Bluefield vs. Graham to Be Featured in Great American Rivalry Series
The “Battle of the Bluefields” also slated for National Live Webcast
Bluefield, WV: August 20, 2015 – The Great American Rivalry Series is proud to announce that it will feature the “Battle of the Bluefields” between annual rivals the Bluefield Beavers and the Graham G-Men in the Series’ second weekend of games for 2015. This game will also be the first LIVE Internet Broadcast of the season for the Series. This famed cross border rivalry presented this year by the United States Marines and played on August 28 at Mitchell Stadium on the West Virginia side of the border. Featuring some of the longest running rivalries in high school football, the 2015 Great American Rivalry Series will feature 100 showdowns nationwide. All of these great games come with great football, hard earned sweat and a heavy dose of hometown pride.
Series founder Rick Ford notes that, “With all the traditions of these games including bonfires, pep rallies, and parades, high school football has brought communities together to watch their teams compete in these classic battles for more than a hundred years.”
The Beavers and G-Men will meet in Mitchell Stadium for what is considered the area’s largest sporting event as they vie to be victorious in the historic Battle of the Bluefields. This storied rivalry began in 1911, but the second meeting did not take place until 1928. Since then, the game has been played annually. Many residents recall the more memorable games like the 1948 matchup which ended in a tie. Bluefield leads the series 62-23-2, though the records are much closer in recent years.
“We are excited to partner once again with the Great American Rivalry Series,” said Leroy Pennington, Marketing Specialist for the United States Marine Corps “The elite status of this Series fits perfectly with the Elite Warrior brand of the Marine Corps and we are proud to stand alongside these outstanding young athletes.”
The Bluefield-Graham game was selected as one of the top 100 must-see match ups for the 12th Annual Series and is always a highly anticipated early season game in the Bluefield communities on both sides of the border. The Beavers and the G-Men will both enter the game hungry as they attempt to start the year off on the right track with a big rivalry win. For the second in year in a row, the Series is proud to partner with GigaBeam Networks, a WVVA.net company in presenting this live kick off internet broadcast.
The winning team earns year-long bragging rights and will take home the Great American Rivalry Series Champions trophy, presented by the Marines. The game’s Most Valuable Player will be recognized as part of the Series and an alumnus from each school will be inducted into the 12th class of the Great American Rivalry Series Hall of Fame.
Bluefield College is sponsoring this year’s Scholar Athlete Award with the top student-athlete from each school receiving a $1,000 scholarship to attend Bluefield College. Bluefield College is a private, Christian, liberal arts college developing transformational servant leaders, many of whom are graduates of Bluefield and Graham high schools. With added commitments to Virginia Baptists, academic excellence, lifelong inquiry, the liberal arts, professional studies, service, support and encouragement, Bluefield seeks to graduate servant leaders who understand their life calling and transform the world. The College is touted for its affordability, personal attention to students, award-winning core curriculum, classroom technology, and learning settings on the mission field and in countries abroad.
“We’re fortunate to be a part of the legendary Bluefield-Graham football rivalry as the sponsor of the Scholar Athlete program,” said Bluefield College President David Olive. “It’s a great opportunity for us to support the students from both schools and to share with them the value of the BC experience.”
You can find more information at GreatAmericanRivalry.com or through the Series’ Twitter (@AmericanRivalry), Facebook, YouTube and Instagram accounts. Previews and past results will be posted throughout the season with details of the teams and the history of the rivalries, and after the game. Fans can relive the excitement with photo galleries and game recaps.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can add to the intensity of the rivalry via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram using #GreatAmericanRivalry. The Rivalry can also be found on Pinterest (AmericanRivalry) and YouTube. Fan photos posted with this hashtag may be featured on the Great American Rivalry Series website’s new Fan Photo Gallery, Pinterest Page and promoted via our other social media outlets.
ABOUT THE GREAT AMERICAN RIVALRY SERIES
In 2004, iHigh, Inc. (now known as BrainBox Intelligent Marketing) created the Great American Rivalry Series to celebrate this uniquely American sport and the cultural phenomenon of “Friday Night in America.” In 11 years the Series has gone to more than 500 games in 40 states and continues to shine the spotlight on top high school football rivalries across the nation, where long-standing traditions are valued, expectations are sky-high, and fans are committed.
