Emporia State–Washburn football rivalry
The Emporia State–Washburn football rivalry, commonly referred to as the Turnpike Tussle,[1] is an American college football rivalry game played annually between the Emporia State Hornets football team of Emporia State University from Emporia, Kansas, and the Washburn Ichabods football team of Washburn University from Topeka, Kansas. Both schools currently compete in the NCAA Division II level, and are members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). Emporia State currently leads the series a 56–52–2.[2] The Turnpike Tussle is the second-oldest active NCAA Division II rivalry.[3][4]
Sport | Football |
---|---|
First meeting | November 4, 1899 Emporia State, 11–0 |
Latest meeting | November 2, 2019 Washburn, 37–17 |
Next meeting | TBA |
Statistics | |
Meetings total | 116 |
All-time series | Emporia State leads, 57–53–6 |
Largest victory | Emporia State, 45–7 (1980) |
Longest win streak | Emporia State, 11 (1991–2001) |
Current win streak | Washburn, 1 (2019–present) |
Prior to joining the MIAA (Washburn in 1989, Emporia State 1991), both schools have competed in the same conferences with the exception of 1935 to 1940 when Washburn was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.[5]
History
Emporia State University opened its doors in 1863 as the Kansas State Normal School,[6] with Washburn University opening its doors two years later in 1865 as the Lincoln College.[7] Washburn's football program began in 1891[8] and Emporia State began two years later,[9] with the first football game between the two schools taking place on November 4, 1899 in Topeka where Emporia State won 11–0.[10] After a one-year hiatus, the rivalry began again playing annually until 1942 when World War II took place.[11] During those 42 seasons, Washburn started out with a strong lead in the series winning eight of the next nine games before Emporia State took the majority of the wins those years. The teams tied six times prior to WWII.[12]
Ten years after World War II finished, the Kansas Turnpike was completed, forming a 58 mile distance between the two schools and led the two schools to name their rivalry series the "Turnpike Tussle" in 1956.[13] The series winning streaks began alternating around every five years or so after the War until 1991 when Emporia State began the longest winning streak in the series – 11 games from 1991 to 2001.[14] The turn of the century brought new leadership for both teams. In 2001, Emporia State promoted offensive coordinator Dave Wiemers as their head coach, who later resigned in December 2006.[15] On December 28, 2001, Washburn hired Craig Schurig as the next head coach, who remains the current head coach as of 2018.[16] In December 2006, former ESU quarterback, Garin Higgins, was named the next Hornet football coach, who remains as the current head coach as of 2018.[17]
Game results
Emporia State victories | Washburn victories | Tie games |
|
Source: [18]
References
- "ESU wins 114th Turnpike Tussle 26-20". WIBW-TV. November 11, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- Cassell, Gene (November 7, 2017). "Ichabods travel to Emporia to face Hornets in regular season finale" (Press release). Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- Rabs, Creighton. "The Oldest D2 Football Rivalries". Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- "Unique rivalries headline games to watch in DII football's final weekend". November 10, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- 2018 Washburn Football Media Guide (PDF). July 23, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- "About Home - About - Emporia State University". www.emporia.edu. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- "Facts and History of Washburn". www.washburn.edu. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- 2017 Washburn Football Media Guide (PDF). July 27, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- 2013 ESU Football Media Guide (PDF). September 19, 2013. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- Weast, Don (November 8, 2017). "Veteran's Day Turnpike Tussle for Emporia State Football" (PDF) (Press release). Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- 2012 ESU Football Media Guide (PDF). September 20, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- Cassell, Gene (November 7, 2017). "Washburn Game Notes – Game 11 Ichabods vs. Hornets" (PDF) (Press release). Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- "About the Kansas Turnpike". Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- 2010 ESU Football Media Guide (PDF). January 1, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- Newell, Jesse. "Wiemers resigns". Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- Peterson Jr., Rick. "Craig Schurig, most successful coach in Washburn football history, nearing 100-win milestone". Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- Weast, Don (December 15, 2006). "ESU Names Higgins 21st Head Football Coach" (Press release). Archived from the original on March 10, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- Cassell, Gene (November 8, 2016). "Ichabod Football set for 113th Meeting with ESU on Senior Day" (PDF) (Press release). Retrieved August 2, 2018.