No pipe for you!

The Toledo Rockets held on to the Peace Pipe last night by downing the Bowling Green Falcons 31-21. Put that in your pipe and sm--oh, you don't have a pipe. ;)

Who wants the Peace Pipe?

Who needs the Iron Bowl? Toledo will host Bowling Green tonight at the Glass Bowl in a matchup with a multi-sport history stretching back to 1919. The winner of each year's game earns possession of the Peace Pipe and bragging rights in the "Battle of I-75."

We know Coach GQ will be rooting for his sister's Falcons, and Coach Rob will be pulling for his former-draft-pick Rockets. Since both teams are 4-7 and ending their seasons tonight, this one will linger for awhile, at least in northwest Ohio. Here's a little history on the rivalry from Wikipedia:

The rivalry between UT and BGSU goes back to 1919. The games were (and to an extent still are) marked by a passionate fan following and a hatred for the respective opponent. In 1935, fans rioted following a 63-0 blowout win by UT and as a result, BGSU removed the Rockets from their athletic schedule until 1947. That year, the smoking of a six-foot peace pipe was instated as a gesture of goodwill between the two teams at half-time of their annual basketball match. The peace pipe would be kept by the winning university until the teams played again the following season.

The tradition came to an abrupt and unpleasant end in 1969 when the pipe was stolen from the UT offices. It was never recovered and the thief never caught. In 1980, the Peace Pipe trophy was reinstated when a scale-down replica was fashioned and placed on top of a trophy created by former UT football player Frank Kralik.

Am I the only one who sees a little irony in fighting over a peace pipe each year? Regardless, if you are desperate for something to watch on TV tonight, check out ESPN2 at 6 p.m.