, Linfield, and MHB. That team peaked at the right time.

So I would rank the teams in my opinion: Salisbury first with MHB very, very close behind, then Mount  Union. Maybe Mount Union and MHB are tied (depends on who we have to go through to get to Salem).     

[umhb2001]

As a lifelong Cru, I can definitely say that our biggest rivalries outside of the ASC are Whitwater, Wesley, MU, and Linfield. 

The first time we played Whitewater in Belton, I couldn't believe how big they were. They scored a TD on the opening kickoff and beat us 7-3. Losing twice to them in 2007 then all the way to having the game in the Semifinals last year and losing has definitely made them our most hated opponent yet with huge respect and appreciation.

Wesley is simply a routineness of playing them.

MU and Linfield are probably tied. We cloaked at MU last time, they played great, and Linfield stole the game from us in the Stagg.

In the state and in the ASC, I'd say Louisiana College is number one and TLU is a close second. HSU used to be the rivalry, and I'm sure we are much hated by them, but there hasn't been much of a rivalry recently.

[GillCJ1]

Let me preface this by saying I have only been following UMHB (and D3 as a whole) for about 5 years now.  So, my experience is pretty limited.

Inside the ASC, I definitely look at Louisiana College as my "most hated" (though there is no real hate there).  They have given us the most competition these past few years, so I guess they are more like our conference rival.  I know that some of the old-timers keep saying Hardin-Simmons is our real rival, but there hasn't been much in the way of competition lately.  They compete well against us in some other sports, though.  This weekend's game against them should be entertaining.  We're the only 2 teams left that are unbeaten in conference play.

Outside of the ASC, I look at Wesley and maybe UWW as our "most hated".  We've produced good results against the former, and still struggling for our first win against the latter.  But, as they say, to be the best you have to beat the best.  Here's hoping we get another shot this season.


*As an aside, I met some wonderful Wesley fans when they traveled to our stadium opening last season.  The same goes for UWW in last season's semis.  Both have passionate fanbases and I look forward to future meetings between them.

[GillCJ1]

I don't see an edit option (probably because I wrote the last post several hours ago), but I wanted to make one little change.

I wasn't trying to belittle Wesley's record against us.  In fact, if you look at the big picture, they've probably beaten UMHB just as many times as we've beat them.  I was more speaking to our recent history.  Both schools have a great tradition and I really look forward to future match-ups.

[K-Mack]

In VA saying Bridgewater just won't cut it. 10 years ago, probably. 20 years ago it would have been E&H. Today? Probably HSC. The ODAC schools are looking up at HSC, and the Tigers and CNU have played enough recently to share some history. Not too mention the RMC - HSC rivalry is the big one in the state. Bridgewater hasn't really scared anyone in almost a decade.

As a player, I liked E&H the least, mostly because that's who we had to go through for titles. But it was also a horrible road trip with mean fans. Guilford and Catholic were the other hardest games on our schedule 94-97 and I loved playing against those guys.

The H-SC dislike developed in subsequent years after they hired Marty and we hired Pedro and it got competitive again. Of course, rivalry aside, H-SC is a great place to play and Marty is a great coach so respect has developed.

I agree that who wins or who stands in your way most on the way to winning is the main dislike factor, but also attitudes of fans and players, and other prejudices (like having to take a 6-hour bus ride to farm land) play into it. One of my great memories was hating driving past cotton fields on the way to Chowan, then watching the southern boys on the team get all riled up crossing the Mason-Dixon Line en route to Gettysburg.

[Teamski]

A bit late to the discussion, but hey.... Anyways, there is no animosity from Wesley fans towards UMHB at all.  I think the rivalry there is an honest one and if you ask anybody about Wesley's losses to them they would say the better team won and that was it.  I have a personal dislike for Mount Union that stems from my experience during the first playoff game Wesley played there and the treatment both the team and the fans got.  It's old history but it still irritates me.

-Ski

[GillCJ1]

A bit late to the discussion, but hey.... Anyways, there is not animosity from Wesley fans towards UMHB at all.  I think the rivalry there is an honest one and if you ask anybody about Wesley's losses to them they would say the better team won and that was it.  I have a personal dislike for Mount Union that stems from my experience during the first playoff game Wesley played there and the treatment both the team and the fans got.  It's old history but it still irritates me.

-Ski

It's good and bad that Wesley is joining the NJAC next season.  Good for them with respect to scheduling games, but bad in the sense that it will be much harder to schedule regular season games with UMHB.  As you say, I get the impression that the rivalry has been an honest one and both fan bases get excited for it.  Hopefully we can at least meet y'all sometime in the playoffs!