In the history of sports, there has always been a winner and a loser. In the case of March Madness, however, these victories are not always so cut and dry. For many invested in that which is NCAA basketball, these wins and losses are rooted in something much deeper. Each year, college students and alumni go above and beyond to prank their school's rival. These rivalries are as old as the game itself; with the top pranks being conducted by some of the highest ranked teams in the tournament. Some say these pranks go too far, but some would argue not far enough. As they battle it out to the Final Four, here's a look at what's going on off the court.
(*Disclaimer* Not all pranks shown were conducted during March Madness/Basketball season)
4. War Paint- Michigan v MSU
Since their first meeting in 1898, the Wolverines and Spartans have had one of the longest running and most intense rivalries in Big Ten history. This rivalry became an issue of vandalism during their 2014 football season, however, after the MSU Spartans defaced Michigan's block "M" by spray painting "SU" in green paint next to it.
The Michigan Wolverines did not take the offense lightly. They later combated the Spartans' "paint job", the following season, by adding one of their own to MSU's Magic Johnson Statue. The Wolverines spray painted a large yellow "M" on the chest of the statue, as well as "BEAT STATE" across the base of the statue.
3. Fake Students- UA v ASU
In 2015, a new phenomenon formed between the University of Arizona and Arizona State University. In these pranks, each respective school had a few daring students go to the opposing university and pose as students. Leading off this series of pranks was ASU. A handful of Sun Devils drove to UA and created a proposition called "Prop 200". They told UA students the proposition would be granted to any Mexican natives so they could receive instate tuition, as well as returning the university to Mexico. While its purpose was fake, the proposition which was once a real thing. It was originally the 1958 proposition to change the name of Arizona State College to Arizona State University.
Here is a video clip showcasing the prank. The end of the video shows ASU students receiving the UA newspaper, the Daily Wildcat, where UA recognized the fake students as a real organizational group and allowed students to support the (fake) cause. The newspaper later removed the article from future prints and needless to say, the Wildcats were not amused.
This year, the Wildcats decided to fight back in a similar fashion. Posing as ASU students, the students at UA used research and Sun Devil gullibility to their advantage. As it turns out, many ASU were not aware of their school's history. Before it was Arizona State University, the school in Tempe, AZ was once called just that. In the 1880's the university was known as Tempe Normal School, and it did not have a very good reputation. While posing as Journalism students, the Wildcats asked "fellow" Sun Devils what they thought of this mystery school.
Here is a video clip showcasing the interviews. (*Warning* Some language NSFW)
2. Not So Civil War- USC v UCLA
Less than 14 miles apart, the war between these two universities has never ceased to impress and appall the world. Beginning in 1941, after the USC Trojans stole the UCLA Bruins' victory bell, the series of pranks between these rivals has come to be known as the cross-town "prank war". In total, there have been over 45 pranks performed by the two universities. The longest running pranks have involved Tommy Trojan and the Bruin Bear, in which both universities have vandalized the statues with paint in the opposing school's colors.
Since the defacing of the statues began, great lengths have been taken to protect them. Students and faculty act as "guard dogs" for the monuments; Tommy Trojan is wrapped in duct tape and the Bruin Bear is "hibernating" inside a barricade with a blue and gold tarp around it. The initial vandalizing of the Bruin Bear costed UCLA more than $20,000 to restore, as well as an additional $20,000 to protect it with security cameras and a "cage".
1. It's Not Over 'Till The Rivals Sing- Duke v UNC
Perhaps the most entertaining, and least illegal, rivalry in the books is between the Blue Devils and the Rameses. In early 2013, UNC stole Duke's mascot, decapitated it, and placed its head in a stake on Chapel Hill. The beheading may have been "payback" for Duke's 1998 theft of Michael Jordan's retired UNC jersey.
Later in 2013, the Rameses struck again, this time taking advantage of Duke's religious origin. The students at UNC went to every Chapel on Duke's campus and placed the sheet music to their fight song in all of the hymnals.
This year, Duke had the last laugh. A student from Duke University went to UNC's campus, posed as a student, and asked local Rameses what their thoughts were on specific "Duke" basketball players. Unfortunately for those students, every player he questioned them about was actually a Blue Devil.
Here is the video clip of the interviews.
These pranks will definitely not be ending any sooner than the rivalries themselves. That being said, if your school is involved in a serious rivalry be weary of fake interviewers and spray paint.
