The Coe-Cornell football rivalry Updated 11/18/11 Statistics: Due to a disputed game in 1902, there is a discrepancy between each

h schools records of the overall series. Coe records show that the Kohawks lead the series 67-50-4, while Cornell claims that the Kohawks' edge is only 66-51-4 (explanation below). Actually, Cornell had claimed 52 victories until 2003 when it was discovered that the 1894 game, which it had recorded as a 22-0 Cornell victory, was actually won by Coe, 28-6. A Gazette report of that game was found and presented as evidence. Coe's current 12 game winning streak (dating back to 2000) is the longest in the series. Previously, the Kohawks won 11 straight games over the Rams from 1950-60. Cornell has twice enjoyed six-game winning streaks over Coe, from 1907-1912 and 1945-49. From an 82-0 Cornell victory in the series opening game in 1891 to a 77-7 Coe victory this fall, the combined scores for both teams are Coe 2,252, Cornell 1,970. Thats an average score of Coe 19, Cornell 16. The teams have tied four times, all by scores of 0-0, in 1913, 1918, 1930 and 1935. In 2011, Coe scored its most points ever against Cornell in a 77-7 victory. It also represented the largest margin of victory at 70 points. The previous standard was set in 2003, when Coe prevailed 66-63. The previous best margin of victory came in 1897, 54-0. In 2003, the two teams combined for 129 points the most in NCAA Division III history in a 6663 Coe victory. The 129 points was an NCAA Division III record until Earlham and Manchester combined for 131 points in a 69-62 Earlham victory on Sept. 10, 2005. The previous series high was 86 points in a 52-34 Coe victory in 1969. The 1891 game stands as Cornells highest scoring and largest margin of victory. In 1959, both teams were undefeated when they were scheduled to meet. The game was scoreless until the last 25 seconds, when Coe ran a quarterback sneak to score the games only touchdown and secure a 6-0 victory. The Kohawks went on to an 8-0 record and the Midwest Conference championship. In 1985, both teams were undefeated and nationally ranked, Cornell 18th and Coe 19th. The Kohawks defeated the Rams 40-13 to wrap of the Midwest Conference Southern Division championship. In 1997, both schools left the Midwest Conference and played as independents before joining the Iowa Conference together in 1998. The 2011 game marked their last as members of the same conference, as Cornell will return to the Midwest Conference in 2012. The schools intend to continue the series as a non-conference game. Coe owns a 16-6 advantage in recent series history dating back to 1990. Cornell had won five straight over Coe from 1995-99 until Coe was victorious each of the last 12 years. Coe is 12-0 against Cornell in the 21st century. Since 2000, Coe has scored 56 points on three occasions (2000, 2005 and 2009) as well as 66 points in 2003, and now, 77 in 2011. During that span, Coe has outscored Cornell 542-197 (ave. score 45-16). In eight seasons as head coach of the Kohawks (2000-07), Erik Raeburn was undefeated (8-0) against Cornell. In 2008, head coach Steve Staker became the first of 13 Kohawk coaches to get his first win against Cornell. Staker now owns a 4-0 record against the Rams. Duration: The rivalry started in a cow pasture with a creek running along the 50-yard line in 1891. Cows had to be driven off the field before the game could start. The two teams claim the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi. There have been only five years since 1891 when Coe and Cornell did not play each other: 1895, 1896, 1899 and during the war years of 1943 and 1944.

The teams played each other twice in 1900, 1902, 1903, 1918 and 1945. A review of the NCAA record book shows that the Coe-Cornell series and the Missouri-Kansas series both began in 1891. However, Coe and Cornell have played 121 times, while Missouri and Kansas have met but 120 times. Interestingly, a Google search discovered another series that makes this claim. Occidental and Pomona-Pitzer also claim to have the oldest football rivalry west of the Mississippi, yet the series didn't begin until 1895 and they've only played 112 games.

Lore: In that 1902 contest, Coe claims a 6-5 victory over Cornell, while the Rams say that they won the game 11-6. Most contests at that time consisted of two halves, 30 minutes each. But before this particular game, both squads and the referee agreed to play two 20-minute halves. However, the timekeeper was unaware of this change and allowed an extra four and a half minutes to expire in the opening half before anyone realized the mistake. Coe had already led 6-0 at the end of 20 minutes when Cornell scored during the extra four and a half minute span. Through the years, it was common for students to mark their rivals campus with Cornells purple or Coes crimson. The practice ended when the presidents of each college agreed to bill their own student councils for any damages done to the others campus. Supporters from both sides seized, dressed in rival colors and shaved the heads of any unwary invaders from the opposing school. In the early 1980s, Cornell students found a unique way to leave their mark on Coes campus. They sprayed weed killer on a snow bank outside Cherry Auditorium, and when the snow melted, the word Rams was left in the grass. Coe cheer: High, high above the Cedar River, theres an awful smell. Some say its the Cedar River, some say its Cornell. Cornell cheer: If you cant go to college, go to Coe.

When and where will next season's game be played? ???? in Mount Vernon