The Rivalry: Indiana and Purdue and the History of Their Old Oaken Bucket Battles 1925 - 2002

Over a century of competition hassucceeded in transforming college football from the 19th century flying wedgeto today's multitude of offensive and defensive formations. What was once acontest of power has become a game of speed, deception and remarkable feats ofathletic ability. But some trappings have remainedinviolate through the years. For over 100 autumn Saturdays the Boilermakers ofPurdue University and the Hoosiers of Indiana have played each other, usuallyat season end, in a game to establish annual bragging rights for the state of Indiana.In 1925, the two schools decided such a prestigious event should have somesymbol of yearly dominance. An Old Oaken Bucket was chosen and, for the next 78years, this century old bucket became the centerpiece of one of collegefootball's greatest rivalries. Every fall, late in November, these two teamsplayed for possession of the Bucket, no holds barred, through cold, ice, rain,mud and all other meteorological events indigenous to Indianain late November. Fights were commonplace and feelings ran deep particularlyamong the respective students who had proceeded to make 'BucketWeek', a period of celebration and skullduggery. Few of the battles were of themagnitude to warrant national attention but the Bucket game had uncertainty, nomatter which team was favored. It had color and unparalleled drama to competewith any college contest in the country that particular Saturday. In 1979, Indianaplayers revealed signs that read 'This is not just a game, this iswar' And they meant it! Some of the greatest players andcoaches in the annals of college football participated over the years. Many arein the Hall of Fame. These then are their stories and those of others competedduring boom times and bad times; wars and student revolts and sadly, days ofinfamy. The greatest rivalry in the history of college football comes to life!