Information AboutSouth's Oldest Rivalry |
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The 2005 meeting marked the 110th edition of the game, four more than the Army-Navy Game (the U.S. Naval Academy being south of the Mason-Dixon Line ) first played in 1890 and continuously since 1930 , one more than the "''Deep'' South's Oldest Rivalry" ( Georgia - Auburn ) first played in 1892 and continuously since 1944 , and 18 more than the rivalry between UNC and Duke , first played in 1888 and continuously since 1922 . (There is a Division III rivalry between Hampden-Sydney College and Randolph-Macon College , called the "South's Oldest Small-College Rivalry", that was first played in 1893 and has been played 111 times yet renewed for an unknown number of years continuously.) Off the field, the rivalry is considered more gentlemanly than most, both in and out of the South. This is partially due to the historical lineage and academic prowess of the two universities involved. The University of Virginia was founded by third President Of The United States and founding father Thomas Jefferson , whereas the University of North Carolina was the first operational state university in the history of America. Both institutions have successful athletics programs, and consequently the alumni bases of UNC and Virginia share more of a mutual respect for the other institution than is common in college football rivalries. On the field, and among the current students as well as the non-alum fans that hail from each rival state, the feelings are not as respectful and the rivalry can be very intense. One reason this rivalry can be considered gentlemanly though is that by and large most UNC fans and most Virginia fans care about other schools more and consider this nothing more than a normal ACC conference game. The UNC Tar Heels won the '05 meeting, 7-5, and lead the all-time series, 56-50-4, but the Virginia Cavaliers have won 6 of the last 8 and 14 of 19. Below are the results of the past twenty-five years. |
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