The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

The student news site of Marquette University

Marquette Wire

COWLES: Marquette needs to find a BIG EAST rival

Marquette+plays+the+Bluejays+twice+a+year+in+basketball%2C+allowing+for+plenty+of+rivalry+building+moments.+%28Photo+by+Maggie+Bean%2FMarquette+Athletics%29
Photo by Maggie Bean
Marquette plays the Bluejays twice a year in basketball, allowing for plenty of rivalry building moments. (Photo by Maggie Bean/Marquette Athletics)

What could be better than watching your favorite team win? Watching your favorite team beat their rival – the team they hate most.

For Marquette, there’s always been one rival that has stood the test of time and will always be public enemy No. 1 for fans of the Golden Eagles. I’m of course referring to that Wisconsin state university who will not be named.

After that school in red, who else is there for Marquette fans to hate? Let’s be honest, it’s fun to hate another school, and right now there’s really no other school that provokes the Marquette fan base like Badger people.

Rivalries in college usually exist between teams in the same conference. The consistency of playing the same teams every year can really bring out animosity between players and fans alike. However,ever since Marquette joined the Big East Conference in 2005 there hasn’t been a clear in-conference rival.

Story continues below advertisement

So where can Marquette fans look?

Marquette’s soccer programs are pretty much set with UW-Milwaukee as the cross-town rival, with the centerpiece being the annual Milwaukee Cup. It’s a perfect rivalry that draws a ton of attention from Marquette soccer fans. Still, that’s just one game in August or September, and it isn’t what Marquette faithfuls care most about – basketball.

It seems everyone except Marquette has a dancing – or should I say boxing – partner. Villanova has Georgetown and Providence, Butler has Xavier, St. John’s has Seton Hall.

DePaul and Marquette go back a ways, but DePaul has been such a doormat for the past 15 years that it’s hard for any Marquette fan to get excited about playing them.

That leaves one school for Marquette to focus its conference anger on: Creighton University.

Marquette and Creighton are not traditional rivals; they’re not very close geographically and they rarely compete for the same recruits. With that being said, there is plenty of potential for some good old-fashioned hate to brew between these two.

Last year, Creighton was neck-and-neck with Marquette at the bottom of the BIG EAST cellar as they were in rebuild mode after (miraculously) losing Doug McDermott to the NBA.

It will take a lot of heavy lifting by both of these programs for a rivalry to burgeon. An intense rivalry comes from playing games that mean something, not just who can avoid last place in the conference.

Both programs are on the rise, though. Creighton cashed in on its previous successes with McDermott for brand new facilities, which gives them an advantage in recruiting. Their fanbase is still massive and loyal.

Marquette, too, is banking on new facilities, fresh management and one of the best young teams in the country.

In the two years Marquette and Creighton shared the same conference, the games between these teams haven’t been memorable. Still, Creighton is still new to the BIG EAST, and a rivalry could develop between these teams. The basketball-loving culture of these schools could connect the two teams looking for a natural rival. From there, the other sports can follow.

Rivalries make the games more interesting and fun to watch, and they happen organically; they can’t be forced. Marquette and Creighton have the potential to blossom into a great “love to hate them” relationship.

View Comments (1)
More to Discover

Comments (1)

All Marquette Wire Picks Reader Picks Sort: Newest

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • F

    Frederic StephensSep 14, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    Back in the 60’s and 70’s MU and Notre Dame were huge independent rivals. Dean Meminger Vs. Austin Carr , future All-Americans, was such a big deal when they played each other even as freshman. We hated Notre Dame. Wisconsin was not even an issue. If you went to Marquette in the 60’s and 70’s you hated Notre Dame. It was so pervasive, it remains with me today after 45 plus years. De Paul was also a big rival in those days. As for new rivals, it will work itself out depending on the team or teams MU really competes with for championships. I liked your article. It helps remind me of the old basketball days and the privilege of having watched Al McGuire recruit and coach at the very highest level. Thanks. Frederic Stephens Arts 68

    Reply