Seasons come and go, but nothing changes when it comes to a good old fashioned rivalry game. The Ottawa and Baker football game holds a rivalry that has been going strong for more than 85 years.
This weekend is the start of our Ottawa Football team’s season, and as always it is against our neighboring county rival, Baker University. This game is a notorious event for the town of Ottawa, but this year was different.
Not only was it the fact that it is the 150th year anniversary for the existence of the town of Ottawa as well as Ottawa University, but it is going to be the last year that the notorious “County Clash” against Baker will be played.
Head football coach, Kent Kessinger, believes this year with the experience that Ottawa has, should stack up to be a benefit not only for this game, but for the season as well.
This game already has some significance behind it, but with it being that last makes it truly one of a kind. “It is one of those things that really tie our alumni together, knowing that the current squad has that tie with the Baker/Ottawa rivalry,” Coach Kessinger said about what the rivalry means to not only Ottawa University, but what it means to our alumni.
As much as this is considered a big start of a season for a lot of players on the team, nobody else is going to cherish this moment more than the current seniors of this squad. “No doubt, it is a big rivalry but having it be against a ranked opponent is a big challenge and to our seniors it means a perfect opportunity to see where we stand in this upcoming season,” Coach Kessinger said.
The rivalry is coming to an end because of the addition of two new schools into Bakers conference, the Heart of America Conference now has 11 schools and the NAIA only allows teams to play 11 regular season games.