Rice, Marist can't get together

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There are some high school rivalries that demand to be preserved, similar to a favorite family recipe that’s been handed down from generation to generation.

Those intense competitions that produce overwhelming pleasure and excitement, and create lifelong memories for players, fans and families.

One of those rivalries is Brother Rice and Marist varsity football. Granted, whenever the two neighboring private institutions compete — in anything from soccer to baseball — competitive fires rise to state championship levels.

The pride factor, however, reaches a crescendo on the varsity football field. In past years, the famed Pulaski Road Super Bowl, in reference to the slab of concrete that separates the two schools, was scheduled for Week 1.

Which is precisely where it should be situated from here to eternity.

The past two years, however, Marist and Brother Rice have not competed on the varsity level, leaving a void on the schedule similar to a loved one’s absence at Thanksgiving dinner.

Instead of playing Marist, the Crusaders accepted an invitation to play at Soldier Field. And I can’t fault Rice coach Steve Nye for doing so, knowing the opportunity to play in a professional stadium is a special one.

In the absence of the varsity event, the RedHawks and Crusaders did, however, continue to play at the freshmen and sophomore levels and attracted crowds that rivaled most varsity events.

Rice had the opportunity to extend its season-opening Soldier Field experience next season, but Nye, knowing Marist had an opening in its schedule in Week 1, said, “Thanks, but no thanks” to another lakefront invitation.

“I thought we were going to play Marist,” Nye said. “Not only next year, but the year after. So I said, ‘No’ to Soldier Field.”

The Pulaski Road Super Bowl appeared to be back.

Nye and Marist coach Pat Dunne, who genuinely like and respect one another, are well aware of the game’s historical significance, having competed in it when they were players at the schools they now coach.

“We agreed that the game was going to be played at our place next year,” Nye said. “But then things changed and got complicated.”

Marist wanted to host next season, since Rice hosted the last time the two played at the varsity level in 2007.

Marist also didn’t want to add another road game to its schedule next fall. If the RedHawks would have complied with Rice’s demand, they would have six road games. The following year, 2011, the schedule would reverse, with Marist hosting six games.

“We would have had only three home games next year,” Marist athletic director Tom Schergen said. “We want to keep our schedule balanced. Plus, they hosted the last varsity game we played, so it’s our turn to host.”

Lines were drawn in the sand, with neither school showing a willingness to budge.

To borrow a line from Journey, the two rivals went their separate ways.

So instead of the Pulaski Road Super Bowl kicking off the next two seasons, Rice will play Orr and Marist will face Urban Prep Charter. At least each received their wish and will host next season.

But thousands of fans, including the RedHawk Rowdies and Crusader Crazies, along with dozens of varsity players, will be deprived the unique experience only Brother Rice vs. Marist varsity football can provide.

I considered it a head-scratcher when neither Marist and Brother Rice basketball would sacrifice a home game and play at a larger neutral site (St. Xavier’s Shannon Center) to accommodate ticket demand a few years ago.

But the inability to agree on this football situation might take the cake.

How did the respective powers not get this deal done? With a two-year contract on the table, each was going to host a game. Who gets to host first is somewhat petty, even though with Rice hosting the last varsity game, I’d say Marist should host next.

Why not just flip a coin to settle the disagreement?

And in these harsh economic times, imagine the financial windfall each school passed by not scheduling each other. There will be more people in line at Wojo’s than there will be in the visitor’s entrance for Orr and Urban Prep Charter that night.

The lack of an agreement really hurts Marist, which doesn’t boast a natural rival on its schedule. That’s not the case for Rice, which has St. Rita and Mount Carmel.

“Just because it’s not happening next year doesn’t mean we’re saying forget about Rice,” Schergen said. “We’ll continue to push for it.”

Don’t push. Negotiate.