Illinois-Missouri – NOT just an average rivalry  

[DEC. 26, 2003]  As the Mayfield mobile sped toward St. Louis for the annual Braggin’Rights battle between the Illini and Missouri, we decided to turn on a sports radio host from Chicago, the sports town I love!  The host, a usually “in the know” Mike North, began to make fun of a Chicago columnist who stated that Illinois-Missouri is the best non-conference game of the year.  North couldn’t believe this, stating the game was just average.  He went so far to say better non-conference rivalries included DePaul-Notre Dame and Wisconsin-Marquette. 

Are you kidding me? DePaul-Notre Dame? I think DePaul only has about five fans outside of the city and I know one of them (Jeff Benjamin from the Fix 96.3).

As I stood up with about five minutes to go in the first half, I began to think about what exactly made this game so special year in, year out. Here is what I came up with:

1. Sold out Savvis – 50% Illini fans, 50% Tiger fans every year. I’ve never seen an arena so split right down the middle – it is that way every year.
 

2. Illinois usually wins! Four in a row for the good guys and Illinois won eight in row during the Lou Henson era (amazing).
 

3. The fans really hate one another. Last night in the First Aid room, fans involved in fights had to be treated and even the Missouri fans lost the fight!

4. Christmas week in a great sports city. Best time of the year for the battle.

5. The game is usually close and is always a battle. Last year Illinois won by 15, but most years the game comes down the final couple of possessions.

6. Famous people make the journey to see the game in person. In the years I’ve covered the game, I’ve seen two different governors (Edgar and Ryan), the Attorney General of the U.S. (Ashcroft), pro baseball, football and basketball players (Grace, Sutcliffe, Bruce, Warner) and Whitey Herzog.

7. New coaches to the rivalry have won their first Braggin’ Rights game every year. Kruger won in ’96, Snyder won in ’97, Self won in ’00 and Weber won last night.
 

8. ESPN and Dick Vitale.  Dukie V attended his first Braggin’ Rights game last night and couldn’t believe the atmosphere – not bad coming from a Duke fan!  He might actually be forced to say something nice about Illinois.

Bottom line, Tuesday night was my fifth Border War game and I’ve seen Illinois win four of these games.  I saw the last ever Lou Henson coached team, a victory in 1995 that broke a four game Mizzou winning streak in the series and give Collinsville’s Richard Keene a final victory in great rivalry.  I saw the Kruger-led Illini struggle for offense and lose in 1998 despite great late shooting from Sergio McLain.  I witnessed Brian Cook’s coming out party in 2000, when he scored 23 in the first half en route to an overtime victory.  I watched as Frank Williams out played Kareem Rush in 2001 and Illinois won by eleven.  And finally, I watched last night as the Illinois jumped out to a 21 point lead and held on for victory. 

 Illinois is now 7-2 with two non-conference games left – Tuesday at the United Center against a strong UIC team, and January 3 in Champaign against Illinois St. 

 If the Illini can duplicate the effort from last night, this team could be something special.  Here is hoping that comes true!  Merry Christmas and GO ILLINI!

[Greg Taylor]

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