Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Ball State and Miami to Begin Trophy Game in Football Series
November 17, 2016 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State and Miami, two Mid-American Conference universities separated by a little more than 70 miles, will make their football contest a 'Red Bird Rivalry' trophy game beginning in 2017.
The rivalry between the schools dates back to a 1931 meeting in Oxford, Ohio, but didn't blossom until Ball State joined the MAC in the mid-1970s. The two teams played each other in football every year from 1985 through 1998. MAC expansion in the late 1990s changed league scheduling as the conference had too many teams to play every team on an annual basis. Because Miami is in the MAC East and Ball State is in the MAC West, they have only faced off eight times since 2000.
However, beginning in 2017, Ball State and Miami will once again play every season as they have been granted rivalry status on the MAC football crossover schedules. The only other league series that has that status is Bowling Green (MAC East) and Toledo (MAC West). The two teams will meet to conclude the 2016 regular season at Miami on Tuesday night, Nov. 22. Miami will return the trip to Muncie, Indiana next fall.
"Combined with the MAC committing to schedule this football game every year, Ball State's geographical location makes this an easy rivalry to support," Miami Director of Athletics David Sayler said. "The nearby destination allows our fans an easy opportunity to watch Miami football on the road and gives the MAC a chance to balance the conference schedule."
Discussions between the two schools led to the creation of the Red Bird Rivalry. The mascots of both schools are red birds. Ball State has been known as the Cardinals since 1927. Miami adopted the RedHawks moniker in 1997. Trophy designs are still in the initial planning stages and will be announced at a later date.
"The geographic proximity and athletic histories of the two schools make this rivalry game a natural," Ball State Director of Athletics Mark Sandy said. "We look forward playing the RedHawks each season."
Ball State has won four of the last five meetings, but Miami holds a slight 16-12-1 edge in the series record.
Miami also plays Cincinnati for the Victory Bell and Ohio for the Battle of the Bricks. Ball State agreed to play Northern Illinois for the Bronze Stalk Trophy in 2008.
The rivalry between the schools dates back to a 1931 meeting in Oxford, Ohio, but didn't blossom until Ball State joined the MAC in the mid-1970s. The two teams played each other in football every year from 1985 through 1998. MAC expansion in the late 1990s changed league scheduling as the conference had too many teams to play every team on an annual basis. Because Miami is in the MAC East and Ball State is in the MAC West, they have only faced off eight times since 2000.
However, beginning in 2017, Ball State and Miami will once again play every season as they have been granted rivalry status on the MAC football crossover schedules. The only other league series that has that status is Bowling Green (MAC East) and Toledo (MAC West). The two teams will meet to conclude the 2016 regular season at Miami on Tuesday night, Nov. 22. Miami will return the trip to Muncie, Indiana next fall.
"Combined with the MAC committing to schedule this football game every year, Ball State's geographical location makes this an easy rivalry to support," Miami Director of Athletics David Sayler said. "The nearby destination allows our fans an easy opportunity to watch Miami football on the road and gives the MAC a chance to balance the conference schedule."
Discussions between the two schools led to the creation of the Red Bird Rivalry. The mascots of both schools are red birds. Ball State has been known as the Cardinals since 1927. Miami adopted the RedHawks moniker in 1997. Trophy designs are still in the initial planning stages and will be announced at a later date.
"The geographic proximity and athletic histories of the two schools make this rivalry game a natural," Ball State Director of Athletics Mark Sandy said. "We look forward playing the RedHawks each season."
Ball State has won four of the last five meetings, but Miami holds a slight 16-12-1 edge in the series record.
Miami also plays Cincinnati for the Victory Bell and Ohio for the Battle of the Bricks. Ball State agreed to play Northern Illinois for the Bronze Stalk Trophy in 2008.
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