Our Biggest Rival?

[FMPanther]

From the YSU/WIU threads.....

Who is UNI's biggest rival? Or, who do you, as a fan, perceive as our biggest rival?

Football:

1. Western Illinois
2. Missouri State (historically)
3. SIU (recently)

[JayJ79]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

Since UNI tends to be towards the top of the conference standings more often than not, most of the other conference teams tend to get pumped up to play us (at least I would think so). So there is a "rivalry" with a number of other teams.

Western has proximity in it's favor, as it is the closest conference foe.
But I'd say that SIU is the "biggest" rivalry of late, since the game has had playoff implications so often.

[06panther10]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

SIU. No contest.

[UNIFanSince1983]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

SIU now not only in football, but basketball as well. Missouri State previously as we used to have Bear week and they used to have Panther week. With any luck TA will turn them around and become our biggest rival again. WIU is closest and has the second most conference titles so they have to be in the discussion.

[DomeRanger Posse]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

FM, you got my three picks right away. Bear Week and taking on the Leathernecks still feels like a good old fashioned hate fest rivalry to me. The only thing I would add is that in the future, I think NDSU has a real strong possibility of being rival number four.

[UNIAlum95]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

Football Only

SIU - Winner gets conference
MSU - TA & Bear Week
WIU - Closest to us
NDSU - Rival on the rise
YSU - They've got championships that we would love to have
ISU(red) - Denver has had some success against us
SDSU - Could become a Western Iowa tie to UNI & move up the list
ISU(blue) - I'm sure they'd love to beat us

[UNI Fight]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

I have to say SIU for football is our big rival, no longer Missouri State

[FerociousCat]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

"You can't spell stupid without SIU!"

Always the game that stands out on the schedule...

Bear week kind of went down on the hate-o-meter when TA & Co. rejoined...
WIU/Il St are just always missing something...
The Penguins never beat Farley so...
XDSU's ditto the above...

['70 Grad]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

SIU now not only in football, but basketball as well. Missouri State previously as we used to have Bear week and they used to have Panther week. With any luck TA will turn them around and become our biggest rival again. WIU is closest and has the second most conference titles so they have to be in the discussion.

Complete agreement.

It used to be so hard to beat SMS when Charlie Spoonhour was the coach. (Basketball) And that is where Steve Alford coached. Liked Jackie Stiles, hated the rest of the Hammonds Student Center. Don't they usually give our VB team fits?

In MBB, the Jays and now Bulldogs are in the conversation. But to answer the WIU/YSU question (FB), it's now the Egyptian Dogs (MBB too).

[TravelingPanther]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

NSDU by far

[1988]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

NDSU. Plus I don't like the fact that we are using the word "basketball" in a football thread! How 'bout we finish the football season before we start pimping the grueling college basketball marathon.

[UNIAlum95]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

NSDU by far

NDSU by far our biggest rival? Really? We've now played them a total of one time since what '82. Until NDSU shows it can compete for a title, they aren't our biggest rival.

[Panther-at-Arms]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

I have a feeling NDSU will be back in form next year and a force to be reckoned with...definitely a worthy rival for the future. For now, though, it's gotta be SIU!

[Mrs.Panther2317]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

I agree with SIU. I hate losing to them whether it be football or basketball! Looking forward to not having to see Falker on the court this year!
I would have to say MSU for volleyball.

[06panther10]

Re: Our Biggest Rival?

Loved seeing Falker end his career last season with a loss to the Panthers in the tourny.