We have heard the stories and claims about this rivalry for a long time. After traveling around the country and seeing best programs in the nation we have become spoiled, to some extent, with the incredible atmospheres and teams everywhere we go. All that said, it didn't take long for Chris and I to figure out why we had this Saturday's game circled on our calendar since August. Massillon Washington and Canton McKinley are two of oldest teams in the game and I feel like this week is going to be a history lesson about the game of football as much as anything. Massillon's locker room has pictures of old teams that date back to the 1800's. Their rivalry with Canton is so storied that we saw an exhibit in the Pro Football Hall of Fame that is dedicated to the history of this yearly battle. However, this rivalry is not dead in the history books, instead it is alive and well and there will be nearly thousands on hand this Saturday to prove their great love for football and this game.
So here's a question for any takers with strong feelings. What is it about the game of football that sets it apart from other sports? It appears that our society has declared football is our favorite sport judging by the TV ratings and total revenue (NASCAR is right there depending on what you measure by). What does this game have that baseball, basketball, and the guys who drive in circles don't have?