Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Four more dormant non-league rivalries worth resuscitating


Editor's note: To read my story on why Ohio State and Cincinnati have only played one time since 1962, click here. Below is a look at four other dormant potential non-conference rivalries that would draw plenty of interest if they began anew:

1. Maryland vs. Georgetown

Series history: Terrapins lead 36-26

Last meeting: Georgetown 75, Maryland 48 (2008)

Why did the series stop? Petty differences have halted what should be one of the nation's most anticipated rivalry games. The Hoyas and Terps last scheduled a regular-season game in 1993, an epic 84-83 Maryland upset thanks to guard Duane Simpkins' winning shot late in overtime. The reason for the hiatus is Maryland believes the next game in the series should be in College Park, while Georgetown considers that previous game at the Verizon Center to be a neutral-court matchup. "It's disappointing," Simpkins said. "For Maryland and Georgetown not to play, it's a travesty for fans in the area. Each fan base wants to say their team is better, but we don't have a series that allows them to prove it."

Will the series restart? Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson raised hopes earlier this month when he told the Washington Times he was in "serious conversation" with Georgetown about renewing the series, but the optimism didn't last long. First Georgetown athletic director Lou Reed warned the Washington Post negotiations were "far too preliminary" for fans to get their hopes up. Then former Hoyas coach John Thompson Jr. lashed out at Anderson for publicizing the negotiations, telling ESPN 980 that "the AD at Maryland is not the person that schedules for Georgetown" and that "you don't negotiate through the damn newspaper." Does that sound like the Hoyas are ready to relax their longstanding policy of not playing the Beltway's top teams? Probably not.

2. Gonzaga vs. Washington

Series history: Huskies lead 30-13

Last meeting: Gonzaga 97, Washington 77 (2007)

Why did the series stop? Washington claimed it ended the series in 2007 because it sought opponents who would provide more national exposure, but the real explanation for the demise of the West Coast's best non-league rivalry is likely more complicated than that. First of all, the Zags had beaten the Huskies eight of the last nine times they met. Secondly, the two staffs had a frosty relationship stemming from violations ex-Washington assistant Cameron Dollar committed while recruiting former Gonzaga big man Josh Heytvelt. It was Zags coach Mark Few who reportedly revealed Dollar's transgressions, angering the Huskies because he didn't address the issue with them first.

Will the series restart? Neither Washington nor Gonzaga would make their respective coaches available to talk about jump-starting the rivalry, but a Zags spokesman confirmed that talks are "ongoing" between the two schools. That sounds somewhat encouraging, though it's worth noting that the last attempt to restart the series didn't turn out so well. Few chafed at the Huskies' suggestion of playing three straight games at Seattle's Key Arena rather than alternating between campus sites, famously telling SI.com, "The chances of that happening are about the same as Bigfoot having my baby."

3. Memphis vs. Arkansas

Series history: Razorbacks lead 11-10

Last meeting: Memphis 72, Arkansas 67 (2003)

Why did the series stop? Arkansas and Memphis played annually from 1991-2003 until then-Tigers coach John Calipari abruptly halted the series. Aware that the Razorbacks had recruited former stars such as Todd Day, Corey Beck, Ron Huery, Dwight Stewart and Arlyn Bowers from Memphis, Calipari believed he could shut down that pipeline by limiting Arkansas' presence in the city. Perhaps its coincidence or perhaps not, but Arkansas has fallen on hard times since then and hasn't lured anymore elite players from Memphis.

Will the series restart? New Arkansas coach Mike Anderson is a former Nolan Richardson aide who will surely make recruiting Memphis a greater priority once again, but Tigers coach Josh Pastner has no intentions of making it any easier for the Razorbacks. Pastner told an Arkansas radio station last month that the Razorbacks have approached him about restarting the series, but he has turned them down. "The bottom line is, where I stand, a lot of these teams want to recruit in Memphis," Pastner said. "Why do I want to help them out?"

4. Boston College vs. Connecticut

Series history: Huskies lead 54-35

Last meeting: Boston College 75, Connecticut 70 (2005)

Why did the series stop? Boston College departing the Big East in favor of the ACC marked the death of the rivalry between New England's two most prominent schools. Angered that the Eagles weren't upfront about their intentions to leave the conference, UConn coach Jim Calhoun told the Hartford Courant in 2003 that he would not renew the rivalry, a vow he has upheld since the two schools played their last Big East game two years later. "We won't play BC after they leave here," Calhoun said at the time. "I have no desire to play Boston College. Not for the fact that they are leaving but how they did it. I will not play Boston College as long as I'm here."

Will the series restart? Whereas Boston College and former Big East rival Providence began playing each other annually again in 2006 after a one-year hiatus, there doesn't appear to be much hope of the Eagles and Huskies renewing their series anytime soon. Calhoun hasn't softened his stance on Boston College since his original vow to no longer play the Eagles. And Boston College athletic director Gene DeFilippo also hasn't backed off his 2006 statement that "there are no plans to play UConn in football or in basketball any time in the near future."

Amy Cobb Deanna Russo Cheryl Burke Olivia Wilde Paulina Rubio

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