A rivalry is a state of athletic competition between two opposing teams. It is an intense heated battle that brings out the very best athletics and commonly worst behavior between two teams in a sport. The time leading up to the game is part of the very "fun" of the rivalry. Rivalries occur in all sports of all age groups. The competitive rivalry always portends a strong progressive building multi-year history and fan interest behind the upcoming battle. Usually there is considerable media coverage preempting the competition. The bottom line within a rivalry is that statistics are meaningless excepting the final score. Failure to win leads to frustration and having to live with the loss the remainder of one’s life or at least, until next season.

The success of an athletic event is signified by an old adage: If the game is more important to the fans compared to the players and coaches, then the sporting event transcends the game itself and is a very special occasion for all. All sports contain rivalries, and many schools/teams have multiple rivalries on their schedules.

As I watched an intense battle between two Big East basketball powers, Syracuse and Georgetown, I noted the intense fan reaction at the game and on emails, Tweets, TV, and text messages within our family. The game took on a life of its own, and the fact that an upset just occurred meant a ton to Georgetown. Hardly a week before, General Petraeus was giving a lecture at Georgetown’s Gaston Hall when he opened with a joke about the Georgetown-Syracuse basketball rivalry. This game had meaning beyond just a win for Georgetown’s fans. It meant bragging rights in the Big East tournament, being on the upside of jokes between the two universities and a strengthened athletic department for next year's recruiting efforts. Students walk to classes with a lift in their step knowing they have conquered the enemy. Overall team chemistry improves, university depression indices go up, and even professors’ attitudes may soften a bit for at least a couple days.

While attending a high school class reunion a couple years ago, some classmates mentioned a rivalry football game that meant everything when we were seniors. Recollections of the game dominated our conversation as different ones brought up some of the decisive and unpredictable facets within the game itself. As I listened to the former players, as well as some of the fans, intensely discussing this game, I was greatly impressed by their very detailed memories of the game – even many years later when our memories are supposedly fading. One player remembered a key block and tackle; another an onside kick that fell into his hands; another a blocked extra point (the game difference); and a fan recalled the mascots actually fighting. Our high school teachers enjoyed the competition as much as the players, coaches, parents and players. The talk eventually moved on to the fun pranks that occurred surrounding the game. After the game I was looking forward to heading home for a post game meal after being dropped off at our school. Being the last one out of the locker room after talking to a young player on the team, when I hopped into my car to leave I soon realized I was heading nowhere. All four tires had been removed and my car was sitting blocks. Thus I walked the several miles home since the school was locked and cell phones were still a futuristic dream. Years later this football game, which was won by our team, had taken on a new life and dominated the class reunion talk.