Who are Illinois' rivals?

Illini2016 · Sep 1, 2012, 06:50 PM

Alright, so I have been giving this some thought recently and I thought it warranted a thread. Who are are rivals? Now, I obviously know who a lot of people think our rivals are and I know who are rivals technically are, but everyone has different opinions. For example:

Indiana: Some think yes, others just in basketball, even others say not at all
Northwestern: Some say always our biggest, some just football, some not at all
Ohio State: Football and basketball, or maybe not at all
Mizzou: Technically...pretty intense around STL...both sports?
MSU: Maybe all sports? Kind of? Maybe not?
Purdue: We play for a trophy...
Iowa: Kind of, especially 30-40 years ago...maybe not at all?
Wisconsin: Sometimes, sometimes not.
Michigan: We seem to despise them...maybe just because everyone does...or maybe a rivalry...

I think that our rivals are Indiana in basketball, OSU in all sports, NU in football, and Mizzou in all sports. Other than that, the others are just "part-time, so I don't count them. What do you think?

saleen970 · Sep 1, 2012, 06:57 PM

I was raised to hate IU basketball and UM Football, more so Bobby Knight and
Bo Schembechler

U of I 89-05-10 · Sep 1, 2012, 07:08 PM

Basketball over the last 10 years (I believe we'll return to the 2000-2006 level in a couple of years):

1) Indiana - By far; always has been, always will be.
2) Missouri - Braggin' Rights Game is one legit event.
3) Wisconsin - This game used to be great, and our two states don't exactly love one another.

Football (I don't believe we'll experience the treachery of the last ten years again!):

1) Ohio State - Do they view us as equal? Heck no. Do our two fan bases hate each other and is the series relatively even recently? You betcha.
2) Northwestern - It sucks, but it's true ... And it's only gaining steam.
3) Yeah, I don't know. We never play Iowa, and keep dreaming on Michigan.

orangeroses07 · Sep 1, 2012, 08:08 PM

Mizzou is my least favorite, by far. Maybe that is just because i'm from Southern Illinois around St. Louis and know a lot of people that go there, but its hatred. Most arrogant fans i've ever been around. But Indiana is definitely up there, as is Michigan. Would love for an Iowa rivalry to happen.

Larken24 · Sep 1, 2012, 08:20 PM

One of the major reasons why illinois doesn't like iowa was because of Bruce Pearl

DanvIllini · Sep 2, 2012, 06:59 AM

Our (not are) rivals are (used correctly) Indiana, Northwestern, and (somewhat) Missouri (and during the Kruger Self eras MSU). None of the other teams would even consider us a rival. Michigan fans would not and Ohio State might... they do not like us for a reason. Rivalries require a two-way hate.

DanvIllini · Sep 2, 2012, 07:00 AM

Sorry for the language lesson, its just that a lot of people mix them up and they aren't even supposed to be pronounced the same way.

IlliniFan3 · Sep 2, 2012, 10:08 AM

I find it funny that MN doesnt land a spot as a rival at all. Both football teams have been struggling the last few years so its always a good game haha

JSpence · Sep 2, 2012, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IlliniFan3

I find it funny that MN doesnt land a spot as a rival at all. Both football teams have been struggling the last few years so its always a good game haha

BBall : I agree with Indiana, Mizzou, Wisconsin

Football : Indiana (currently weak), Northwestern, and Mizzou (on the way out). Michigan has too many bigger rivals to count us, we don't ever play Iowa anymore, and OSU is a bit of a tossup.

Perhaps we are to Minnesota as Ohio State is to us.

illinifan3923 · Sep 2, 2012, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanvIllini

Our (not are) rivals are (used correctly) Indiana, Northwestern, and (somewhat) Missouri (and during the Kruger Self eras MSU). None of the other teams would even consider us a rival. Michigan fans would not and Ohio State might... they do not like us for a reason. Rivalries require a two-way hate.

Wasn't there a poll a year ago where Iowa said we were their biggest rival in basketball?

Illini2016 · Sep 2, 2012, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanvIllini

Sorry for the language lesson, its just that a lot of people mix them up and they aren't even supposed to be pronounced the same way.

I am aware of the correct usage. Just a typo. As you can see I used it correctly later in the post.

U of I 89-05-10 · Sep 2, 2012, 12:05 PM

Side note: I'd say for a while ('02-'06) that because of the basketball hatred and how horrible we were at football, Indiana was definitely also a football rivalry, as embarrassing as that is.

DanvIllini · Sep 2, 2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illinifan3923

Wasn't there a poll a year ago where Iowa said we were their biggest rival in basketball?

Yes... I think that was because the Krush came and took up half of the attendance... it made them look bad.

DanvIllini · Sep 2, 2012, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illini2016

I am aware of the correct usage. Just a typo. As you can see I used it correctly later in the post.

Saw that... more towards everyone. The usage of "are" for "our" on this site has made me think that there is a bad "talk to text" app on Iphone or something.

UIUC1867 · Sep 2, 2012, 03:38 PM

Basketball: Indiana, Mizzou, Michigan St., and Purdue.
Football: Currently NW. Very subject to change though.

carmelillini · Sep 2, 2012, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UIUC1867

Basketball: Indiana, Mizzou, Michigan St., and Purdue.
Football: Currently NW. Very subject to change though.

That's about right. Maybe add Hoosiers in FB.

wpr · Sep 3, 2012, 10:20 AM

Rivals have to be there for more than 1 sport. IMO.

The border states are the main ones. Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri.

The degree of heat in the rivalry ebbs and flows over time but it is still there.

saleen970 · Sep 3, 2012, 10:40 AM

Sometimes I forget Indiana has a football team. Even the BTN ignores them.

Illini2016 · Sep 3, 2012, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UIUC1867

Basketball: Indiana, Mizzou, Michigan St., and Purdue.
Football: Currently NW. Very subject to change though.

Good list, but I feel like if you include MSU and Purdue then you must also include OSU and Wisconsin, since they all seem about even to me. I would say leave it at IU and Mizzou, with the others just being good and exciting games.

UIUC1867 · Sep 3, 2012, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illini2016

Good list, but I feel like if you include MSU and Purdue then you must also include OSU and Wisconsin, since they all seem about even to me. I would say leave it at IU and Mizzou, with the others just being good and exciting games.

I had a strong argument in my mind to include those two, but I decided to put them in the "honorable mention" category.

BleedOrangeBlue · Sep 3, 2012, 03:18 PM

Basketball: Indiana, Missouri
Football: Northwestern

Yes, you might include OSU or MSU or Michigan or Iowa or Wisconsin or Purdue. But when you see, say, the two logos of Illinois and fill in the blank "rival" side-by-side when ESPN introduces the game, do you immediately think rivalry? If I'm watching an ESPN2 afternoon basketball game between Illinois and Iowa, or Illinois and Purdue, and the commentator introduces the two teams, and we see their logos and stuff, I don't immediately think "wow I hate their guts" or "gosh this is such a historic rivalry game." I think that it might be a good matchup, or just an overall good game, but the fanfare of match-ups with teams like Purdue or Iowa don't really ring any rivalry bells IMO.

U of I 89-05-10 · Sep 3, 2012, 04:36 PM

The only rivalries ESPN ever hypes as rivalries are Indiana, Missouri and Northwestern.

jackman404 · Sep 3, 2012, 09:06 PM

Basketball: Indiana, Mizzou, Michigan State, Purdue, Northwestern
Football: Northwestern and Iowa

Michigan/OSU/PSU are rivals to us but we are not viewed as rivals by them (nor should we be). Our football team always plays them like a big rivalry game but I'm not sure you can call it a rivalry because it's been so one sided over the years.

BleedOrangeBlue · Sep 3, 2012, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U of I 89-05-10

The only rivalries ESPN ever hypes as rivalries are Indiana, Missouri and Northwestern.

There you go right there, that's why those 3 are our rivals.

256ILLINI · Sep 4, 2012, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carmelillini

That's about right. Maybe add Hoosiers in FB.

Nah, Hoosiers haven't given us a game in a while. 07 I think it was 27-14 and Mendenhall had a big game.

Sep 1, 2012, 06:50 PM	#1
Illini2016 Location: Chicago/Champaign Posts: 370	Alright, so I have been giving this some thought recently and I thought it warranted a thread. Who are are rivals? Now, I obviously know who a lot of people think our rivals are and I know who are rivals technically are, but everyone has different opinions. For example: Indiana: Some think yes, others just in basketball, even others say not at all Northwestern: Some say always our biggest, some just football, some not at all Ohio State: Football and basketball, or maybe not at all Mizzou: Technically...pretty intense around STL...both sports? MSU: Maybe all sports? Kind of? Maybe not? Purdue: We play for a trophy... Iowa: Kind of, especially 30-40 years ago...maybe not at all? Wisconsin: Sometimes, sometimes not. Michigan: We seem to despise them...maybe just because everyone does...or maybe a rivalry... I think that our rivals are Indiana in basketball, OSU in all sports, NU in football, and Mizzou in all sports. Other than that, the others are just "part-time, so I don't count them. What do you think? __________________ ILLINI BEARS CUBS BULLS BLACKHAWKS Class of 2016

Sep 1, 2012, 06:57 PM	#2
saleen970 Posts: 669	I was raised to hate IU basketball and UM Football, more so Bobby Knight and Bo Schembechler __________________ Who ever said " Love thy neighbor" didn't have Hoosiers as neighbors!

Sep 1, 2012, 08:08 PM	#4
orangeroses07 Location: Centralia, IL Posts: 253	Mizzou is my least favorite, by far. Maybe that is just because i'm from Southern Illinois around St. Louis and know a lot of people that go there, but its hatred. Most arrogant fans i've ever been around. But Indiana is definitely up there, as is Michigan. Would love for an Iowa rivalry to happen. __________________ ILLINICARDINALSBLUESBULLSTITANSSALUKIS

Sep 3, 2012, 10:20 AM	#17
wpr Location: Northern frontier of Illini Country Posts: 4,322	Rivals have to be there for more than 1 sport. IMO. The border states are the main ones. Indiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri. The degree of heat in the rivalry ebbs and flows over time but it is still there. __________________ One does not simply walk into Mordor.

Sep 3, 2012, 10:40 AM	#18
saleen970 Posts: 669	Sometimes I forget Indiana has a football team. Even the BTN ignores them. __________________ Who ever said " Love thy neighbor" didn't have Hoosiers as neighbors!

Sep 1, 2012, 07:08 PM	#3
U of I 89-05-10 Location: Iowa City, Ia. Posts: 952	Basketball over the last 10 years (I believe we'll return to the 2000-2006 level in a couple of years): 1) Indiana - By far; always has been, always will be. 2) Missouri - Braggin' Rights Game is one legit event. 3) Wisconsin - This game used to be great, and our two states don't exactly love one another. Football (I don't believe we'll experience the treachery of the last ten years again!): 1) Ohio State - Do they view us as equal? Heck no. Do our two fan bases hate each other and is the series relatively even recently? You betcha. 2) Northwestern - It sucks, but it's true ... And it's only gaining steam. 3) Yeah, I don't know. We never play Iowa, and keep dreaming on Michigan.

Sep 1, 2012, 08:20 PM	#5
Larken24 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 346	One of the major reasons why illinois doesn't like iowa was because of Bruce Pearl

Sep 2, 2012, 06:59 AM	#6
DanvIllini Super Lurker Location: Danville, IL Posts: 326	Our (not are) rivals are (used correctly) Indiana, Northwestern, and (somewhat) Missouri (and during the Kruger Self eras MSU). None of the other teams would even consider us a rival. Michigan fans would not and Ohio State might... they do not like us for a reason. Rivalries require a two-way hate.

Sep 2, 2012, 07:00 AM	#7
DanvIllini Super Lurker Location: Danville, IL Posts: 326	Sorry for the language lesson, its just that a lot of people mix them up and they aren't even supposed to be pronounced the same way.

Sep 2, 2012, 10:08 AM	#8
IlliniFan3 Banned Location: MN Posts: 13	I find it funny that MN doesnt land a spot as a rival at all. Both football teams have been struggling the last few years so its always a good game haha

Sep 2, 2012, 12:05 PM	#12
U of I 89-05-10 Location: Iowa City, Ia. Posts: 952	Side note: I'd say for a while ('02-'06) that because of the basketball hatred and how horrible we were at football, Indiana was definitely also a football rivalry, as embarrassing as that is.

Sep 2, 2012, 03:38 PM	#15
UIUC1867 Location: Christian County, IL Posts: 145	Basketball: Indiana, Mizzou, Michigan St., and Purdue. Football: Currently NW. Very subject to change though.

Sep 3, 2012, 03:18 PM	#21
BleedOrangeBlue Posts: 35	Basketball: Indiana, Missouri Football: Northwestern Yes, you might include OSU or MSU or Michigan or Iowa or Wisconsin or Purdue. But when you see, say, the two logos of Illinois and fill in the blank "rival" side-by-side when ESPN introduces the game, do you immediately think rivalry? If I'm watching an ESPN2 afternoon basketball game between Illinois and Iowa, or Illinois and Purdue, and the commentator introduces the two teams, and we see their logos and stuff, I don't immediately think "wow I hate their guts" or "gosh this is such a historic rivalry game." I think that it might be a good matchup, or just an overall good game, but the fanfare of match-ups with teams like Purdue or Iowa don't really ring any rivalry bells IMO.

Sep 3, 2012, 04:36 PM	#22
U of I 89-05-10 Location: Iowa City, Ia. Posts: 952	The only rivalries ESPN ever hypes as rivalries are Indiana, Missouri and Northwestern.

Sep 3, 2012, 09:06 PM	#23
jackman404 Posts: 1,473	Basketball: Indiana, Mizzou, Michigan State, Purdue, Northwestern Football: Northwestern and Iowa Michigan/OSU/PSU are rivals to us but we are not viewed as rivals by them (nor should we be). Our football team always plays them like a big rivalry game but I'm not sure you can call it a rivalry because it's been so one sided over the years. __________________ Williams to tie it with a three......HE DOES!!!