Rivalries are important in sports; they provide a sense of motivation for players and an us vs them dynamic that strengthens fan base loyalty to the team. Recently, in the more modern sports world, the term rivals has been used loosely, losing its meaning.
The definition of a rival is “a person, group, etc., competing with others for the same thing or in the same area.” It’s known that sports teams and athletes often dislike each other because of the game itself. They form rivalries due to the history of the teams and the frequency with which teams play one another. A lot of the newer so-called “rivals” in the NFL are not actual rivals, because there is no real bad blood.
The American Football Conference North is one of the most competitive divisions to play in the NFL and subsequently has some of the best rivalries. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens have hated each other for decades, going back to when the Ravens were the Cleveland Browns and ultimately left Cleveland. Since the AFC North was realigned in 2002 to the four teams we know it as today, a team other than the Ravens or Steelers has claimed the AFC North Champion only six times. This has made it a constant battle between the Ravens and the Steelers.
The rivalry games for the two teams are known to be hard-hitting and intense. Former Steelers receiver Hines Ward described the rivalry best as “It’s just pure hatred, just like two old-fashioned bullies meeting in an alley,” highlighting the passion behind it with the players.
In college football, some rivalries still run rampant. Of course, here at Ohio University, we refer to a large rivalry as “the Battle of the Bricks” because of how long our football team has been playing Miami University. There is also a large rivalry between the Ohio State University and the University of Michigan, aka “the Game,” which just last year ended in a fight between the two teams. They are long-standing and still thriving to this day.
Now, the NFL throws around the word rivals because teams have beaten each other a few times. One example of a game being called a rivalry game when it isn’t is the so-called Chiefs vs Bills rivalry, or as I call it, Patrick Mahomes vs Josh Allen. While this matchup is certainly exciting, it’s in no way a rivalry.
Yes, the two teams play frequently because they are both in the AFC. Still, they don’t always have to play in the regular season. Not to mention, geographically they are not close, and are even in different time zones. The so-called rivalry is about the two star quarterbacks on the field, not genuine hatred for the city or the team.
While rivalries are brutal and exciting, respect is still maintained off the field. Despite the hatred of the Ravens, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin still has a lot of respect for quarterback Lamar Jackson. Rivalries can create hostile environments, leading to fights after the whistle. It’s important to acknowledge the talent on the other side while continuing the hatred and need to win.
Rivalries are not something that can be born from one hard game against a team. They take time to grow, and the fan base has to invest in the games and the idea of a rival. The NFL keeps trying to push these new rivals while ignoring the historic ones that are still thriving. On the other hand, college teams continue their historic rivalries with longstanding respect.
Cassie is a senior studying communications at Ohio University. Please note the views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Cassie? Email her at cb086021@ohio.edu.
