The Rival Rundown: Minnesota vs. Wisconsin

Welcome back to The Rival Rundown! If you’ve always wanted to give props to your school on CC, now’s your chance! Shoot us an email explaining what’s awesome and unique about your school (or what stinks about Rival U) at rivalrundown@collegecandy.com!

Put on yer best Midwest accent, serve up some hot dish, and grab yer mittens, because this week we’re taking a look at two of the nation’s premier state schools who rival each other in just about everything–but especially hockey. The University of Minnesota–Twin Cities and the University of Wisconsin–Madison are both members of the Big Ten conference and the northern region, where hockey is the recreational sport of choice. Can one of these schools score a hat trick?

1. Mascot Match-up

Minnesota- Goldy Gopher, the leader of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, has led fans in cheering for twenty-four NCAA  titles, five of which were won for hockey!
Wisconsin-The Wisconsin Badgers have won twenty-six NCAA titles, six of which were for men’s hockey. However, the men’s boxing team has won the most of any Wisconsin sport, with eight national titles.

Three credits to:  Wisconsin. Cuz they’d beat the crap out of me if I didn’t say that.

2. Border Battle Cup Stats (Held annually since the 2004-2005 school year, the Cup is awarded to the school with the highest number of wins from head-to-head match-ups and conference standings between the two institutions.)

Minnesota- Two wins (08-09 and 05-06)
Wisconsin- Three wins (04-05, 06-07, 07-08)

Three Credits to:  Wisconsin

3. Terrific Traditions

Minnesota- A true Minnesota fan will recognize the battle cry of “Ski-U-Mah!”, taken from an old Sioux warrior chant and adapted into U of M fight songs for over 115 years!
Wisconsin- Badger fans sure know how to celebrate. After every football game–win or lose–fans, players, coaches, and alumni stick around for the Fifth Quarter, a stadium party filled with school songs, games, and activities for all.

Three credits to:  Wisconsin (for, as the old song goes, accentuating the positive!)

4. Ass-kicking Alumni

Minnesota- Bob Dylan (attended), Herb Brooks (Coach of Miracle on Ice men’s hockey team), Carol Bly
Wisconsin- Frank Lloyd Wright (attended), Joyce Carol Oates , Bud Selig (MLB commissioner)

Three credits to: A tough call with so many veritable icons, but the edge goes to Minnesota for music and hockey immortality.

5. Acceptance Rate Agony (for the class of 2012)

Minnesota- 52.5%
Wisconsin- 52.7%

Three credits to:  Minnesota

And the diploma goes to: Wisconsin! Take another Fifth Quarter, Badgers, this one’s all yours!