The Vandal and Cougar football teams square off Saturday at Martin Stadium in Pullman, and the rivalry between the two teams has been a legacy of the Palouse for over 122 years. Still, the word “rivalry” implies bad feelings and heated match-ups — like what can be expected of the Vandals and the Broncos from down south.
While the Idaho/Boise State rivalry serves as an in-state clash of ruthless proportions, the rivalry on the Palouse is a different story because it is based solely on the proximity of the schools.
In reality, Idaho and Washington State have a beautiful friendship — a friendship where the football teams occasionally face off and the good-hearted nature of the two programs livens up a weekend.
UI’s relationship with WSU doesn’t end with periodic matchups or close proximity. There are tangible connections that occur every day between the universities that many don’t realize.
By pooling resources, the universities formed the joint School of Food Science in 2008. Students from both UI and WSU benefit from the merger, as it propelled the program to one of the best in the nation due to the combination of staff, facilities and research resources.
The universities have also coordinated study abroad programs so that students of both universities can take part. For the last two spring semesters, criminology students from UI have traveled abroad with criminal justice students from WSU. In the past, the groups have gone to London and the Netherlands in the company of professors from both institutions.
Beyond professional relationships, Vandals and Cougars have found trans-border friendships — sometimes even love. With only a handful of miles between us, having another pool of college students so close is almost like attending a sister campus. The Palouse is teeming with 20-somethings, among other age groups seeking a higher education, and the result is an extended community of compatible people.
It’ll fun to pick sides this Saturday. School loyalty is a staple of college, and the fact that Vandals and Cougars are friendly neighbors makes it that much more fun to wage bets and trash talk. Let this Saturday be a reminder that Moscow is lucky to have Pullman so close, and vice versa. It’s a battle and a friendship that will persist for the benefit of all.
— LK