Is Virginia Our Nemesis Or Arch-Enemy?
by Sean Keeley on Mar 4, 2010 1:02 PM EST
34 comments
As we all know, college lacrosse is really all about four schools (at least for now). Syracuse, Princeton, Virginia and Johns Hopkins. No one else wins national titles and no one else permeates the lacrosse culture like they do (except Duke for the wrong reasons).
When discussing the the other three teams amongst this group, it can be hard to pin down exactly which one we should hate the most. I think we can consider all three of them natural enemies and nemeses. But which one is truly our arch-enemy? Who is the one that stands above the other two. Virginia, our opponent this weekend, seems to be in a statistical dead-heat with us over the past 15 years. But does that make them the Lex Luthor to our Superman?
Tell me, Wikipedia, how will I know my archenemy when I see him?
The reason why the particular antagonist stands out more than the rest of the protagonist's rogues gallery varies; they may be the greatest threat to the hero, have strong connections with the hero's past, caused the hero a great deal of personal pain, has the most personal grudge against the hero, may be the most recurring enemy, the villain and the hero may be the respective leaders of two opposing factions or it may even be all these things. In certain cases, it is possible for a hero to possess more than one archenemy, as in the case of Spider-Man with Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Venom where all three villains have established themselves, at various times, as the most recurring and the most iconic of Spider-Man's rogues gallery.
Well, I guess we better break it down:
They may be the greatest threat to the hero
It seems like year in and year out, Syracuse and Virginia are battling for the No. 1 ranking more than anyone else. We've even played each other as the No. 1 and No. 2 teams multiple times over the last fifteen years. SU and Virginia have won 8 of the last 11 National Titles. (Point: Virginia)
They have strong connections with the hero's past
Go back to when SU lacrosse really took off and the first team that really jumps out at you is Johns Hopkins. Syracuse beat then in '83 to win their first modern-era title. The Jays returned the favor the next two years, beating SU both times to win their own titles. The two would tangle one more time in '89, a win by Syracuse. The storied SU-Princeton Finals rivalry didn't get started until '92. By then the Orange and Blue Jays had five National Title showdowns under their belt. (Point: Johns Hopkins)
They have caused the hero a great deal of personal pain.
Syracuse has lost to Hopkins twice in the NCAA Finals, including a 11-4 thrashing in '85. The Tigers have also beaten the Orange twice in the finals, both times overtime heart-crushing losses ('92, '01). Virginia took down the Orange once, in a '99 classic. The Orange have more than avenged Hopkins, beating them on three separate occasions. This one's a toss-up to be honest. Lots of pain doled out on all sides. (Point: Princeton, Virginia)
They have the most personal grudge against the hero
Interesting question. Is it Johns Hopkins, who was NCAA Lacrosse's golden boy (4 NCAA titles between '74 and '80) until the Orange took that mantle from them? Is it Princeton, named Team of the Decade in the 90's for their five titles but who hasn't won one since '01 while the Orange continue to dominate in the '00's? Is it Virginia, who has put together a program with a regular-season record on par with the Orange over the last decade but hasn't been able to translate it into titles or recognition quite as often we have? Me thinks it's all three. (Point: Hopkins, Princeton, Virginia)
They may be the most recurring enemy
This one might be a write-off. We play each time every season at least once and then depending on how the NCAA Tournament shakes out we might see them again. In recent years I think you have to give the nod to Hopkins, though. We've played the Jays in the Tournament four times this decade (3-1 adv). That's slightly more than the Wahoos and Le Tigres. (Point: Hopkins)
The villain and the hero may be the respective leaders of two opposing factions
I'm not going to award a point on this one but it's something that will come into play moving forward. SU didn't even have their own faction until now (Big East), let alone a faction to oppose another one. Princeton is having issues with the Ivy League leadership thanks to Cornell and Virginia always has a tough slate with Duke, NC and Maryland. It remains to be seen if this develops into a conference rivalry, not just a team one.
And so, it's a tie! Like Spider-man, Syracuse has two arch-enemies to deal with on a regular basis. Virginia and Hopkins. Though Princeton is a nemesis lurking in the shadows, plotting their chance to become part of the action. So when No. 1 and No. 2 do battle this weekend in Virginia, two sworn enemies will continue the fight of good vs. evil. I think we know who always wins that battle in the end.
0 recs |
34 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
I still think it's Hopkins
As an analogy, for me:
Hopkins = Georgetown
Virginia = Connecticut
The latter built exclusively on competitiveness. The former is a matter of ideals.
What he said
Now may Cody stick the Tewaaraton up both of their overly tight sphincters.
by Doc Gross's Phones on Mar 4, 2010 1:27 PM EST up reply actions
Completely agree
Respect Virginia/UConn
Hate Hopkins/GT
Now we just need a Hopkins Suxa member on here…
Go Orange(men)!
Yep.
Hoya Suxa comes through yet again. That’s exactly how I feel. Virginia is the nemesis. It’s the team I wanna beat, but don’t hate it when they are successful aside from head-to-head matchups. Hopkins is the arch-enemy. Their pleasure is my pain. I think the UConn/GT analogy here is perfect.
Man, I'm smart.
I should write a blog about rivalries or something.
Well, back to farting into my chair at work.
Hopkins is like Georgetown mixed with Notre Dame/Duke.
Which makes it just about the worst invention ever created.
If we’re going by the year 2010, with the new Big East conference, here’s how I see it
1. Hopkins
2. Virginia
3. Princeton/Cornell (tie because of the 2009 Title Game and geographical proximity. I’ll go further with this in a sec)
5. Notre Dame/Georgetown (the latter mainly because of the basketball rivalry)
Now if you’re wondering about “How the hell is Cornell tied with Princeton?” part, it’s mainly because of what had occurred last year. That has really heated up the rivalry between the two schools, which are only an hour away and have a fanbase and student body where a ton of people know someone from the other (or take them to senior proms but I digress). Think in terms of Syracuse-Princeton back in the late 90s and early 2000s where the championship games really fueled the rivalry. That’s not to say Princeton-Syracuse has downgraded anymore, I think you can tell it still has prominence with it having top billing for the Big City Classic, it’s just that the ill will over Syracuse is a lot greater at Cornell than Princeton (let’s face it, the Orange and Tigers haven’t faced one another in the tournament in quite a long time and both subsequently missed it a few years back too) over that National Title game. The bad blood between the two schools really isn’t where it was 10 years ago, I mean Princeton fans were the only ones besides us rooting for the Orange in the title game last year. Oh, plus thanks to some hometown connections, Princeton’s my #2 team so that might make it seem friendlier to myself than it really should be, but I think you kinda get my point (their women’s lacrosse players make good valentines, too, but once again I digress).
Speaking on terms of hatred, Hopkins is first because, come on, how can’t you hate Hopkins? They’re the lacrosse equivalent of Georgetown. There’s good reason why Hoya Suxa uses his fine university posts in the spring to cover Hopkins losses (I’m hoping one occurs this weekend too).
I don't feel the same hate for Cornell yet
I would put them below Princeton for now. It’s not a full-blown rivalry until Cornell beats us in a game that matters. But otherwise I agree.
Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.
I think Cornell might hate us more than we hate them.
At least for now. This could be because my little bro goes to Cornell, but I find myself rooting for them when we aren’t going head-to-head. I definitely dislike Princeton more than Cornell. For now at least.
Truthfully, it has always seemed that the CNY team that really gets our goat is Hobart. Even though we dominate that series, those were always some of the chippiest games I’d watch over the course of a season.
Stop FUCKING DIGRESSING.
No one cares that you took a girl to senior prom from Cornell. Its not like you fucking married her. And no one cares that a girl from Princeton made a valentine. whoop de fucking do.
Be fortunate we don't play Manhattan
I would’ve had another annoying digression for them too which I will save for the tournament if we face them (doubtful) :P
I feel like Hopkins should get a bonus point
In the grudge department. Perhaps I’m off base here, but I think because Hopkins really ONLY has lacrosse, they might take it a bit more seriously than some others. Although they haven’t been great lately, both Princeton and Virginia have respectable hoops history as well and Virginia has a (bad) football program.
I’ve gotta think when we play Hopkins, it’s like the Superbowl for them. The season wouldn’t truly be a success without beating us.
There isn't a real reason to dislike UVA
Are games vs UVA tough? You bet. Are they some of the most exciting in all of lacrosse? Absolutely.
Two teams have the athletes year in and year out to run. Its UVA and the Cuse. Together we are the showcase for the Lax world. Hopkins and Princeton are boring. The basically play slow it down Lax. We need to have a school who can run with us to bring others into lacrosse.
Hopkins fans can be real jerks. They remind me of ND in football. They think they invented the sport, but they haven’t won a ton in while. They bring a band. its all their fans care about. They are by far the most annoying group.
Instead of comparing UVA to other rivalries, lets compare this to USA Canada in hockey
We are Canada (sorry I can’t believe I just wrote that). We have the best stars year in and year out. We are always expected to win. UVA’s history is a little less, but come a championship game anyone can win. UVA also doesn’t normally have as many flashy stars as we do, but no one counts them out. The dislike for each side opposing fans is far more playful, and after the games are over, both sides are generally congratulatory of the other teams efforts.
Agree for the most part, except that Princeton’s gone away from the boring Tierney-ball this year with Bates has head coach. At least with the Hofstra game, considering they scored 17 that game. Bill Tierney woulda had a stroke if he saw the box score to that game.
That being said, Hopkins fans are the biggest assholes. Trust me, my little sister happens to be one (and she hates Syracuse a lot. I need to ship her out of the house).
I actually think UVA and Hopkins are very similar in one aspect:
both attract preppy white-collar players while Syracuse gets more of a blue collar aspect.
Blue Collar?
I hate to break it to you but Syracuse and its 40 or 50 K a year (I have no idea what it actually costs now, but it was exactly cheap when I went there in 01) actually has a couple of of white collar kids that go there. its not exactly the ideal place for people who are impoverished. Also one time at a bar on M street I saw a guy dress preppy. He might have been in that thing call ed a frat.
I’m just kidding you, but all these schools are pretty white collar. Hell outside of UMBC is there a lax program that doesn’t come off as preppy or suburban or white collar?
by CapitalOrange on Mar 5, 2010 12:10 AM EST up reply actions
I’m pretty sure he’s talking about the origin and style of the players not the family income of the average student.
In the Virginia/Baltimore/DC area, lacrosse is more of a prep school sport historically whereas in the Upstate New York area, there are generally teams in every public and private school and more sense of the Native American roots of the game. The blue collar player/blue collar work ethic is exemplified by players like Matt Abbott.
We’ll see how the Princeton Rivalry goes with Tierney gone, but I’m guessing it loses a lot of heat as time goes on.
I don’t feel much rivalry with Cornell. I tend to support most Upstate New York teams. I supported Cornell in the final four in the-year-that-shall-not-be-named and supported their run to the title game (but not to the win) last year.
Even if it is fun to mention their inability to hold the ball for 5 seconds.
i would argue arch-enemy over nemesis
Nemesis would make sense, based on the etymology. The Greek goddess, Nemesis, was one cold lady of vengeance, giving what is due to those who overindulge in prideful arrogance. But in today’s usuage, nemesis conjures to me an image of an agent who often seems to have the protagonist’s number. (i.e., UCONN hoops during the early-to-mid aughts).
Arch-enemy implies a long-standing, epic battle of wills between more-or-less equally strong rivals. That seems to fit SU-Virginia better.
You can have empathy for your enemy, but you really f**king hate your nemesis.
Let's use simple logic.
UConn has been the team that has been contesting Syracuse in Basketball the most lately. Does that make them our archrival? No, our archrival is Georgetown.
Case in point. Slopkins is our rival in lax and always will be.
HOPKINS' FANS COUNT EVERY GOAL THEY SCORE
“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, We want more!”
It’s the most annoying thing in the world.
They are #1 with a bullet.
RIT hockey's Corner Crew has it figured out
They do the “1, 2, … (n) we want (n+1)” chant, but then they immediately point at the goalie and chant, “It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault!” It’s hilarious, and I love when the cheer gets picked up by the TV broadcast & the announcers make reference to it.
Syracuse players have a lot of length.
I *heart* this post
As an RIT Corner Crew member from the early 90’s My particular favorite was the “State Schools Suck” chant. The guy walking around dressed like Death and ringing the giant bell were good times as well
I wonder if my boot prints on the opponent penalty box glass are still there… ah good times.
by Trapped_In_ACC_Hell on Mar 5, 2010 9:42 AM EST up reply actions
Hopkins Douchebaggery
This goes a bit back, but at the 2004 Final Four in Baltimore, two Hopkins fans sat behind me and my buddy. The most douchiness guys in the world. Pink and baby blue polos, collars popped, tucked into their khaki short wearing expensive sandals with their Oakleys on, yelling and whupping everytime that f*cking band started playing.
Virginia has their fare share of the same people, no doubt, but back to some previous points, if UVa lax loses, they’re still a D1 school with their shitty football and shitty basketball. When Hopkins loses, that’s it. That’s all they got, and beating them and shattering their hopes and sending their douchebag fans back to their sailboats and crab cakes is an incredible feeling.
by Matt M. on Mar 5, 2010 9:14 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
Related FanPosts on Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
Related FanShots on Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
