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Pat Forde

  (2:02 PM)

I'm here! Nothing says July like college sports, right? Well, it beats talking about baseball and soccer, so let's get on it. Hope you all saw my package of stories on red-hot rivalries in college football and hoops. If not, check 'em out and bring your questions and comments.

patrick (Quebec)

Do you think that the USC vs Notre Dame rivalry will get competitive again? as an irish fan losing every year is wearing thin

Pat Forde

  (2:04 PM)

Patrick: Good name. As foryour question: that is completely incumbent upon the Irish, who need to step up in a way they haven't since Bush Push, 2005. I think it will be a closer game this year, but I still see USC and significantly better than Notre Dame. We'll see whether Charlie Weis can get all of his highly-ranked recruits playing well.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Pat, I would say the Civil War is a more hotly contested rivalry, or even Oregon v. Washington, than the Apple Cup is.

Pat Forde

  (2:05 PM)

Will: When you get a state senate hissing match like the one the Cougs and Huskies had in Oregon, holler. I'm not downplaying the excellence of that rivalry, but the Apple Cup took it to another level this past offseason. Now hopefully the game won't stink.

Greg (Champaign, IL)

Illinois and Missouri have great rivalries in both football and basketball. Is this one of the best out of conference rivalries?

Pat Forde

  (2:06 PM)

Greg: Are you in summer school and blowing off class, or blowing off work? Yes it is, spiced by the neutral-site, 50-50 ticket splits in St. Louis. Sadly, both sides have backed off of the football series and it will discontinue. That's a big disappointment to me.

Tom (Jacksonville)

Ok so I attend Wake Forest, and Wake really doesn't have any in state rivals. So why don't they make Vandy their perennial rival. Both wear black and gold, both good southern colleges, I just don't understand why they didn't renew their contract to play each other.

Pat Forde

  (2:07 PM)

Tom: I'd be in favor of that, definitely. We need some good egghead rivalries.

Ben (Dayton)

I'm happy to see the UD vs Xavier rivalry on your list. The game at UD arena is just a madhouse every year, the upper section never hears the whistle which fires the cheap seats up every more.

Pat Forde

  (2:07 PM)

Ben: Great, underrated rivalry that got even better this last year. And could take another step forward this year if Dayton unseats X atop the A-10.

Patrick (Mobile, AL)

Great article 4-D. I know that Auburn is having a down year, but Alabama-Auburn has to be one of the best heated rivalries in the country. Check the divorce rate in the state and the number of domestic disturbances that spike after that game!

Pat Forde

  (2:09 PM)

Patrick: Hey, I've been to the Iron Bowl and it is as intense as any of them -- maybe moreso because of the lack of pro sports in the state. But until Auburn gets back on its feet, I couldn't put this on the top 10.

Rob (Omaha, NE)

After reading Pat Forde's article about his top rivalries, I noticed that Nebraska/Oklahoma wasn't in the top 10 or even an honorable mention! What are your feelings about this game and where do you think it should be placed amongst college footballs greatest rivalries?

Pat Forde

  (2:11 PM)

Rob: In the 1970s it might have been #1. In the 1980s it might have been 1 or 2. In the first half of the 90s it was still strong. But now that they don't play every year, and Nebraska isn't NEBRASKA, it's hard to put it on the list.

Marc (Charlotte via Chapel Hill)

Better gym, better fans, smarter students? Did you write that while drunk? Cameron Indoor Stadium is a dump. Get some AC for crying out loud. I guess your definition of better is "dress up like fools and chant stupid things." Smarter students is just plain false. Do you not have an editor?

Pat Forde

  (2:11 PM)

Marc: Lighten up, Francis. You might have noted that I was writing from the point of view of each side, not necessarily my own.

Otto (CA)

Beano would be disappointed that your list doesn't have Army/Navy.

Pat Forde

  (2:13 PM)

Otto: I'll ask Beano for forgiveness. Just couldn't go there given the modest state of the programs -- especially Army -- and the lack of any overly public bad blood in recent times.

Marc (Charlotte via Chapel Hill)

My bad, I have an infernal passion for hating dook.

Pat Forde

  (2:13 PM)

Infernal passion is what makes a rivalry a rivalry.

Tommy (The Ville)

Pat, will the Miami-Florida St. rivalry ever get back to where it used to be? If so, how long do you suspect it will take for a return to form?

Pat Forde

  (2:14 PM)

Tommy: I think it might take a coaching change in Tallahassee. But I do expect the rivalry to be back on form eventually.

Africa (Brooklyn)

Does Michigan's spread beat OSU this year?

Pat Forde

  (2:14 PM)

Africa: I wouldn't count on it.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Forde, which rivalry games you haven't seen in person that you still plan on seeing one day?

Pat Forde

  (2:16 PM)

Will: Oh man, plenty. Never seen Army-Navy. Never seen USC-UCLA. Never seen Civil War or Apple Cup or Holy War (Utah-BYU). I think I've seen all or almost all on my top 10 FB list. On the basketball side, never seen Dayton-X, or Nova-St. Joe's @ Palestra. I'd love to see Michigan State-Purdue this coming season.

Chris (Tempe, AZ)

Pat, how can you leave out ASU-Arizona? This is easily the most underrated rivalry in the country and one of the most hate filled.

Pat Forde

  (2:17 PM)

Chris: Had to leave some out, sorry. And y'all need to get more public with the bad blood. Let America know!

Candice Dawson (Alpharetta, Ga)

Pat, what are your thoughts on keeping the Florida-Ga game in Jacksonville? Do you think it contributes to the rivalry?

Pat Forde

  (2:18 PM)

Yeah, I like it there (other than the traffic getting to the stadium). Love the 50-50 ticket split and the tailgate jawing. Neutral field rivalry games are a lot of fun (see: Red River Shootout, Mizzou-Illinois, the old Indiana-Kentucky hoops setup).

Mike (Austin)

While the hatred really isn't there, Texas vs KU in hoops has been real good every year. Thoughts?

Pat Forde

  (2:19 PM)

Mike: Yeah, it's been excellent. If there was some discernible bad blood I would have put it on the list. Considered it, definitely.

Karl (Ballinger, Tx)

Pat, do you think Texas-Oklahoma should stay at the Cotton Bowl, or go to a home and home rivalry? It is one of the few games still played at a neutral site.

Pat Forde

  (2:19 PM)

Karl: See previous answer about the joys of neutral field rivalries. Keep it in Dallas.

Devlin (Vermont)

Forde-Kiffin brings a much needed attitude change to Tennessee after the Fulmer regime. No more rolling over for rival coaches.

Pat Forde

  (2:20 PM)

Devlin: Fine. But isn't there a difference between "rolling over" and erroneously accusing someone of cheating? I'd say so.

Joe (Orlando)

Pat - love the list. Interesting that 2 of top 3 involve UF. With fsu hating our guts, and lsu a close second, is their a top team with more one sided rivals than UF. We are public enemy #1 on a lot of lists

Pat Forde

  (2:20 PM)

Joe: I'd say, given Florida's status as reigning big dog, that the Gators have more people dying to beat them than anyone. For this year at least.

Heath (Hattiesburg, Ms)

Since we are talking about rivalries, What is your opinion on the Big 3 in the state of Mississippi not playing each other every year? And why do you think this is? (opinion down here in Hattiesburg is that they do not want to get beat, and they avoid us)

Pat Forde

  (2:21 PM)

Heath: I'd guess that your opinion is correct. Classic case of the SEC schools having much more to lose than gain by playing USM. But the Egg Bowl is another underrated rivalry I'd love to see.

Ben (Lexington, KY)

Why is everyone saying the UK-UofL rivalry is no where near Duke-UNC when UK-UofL has more titles?

Pat Forde

  (2:23 PM)

Ben: Not only more titles, but a more year-round consuming nature. No pro sports in Kentucky -- no Panthers, no Hornets, no Hurricanes. As you know, Cats-Cards is a 365-day-a-year issue among the fans. I rank it ahead of Duke-Carolina in terms of intensity.

Greg (Champaign, IL)

Best rivalry trophy?

Pat Forde

  (2:23 PM)

Floyd of Rosedale, the brass pig to the winner of Minny-Iowa football.

Steve (Norman)

Do you see Bedlam making its way into the top rivalries? OSU has built amazing facilities and Gundy won't leave his alma mater. This could be a rivalry to watch going forward.

Pat Forde

  (2:24 PM)

Steve: Definitely one on the rise. Probably should have included it on the honorable mention list at least, given Ok State's expected prominence this season.

Ryan (Louisville)

Did the UK-UL football rivalry not get any pub because it was not in play for so long?? It is beginning to gain some steam.

Pat Forde

  (2:25 PM)

Ryan: Nah. Teams aren't good enough and moving the game off opening weekend when it's in Lexington disqualified it from the list.

Brian (Memphis)

No mention of Memphis and UT as basketball rivals. The last 2 games have been the most watched basketball games on ESPN. Plus the fans absolutely hate each other!

Pat Forde

  (2:25 PM)

Brian: Memphis no longer has Calipari. Or many players. Off the list it goes.

Africa (Brooklyn)

Cuse-G'Town or Cuse-UConn in basketball?

Pat Forde

  (2:26 PM)

Africa: If this were the '80s, Cuse-GTown. Since it's not, Cuse-UConn. But both teams will take a big step back this year, I think.

Inglewood Rudeboy (Inglewood)

You leave out Cal versus Oregon. Tedford over Bellotti (now Kelly) Completely underrated.

Pat Forde

  (2:27 PM)

Can't list 'em all, Rudeboy. But it's quite a matchup of ugly uniforms.

Geoffrey (Birmingham, AL)

My mother told me that the only two joys I have in life are bourbon and Alabama football. I know the bourbon will be flowing this season, but will the inexperienced OL keep my beloved Tide from rising this year. ROLL TIDE, Pat. Love reading your columns.

Pat Forde

  (2:28 PM)

Geoffrey: I'd hate for you to go through the season with only bourbon to fall back on -- unless it's really good bourbon. So if it makes you feel better, yes, Alabama will rise. At least into the Top 10-15.

Ryan (Atlanta, GA)

Why isn't the Florida, Florida State rivalry not on the list? Fsu should be much better than last year, and it's most likely Tebow's last year.

Pat Forde

  (2:28 PM)

Ryan: If I had a dollar for every time I've heard "FSU should be much better this year" over the past 7-8 years, I'd be retired and living in Maui.

Kyle (Chicago)

What rivalry has the potential to exist that just hasn't had that push? I would love to see a Rutgers-PSU football series or a TCU-Texas arrangement.

Pat Forde

  (2:30 PM)

Kyle: Good question. How about a once-great but now nonexistent rivalry -- Pitt vs Penn State? Or how about Cincy-Ohio State? Like the TCU-Texas possibility.

Patrick (Utah)

Why isn't BYU-Utah on the list?! I mean like Arkansas-Ole Miss, BC-VT? What?

Pat Forde

  (2:31 PM)

Patrick: It made honorable mention in both football and basketball, one of just two rivalries to be in both stories. (Mizzou-Kansas being the other.)

Elizabeth (FL)

One of my Auburn friends is personally insulted that you didn't include Alabama-Auburn on the list. This is his quote "hello families kill each other over the auburn alabama game, it doesnt matter how bad either team is it is always bad". I have to agree with him. It just seems wrong that Ohio State Michigan gets a nod when they're going through the same thing.

Pat Forde

  (2:32 PM)

Elizabeth: Murder might actually be considered "over the top" in other parts of the country. However, your point is taken. But the reason Michigan-Ohio State makes it this year despite the imbalance is the presence of Justin Boren in a Buckeye uniform. That was in the story.

Greg (Champaign, IL)

How many trees would you cut down if you had Paul Bunyan's axe?

Pat Forde

  (2:33 PM)

None. I'm anti-big logging.

Mike (Ohio)

Trying this again: In your basketball column you mentioned the Big 12 and Baylor, with beating Scott Drew being the goal. What is the issue there? What did Drew do?

Pat Forde

  (2:34 PM)

Mike: A lot of coaches don't like Drew's recruiting tactics.

Andrew (Knoxville)

It is downright malpractice to place UK/Louisville ahead of UNC/that school in durham in terms of intensity. Perhaps in the state of Kentucky, due in part to the delusion of the Wildcats fanbase since 1998, but anywhere else UNC/that school in durham is the greatest NCAA Basketball Rivalry.

Pat Forde

  (2:36 PM)

Andrew: Not in 2009-10 it isn't.

Nick (Seattle)

Can you think of a bigger regular season game in recent history than this year's Texas Oklahoma game?

Pat Forde

  (2:37 PM)

Nick: Well, it's darn big. Huge, even. But I remember hearing the same sort of talk before USC-Ohio State last year; Ohio State-Michigan in 2006; and countless other games. So let's wait and see how both teams look going in and coming out of the that game.

Clinton (Indianapolis)

Nice to see Purdue's got two rivalries in the top 10 in hoops, but the Knight-Keady battles in the 80's and 90's were legendary. The chair tossing? Yeah, that was against Purdue.

Pat Forde

  (2:37 PM)

Clinton: No doubt. And that IU-Purdue rivalry will be back large soon. But Indiana isn't quite ready yet, and Crean won't be throwing any chairs.

Erik (KS)

What is the biggest all-around rivalry?

Pat Forde

  (2:39 PM)

Erik: Wow, tough question. Off the top of my head, I'd favor schools that are good in a number of sports, like USC-UCLA, OU-Texas, Michigan-Ohio State, Florida-Somebody, maybe even Stanford-Cal.

Greg (Champaign, IL)

I know it's not FBS, but how about a couple words on the Harvard-Yale rivalry?

Pat Forde

  (2:40 PM)

Greg: It's good.That's a couple.Just kidding.I don't have any firsthand experience with the rivalry, but I've talked to people who do and they said it was the one time on those campuses when people paid attention to sports.

Paul (Detroit)

After last year, it seems in the future Michigan-Ohio State hoops will be the better rivalry.

Pat Forde

  (2:42 PM)

Paul: I don't know that it will be BETTER than football -- not at those two schools. But it will be GOOD. I think both are in it for the long haul in hoops.

Younger (Cali)

Most outrageous prank between rivals?

Pat Forde

  (2:43 PM)

Younger: I don't know whether this qualifies as Most Outrageous, but I have firsthand experience of a good one between Stanford and Cal. After the five-lateral runback game, the Stanford student paper put out a bogus facsimile of the Cal paper stating that the Pac-10 had reviewed the play and nullified it, declaring Stanford the winner. Delivered the edition to Cal's campus. I know the guy behind the prank.

tom (atlanta)

What about the Clean, Old Fashion Hate rivalry? Last year GT embarrassed UGA inbetween the hedges and you bet Mark Richt is thinking about next year in Bobby Dodd

Pat Forde

  (2:44 PM)

Tom: Props to Paul Johnson for reinvigorating that rivalry. Should be fun for years to come.

Xander (Philly)

I didnt go to either school, but HOD DO YOU LEAVE OFF LEHIGH vs. LAFAYETTE?!?! Oldest rivarly, and the students there go insane. Just cause its small, and doesnt make Sportcenter, doesnt mean its undeserving.

Pat Forde

  (2:45 PM)

Xander: Beyond both campuses, that qualifies as the oldest running Who Cares game in the country. And I say that with the utmost respect.

Tom (Chicago, IL)

The Hornets play in New Orleans now, not Charlotte. They have a team called the Bobcats. Shows that you only focus on college sports (which is fine).

Pat Forde

  (2:46 PM)

Tom: Correction duly noted. I can remember when Carolina had an ABA team, so I'm old and my mind is faulty.

Eli (Saratoga NY)

Where is Pitt V WVU? its better than ole miss v ark i know that fore sure

Pat Forde

  (2:47 PM)

Eli: If Rich Rodriguez had gone to coach the Panthers then it would have some of the same ancillary juice as Ole Miss-Arkansas. He didn't.

Aaron (Illinois)

Which is the bigger rivalry? The Bears and Packers? or the Packers and Vikings?

Pat Forde

  (2:48 PM)

Aaron: Broncos-Raiders.

joe (manchester, tn)

Pat, it seems like every game in the SEC is a rivalry. Which matchup, in the last decade, do you think is the biggest rivalry?

Pat Forde

  (2:49 PM)

Joe: Good question. Florida-Tennessee was huge in the 1990s. I'd say Florida-Georgia has been awfully big the last two years, but so has LSU-Bama. Not sure I can make a definitive call.

RAY GORDON REID ( CLEMSON SC 29634)

QUESTION TO PAT FORDE HI PAT HOW ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH UVA SHOW US RESPECT

Pat Forde

  (2:49 PM)

Ray: Tell Virginia to play up to its talent and you'd have something.

Kris (Des Moines, IA)

Broncos v Raiders??? over Bears Pack or even over some random sunday afternoon game Lol...your smokin your socks Forde

Pat Forde

  (2:50 PM)

Kris: How many Supes have the Bears and Pack been in the past 12 years? One? Two for Denver, one for Oakland in that time.

john (columbia sc)

How much longer until tennessee has a chance at beating florida?

Pat Forde

  (2:52 PM)

John: Maybe in 2010? Just guessing that Florida might take a step back after Tebow. But I don't expect it to be close this year in the Swampage.

Will J (Portland, OR)

Does Magic and Larry top all rivalries of rivalries?

Pat Forde

  (2:53 PM)

Will: Whooo, that's a good one. Probably my personal fave. Though Avalanche-Red Wings (1990s) and Yanks-Sox and Woody-Bo all deserve to be mentioned.

Jeff (Davenport, IA)

Pat, thanks for not respsonding about the Creighton-SIU rivalry. I guess you and Jay Bilas are in cahoots with the "big money/big name" schools. I guess you two just have a clear cut view of where your pay checks come from, but there are other die hard schools out there worth discussing...

Pat Forde

  (2:54 PM)

Jeff: You're right. That's why I included Northern Iowa-Illinois State, Butler-Cleveland State and Xavier-Dayton on my list.

will (northridge, CA)

isnt hatred the exact opposite thing you want in a rivalry, which brings me to why are respected rivalries less value than rivalries with hatred?

Pat Forde

  (2:55 PM)

Will: I may be trying to make too fine a distinction here, but hate-in-moderation/perspective helps make a rivalry go 'round. Hate that causes maiming and death is, ahem, excessive. But a little schadenfreude goes a long way.

Billy G (P-cola, Fl.)

The top all rivalries of rivalries has to be Good Vs. Evil

Pat Forde

  (2:56 PM)

Billy: Ya know, that seems like a great one to end on. Thanks for all the questions and comments, please continue to debate among yourselves.