This rivalry is a dud

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:28PM

Friday is the celebration of an odd kind of anniversary -- the last time East Aurora beat West Aurora in football.

It was Week 1, 10 years ago when Al Tamborelli's Tomcats beat Mike Runge's Blackhawks 26-23 to set up the last winning season East has had in that same span.

I was sophomore at North Central College then, and many of the players in this year's game were in grade school. The year might have had a "2-0" in front of it, but it was a long time ago.

We're entering the second decade of the new millennium and East has to be hoping that it can catch lightning in a bottle yet again because nothing in recent history points to what would be a monumental upset of the Blackhawks.

Since that win in 2000, West has won this game by an average of 33 points, has pitched four shutouts and has put up four 40-point efforts.

Last season was the first time since that win the Tomcats scored more than six points.

Since joining The Beacon-News four football seasons ago, I've been regaled with stories about how great this rivalry once was and what it meant to the city.

I believe it was then, but it's no longer the case. The "rivalry" has become legend more than fact -- like Notre Dame being nationally relevant in football.

Sure, fans, boosters and old heads will come out tonight to cheer and reminisce, but everyone is pretty sure West is going to lay the beat down again.

Now, they have to play the game -- so everyone has to allow some part of their brain to think East can win tonight -- but let's be real: this game is kind of a waste of time.

At the very least, the schools can try to work out something with their respective conferences and the IHSA to bring back some luster.

Even if the teams still have to battle to get numbers, they can at least make some cosmetic changes to polish up what historically has been a great rivalry.

Move it to Aurora University.

Create alternate jerseys.

Talk with the DuPage Valley and Upstate Eight conferences to move to the game to Week 9, where coaches can use it as a carrot to keep kids interested and eligible.

The football might be better then as well, as both teams will be more seasoned and prepared.

Or, to make it a real special event, talk with the IHSA and make it a "bowl" type game and move it to end of the year, like way back in the day when this rivalry shared the spotlight with no one in late November. (Teams are allowed just nine games, but if they agreed to play one of those games later in the year, they would be able to.)

Of course, you can't just do these things. There are logistical issues and some pride to swallow. But something like this has to happen to revitalize this game.

East has had seven winning seasons in 29 years. West has had four. The Blackhawks last made the postseason in 1994. The Tomcats last made the playoffs in 1982.

And in these two conferences, the odds that they make the playoffs again -- and consistently -- in the near future are slim.

These programs, this city, deserve more than that. One way to do that is to put the rivalry back in the spotlight. Prep Football

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