Hampden–Sydney vs. Randolph–Macon rivalry

Hampden–Sydney vs. Randolph–Macon rivalry
	Link to image
Hampden–Sydney Tigers	Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets
Originated	1893
Series	Hampden–Sydney leads 61–49–11[1]
Current Champion	Randolph–Macon
Trophy	The Game Ball
Last Meeting	November 14, 2015
	Hampden–Sydney 9 Randolph–Macon 14
Hampden–Sydney (61)	Randolph–Macon (49)

The Hampden–Sydney vs. Randolph–Macon rivalry is a sports rivalry between the Hampden–Sydney College Tigers and the Randolph–Macon College Yellow Jackets. The college football rivalry between the NCAA Division III schools, often known simply as "The Game", dates to 1893 and has been called the oldest small-school rivalry in the Southern United States. The rivalry now crosses all sports, with the men's basketball series in particular gaining national attention.

History

"The Game Ball" - trophy awarded annually to the winner of The Game

Football

The college football rivalry between Hampden–Sydney College and Randolph–Macon College dates to 1893. The game was played on Hampden–Sydney's campus, as the previous year President Richard McIlwaine had banned the team from traveling to keep them from "vicious temptations and surroundings"; Randolph–Macon was one of the only teams willing to travel to Hampden–Sydney without potential reciprocation. Randolph–Macon won the game 12-6.^[2] Since then, the two teams have met 121 times in what has been called the South's oldest small-school rivalry.^[2][2][3] Hampden–Sydney's longest streak without losing is 14 games, from 1915 through 1926. Likewise, Randolph–Macon's longest streak without losing is 9 games, from 1930 through 1938. Hampden–Sydney has won 8 of the top 9 largest point-differential games with the widest margin being by 62 points and the lowest being 32; Randolph–Macon has won by over 30 points once - in 1997 by 31. ^{[nb 1]} Since 2011, the Yellow Jackets have won 4 games and the Tigers 1. As of 2015, Hampden–Sydney leads the series 61–49–11 with Randolph-Macon winning the most recent matchup in 2015 .^[4]

Known to fans simply as "The Game", it is by far the highest profile matchup on either team's schedule. It is played in late November at the end of the football season.^[5] It often decides the champion of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Being only 78 miles from each other and within an hour of Richmond, Virginia, the two NCAA Division III non-scholarship schools overlap in their recruiting pool, heightening the rivalry particularly in Richmond, where thousands of alumni from both colleges reside. The year-round nature of the rivalry has led fans to consider "The Game" the highlight of the schedule.^[2][3]

Men's basketball

While the football matchup has the most history, the rivalry has extended across all sports in which the schools compete, and since the 1990s the men's basketball series has gained national attention. Since that time both schools have been national Division III contenders, with both ranked in the top ten in multiple years. As such, the games often have championship implications for one or both teams. In 2003 the #1 Yellow Jackets beat the #3 Tigers in a game that sold out weeks prior; in 2007 Hampden–Sydney derailed Randolph–Macon's postseason hopes with a playoff victory after being swept in the regular season. Both teams were in the top ten in 2004 when the #8 Yellow Jackets upset the undefeated, first-ranked Tigers.^[3]

The Game results

Winning team is shown in bold font. Years of a Hampden–Sydney victory are in garnet. Years of a Randolph–Macon victory are in lemon. Years with a tie are in gray.

Year Home Away Location 1893 Hampden–Sydney 6 Randolph–Macon 12 Hampden–Sydney 1896 Hampden–Sydney 24 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1898 Hampden–Sydney 18 Randolph–Macon 6 unknown 1900 Hampden–Sydney 11 Randolph–Macon 0 unknown 1901 Hampden–Sydney 22 Randolph–Macon 6 unknown 1902 Hampden–Sydney 36 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1902 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 5 Ashland 1903 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 12 Ashland 1906 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 0 Ashland 1907 Hampden–Sydney 11 Randolph–Macon 5 Hampden–Sydney 1908 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 5 Petersburg[6] 1909 Randolph–Macon 8 Hampden–Sydney 5 Ashland 1910 Randolph–Macon 10 Hampden–Sydney 3 Ashland 1911 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 2 Richmond[7] 1912 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 3 unknown 1913 Hampden–Sydney 13 Randolph–Macon 0 unknown 1914 Randolph–Macon 21 Hampden–Sydney 0 Ashland 1914 Hampden–Sydney 6 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1915 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 26 Hampden–Sydney 1915 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 6 Ashland 1916 Hampden–Sydney 14 Randolph–Macon 14 Hampden–Sydney 1916 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 0 Richmond[8] 1917 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 33 Boulevard Park[9] 1917 Hampden–Sydney 62 Randolph–Macon 0 Petersburg[9] 1918 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 28 Ashland 1919 Randolph–Macon 14 Hampden–Sydney 19 Mayo Island Park[10] 1919 Hampden–Sydney 10 Randolph–Macon 0 Lynchburg[11] 1920 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 28 Ashland 1921 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 21 Mayo Island Park[12] 1923 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 25 Mayo Island Park[13] 1924 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 0 Mayo Island Park[14] 1925 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 26 Mayo Island Park[15] 1926 Hampden–Sydney 19 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1927 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 6 Petersburg[16] 1928 Hampden–Sydney 39 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 1930 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 1931 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 0 Ashland 1932 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1933 Randolph–Macon 21 Hampden–Sydney 20 Ashland 1934 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1935 Randolph–Macon 14 Hampden–Sydney 6 Ashland 1936 Hampden–Sydney 7 Randolph–Macon 21 Petersburg[17] 1937 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 3 Petersburg[18] 1938 Randolph–Macon 9 Hampden–Sydney 7 Richmond 1939 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 12 Ashland 1940 Hampden–Sydney 27 Randolph–Macon 7 Lynchburg[19] 1941 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 14 Ashland 1942 Hampden–Sydney 6 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 1945 Hampden–Sydney 7 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 1946 Hampden–Sydney 0 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 1946 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 14 Ashland 1947 Randolph–Macon 13 Hampden–Sydney 7 Ashland 1948 Hampden–Sydney 20 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 1949 Randolph–Macon 15 Hampden–Sydney 22 Ashland 1950 Hampden–Sydney 13 Randolph–Macon 21 Hampden–Sydney 1951 Randolph–Macon 20 Hampden–Sydney 20 Ashland 1952 Randolph–Macon 26 Hampden–Sydney 26 Richmond 1953 Randolph–Macon 12 Hampden–Sydney 20 Ashland 1954 Hampden–Sydney 23 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1955 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 6 Ashland

Year Home Away Location 1956 Hampden–Sydney 27 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 1957 Randolph–Macon 19 Hampden–Sydney 26 Ashland 1958 Hampden–Sydney 20 Randolph–Macon 23 Hampden–Sydney 1959 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 0 Richmond 1960 Randolph–Macon 10 Hampden–Sydney 7 Richmond 1961 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden–Sydney 13 Ashland 1962 Hampden–Sydney 36 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1963 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 14 Ashland 1964 Hampden–Sydney 20 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 1965 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 0 Ashland 1966 Hampden–Sydney 15 Randolph–Macon 14 Hampden–Sydney 1967 Randolph–Macon 24 Hampden–Sydney 14 Randolph-Macon 1968 Hampden–Sydney 8 Randolph–Macon 36 Hampden–Sydney 1969 Randolph–Macon 22 Hampden–Sydney 19 Randolph-Macon 1970 Hampden–Sydney 14 Randolph–Macon 6 Hampden-Sydney 1971 Hampden–Sydney 17 Randolph–Macon 13 Hampden–Sydney 1972 Hampden–Sydney 10 Randolph–Macon 35 Hampden–Sydney 1973 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 21 Ashland 1974 Hampden–Sydney 3 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 1975 Randolph–Macon 19 Hampden–Sydney 23 Ashland 1976 Hampden–Sydney 23 Randolph–Macon 28 Hampden–Sydney[20] 1977 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 35 Ashland[21] 1978 Hampden–Sydney 14 Randolph–Macon 27 Hampden–Sydney 1979 Randolph–Macon 9 Hampden–Sydney 7 Ashland 1980 Hampden–Sydney 15 Randolph–Macon 16 Hampden–Sydney 1981 Randolph–Macon 10 Hampden–Sydney 10 Ashland 1982 Hampden–Sydney 6 Randolph–Macon 3 Hampden–Sydney 1983 Randolph–Macon 20 Hampden–Sydney 24 Ashland 1984 Hampden–Sydney 10 Randolph–Macon 31 Hampden–Sydney 1985 Randolph–Macon 12 Hampden–Sydney 7 Ashland 1986 Hampden–Sydney 21 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 1987 Randolph–Macon 25 Hampden–Sydney 18 Ashland 1988 Hampden–Sydney 10 Randolph–Macon 23 Hampden–Sydney 1989 Randolph–Macon 21 Hampden–Sydney 14 Ashland 1990 Hampden–Sydney 28 Randolph–Macon 7 Hampden–Sydney 1991 Randolph–Macon 28 Hampden–Sydney 29 Ashland 1992 Hampden–Sydney 26 Randolph–Macon 22 Hampden–Sydney 1993 Randolph–Macon 17 Hampden–Sydney 10 Ashland 1994 Hampden–Sydney 24 Randolph–Macon 10 Hampden–Sydney 1995 Randolph–Macon 35 Hampden–Sydney 14 Ashland 1996 Hampden–Sydney 10 Randolph–Macon 20 Hampden–Sydney 1997 Randolph–Macon 49 Hampden–Sydney 18 Ashland 1998 Hampden–Sydney 42 Randolph–Macon 45 Hampden–Sydney 1999 Randolph–Macon 33 Hampden–Sydney 7 Ashland 2000 Hampden–Sydney 17 Randolph–Macon 26 Hampden–Sydney 2001 Randolph–Macon 26 Hampden–Sydney 38 Ashland 2002 Hampden–Sydney 7 Randolph–Macon 0 Hampden–Sydney 2003 Randolph–Macon 21 Hampden–Sydney 53 Ashland 2004 Hampden–Sydney 50 Randolph–Macon 16 Hampden–Sydney 2005 Randolph–Macon 17 Hampden–Sydney 50 Ashland 2006 Hampden–Sydney 46 Randolph–Macon 21 Hampden–Sydney 2007 Randolph–Macon 13 Hampden–Sydney 31 Ashland 2008 Hampden–Sydney 21 Randolph–Macon 31 Hampden–Sydney 2009 Randolph–Macon 27 Hampden–Sydney 34 Ashland 2010 Hampden–Sydney 31 Randolph–Macon 28 Hampden–Sydney 2011 Randolph–Macon 48 Hampden–Sydney 34 Ashland 2012 Hampden–Sydney 31 Randolph–Macon 41 Hampden–Sydney 2013 Randolph–Macon 26 Hampden–Sydney 28 Ashland 2014 Hampden–Sydney 10 Randolph–Macon 24 Hampden–Sydney 2015 Randolph–Macon 14 Hampden–Sydney 9 Ashland Current series: Hampden–Sydney leads 61–49–11

Notes

1. Hampden–Sydney won 62–0 (62) in 1917; 36–0 (36) in 1962; 36–0 (36) in 1902; 33–0 (33) in 1917; 50–16 (34) in 2004; 50–17 (33) in 2005; 39–6 in 1928 (33); and 53–21 (32) in 2003. Randolph–Macon won 49–18 (31) in 2003.

References

1. DIII All-time records (page 41) http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2013/D3.pdf
2. Castrodale, Jelisa (November 12, 2010). "Small Schools, But Maybe Biggest Rivalry". NBC Sports.
3. Preston, Chris (July 8, 2008). "Oldest small-school football rivalry in the south now 'goes across all sports'". ESPN.
4. Van Wazer, Will (November 13, 2010). "Hampden–Sydney defeats Randolph–Macon 31-28". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
5. Hampden–Sydney Sports Information (November 14, 2009). "Week Eleven: #15 Hampden–Sydney @ Randolph–Macon College (11/14/09)" (PDF). Hampden–Sydney College.
6. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1909hamp#page/206/mode/1up
7. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1912hamp#page/171/mode/1up
8. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1917hamp#page/89/mode/1up/
9. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1918hamp#page/82/mode/1up/
10. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1920hamp#page/78/mode/1up
11. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1920hamp#page/80/mode/1up
12. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1922hamp#page/80/mode/1up
13. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1924hamp#page/77/mode/1up/
14. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1925hamp#page/106/mode/1up/
15. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1926hamp#page/100/mode/1up/
16. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1928hamp#page/98/mode/1up/
17. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1937hamp#page/n143/mode/1up/
18. https://archive.org/stream/kaleidoscope1938hamp#page/133/mode/1up
19. http://books.google.com/books?id=kTjqTSSkk4EC&lpg=PA85&dq=1944%20randolph%20macon%20football&pg=PA85#v=onepage&q&f=false
20. https://archive.org/stream/recordofhampd5331976hamp#page/28/mode/1up/
21. https://archive.org/stream/recordofhampd5431977hamp#page/71/mode/1up/