The Big Ten is full of traditional rivalries and, accordingly, has a slew of rivalry trophies. From the Little Brown Jug that goes to the winner of the Michigan – Minnesota football game to the Old Oaken Bucket that the winner of Purdue – Indiana football claims, rivalry trophies are very much a part of B1G tradition.
Tuesday afternoon, Maryland announced the creation of its first rivalry trophy but not for the football team. No, simply and fittingly named, “The Rivalry Trophy” will go to the winner of the men’s lacrosse game between Maryland and Johns Hopkins.
Interestingly, a dispute already exists between the schools with regard to the date of the onset of The Rivalry and the official record. According to Johns Hopkins, the first official meeting occurred in 1895 and the Blue Jays hold a 70-40-1 lead in the series. Maryland recognizes their lacrosse program’s first season as 1924 and concedes only a 63-40-1 series advantage to JHU.
“Our coaching staff and players consider it a great honor and privilege to compete in a rivalry that is much greater than ourselves,” said Maryland head coach John Tillman. “We are thrilled to add even more meaning to the Maryland-Johns Hopkins rivalry with the addition of the trophy.”
Hopkins coach Dave Pietramala added, “It is not lost on our current staff and players or those who came before us that representing Johns Hopkins in the greatest rivalry in college lacrosse is an honor.After more than 100 all-time meetings, it’s not easy to add something to a rivalry that is already so intense and important to so many, yet the addition of the “The Rivalry Trophy” does just that. We look forward to the addition of this new and exciting chapter in the storied history of Hopkins-Maryland.”
The wooden trophy, shaped like a Maryland blue crab, is 22 inches tall, 32 inches wide and weighs 25 pounds. The trophy will be awarded to the winning team following each annual regular season game. Thus, an additional layer of interest and intrigue has been added to Saturday’s contest.
A Hopkins win will allow the Blue Jays not only to share in the first Big Ten men’s lacrosse title with the Terrapins (and possibly Ohio State) but will also forever permit them to claim the initial awarding of the trophy. Should Maryland win, they will have not only the bragging rights to the first trophy but to the undisputed B1G men’s lacrosse title.
freddy from boca
a 50 pound can of old bay also goes to the winner.
a must win for maryland. johns hopkins is playing more like anthony hopkins this year.
maybe if md can win a few football games against penn st. those 2 can create a real football rilvary and play for the mason-dixon trophy. that trophy is actually a picture with jackie mason and juan dixon on it.
· 11/12/2019