Ouachita gears up for 88th Battle of the Ravine Week Nov. 10-15

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November 06, 2014 - Chelsea Whelpley

Black plastic tarps cover all the Ouachita Baptist University signs around campus to protect them from being defaced. Students gather blankets, snacks and entertainment preparing to camp out in the middle of campus and guard the tiger statue all night. For Ouachita students, this can only mean one thing. It’s Battle of Ravine week in Arkadelphia, Ark., and anticipation is mounting over the oldest college football rivalry in NCAA Division II.

A tradition that began in 1895, the 88th football game between Ouachita and Henderson State University will be played this Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. across the street from Ouachita at Henderson’s Carpenter-Haygood Stadium. The undefeated Ouachita Tigers, who already have clinched a share of the Great American Conference championship, are seeking to go 10-0 and earn sole possession of the GAC title against the 9-1 HSU Reddies.

“School spirit is an essential part of any institution’s culture, and Battle of the Ravine is vitally important on that front,” said Dr. Kevin Motl, faculty sponsor of Tiger Nation, Ouachita’s student spirit organization. “No other opponent gets the students and the broader Tiger Nation community fired up for Ouachita like Battle of the Ravine. We turn out in force to support our student-athletes, who give so much of themselves to represent the university, and that's a good thing for the well-being of any institution.”

“Battle of the Ravine Week is significant because it is a great Ouachita tradition,” said Student Senate President Josh Rubin, a senior biology major from Dallas, Texas. “It brings the campus together by guarding the tiger all week then supporting and cheering on our football team against Henderson.”

“It's cool to see how our campuses and the Arkadelphia community rally around to cheer on the football players from both teams,” said Sophomore Class President Amber Easterly, a business administration/marketing major from Bryant, Ark. “It's pretty awesome to have a rival right across the street and to just have fun with the week.”

“The victor in any given BOTR competition, of course, enjoys bragging rights over the other school until the next contest,” added Motl. “That’s why it’s particularly intense in football—it’s an entire year before one team or the other has an opportunity for revenge.

“On another important front, the hoopla surrounding Battle of the Ravine brings incalculable value in terms of campus visibility,” he noted. “Because of this storied rivalry, potential students and/or donors all over the country may hear about Ouachita and take an interest in what we do here. As everyone knows, Ouachita is a tremendous place to grow and learn, and we want the world to know how special OBU is.”

Social clubs and organizations will host a variety of events throughout the week that are open to all Ouachita students. Each class will also take a turn during the week guarding the tiger statue around the clock.

In addition to the campus events, KATV will air a Battle of the Ravine pep rally live from Henderson’s Carpenter-Haygood on Friday, Nov. 14, from 5:30 to 7 a.m. Ouachita also will host a tailgate party and lunch on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cliff Harris Stadium prior to the 3 p.m. football kickoff at HSU.

Tickets to the game may be purchased in the OBU Business Services office, 140 Cone Bottoms Hall, Nov. 10-14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Current Ouachita students receive free admission with a valid OBU ID.

“When you look back upon your college career, whether five or 50 years down the road, you’ll remember less about the details of your course content and more about the relationships you built and the experiences you had while a member of the Ouachita community,” Motl said. “A life well-lived is one that seeks out those shared experiences and revels in the accompanying memories and stories. Battle of the Ravine will give you stories to tell and memories to share for the rest of your life.”

For more information on the Battle of the Ravine student events at Ouachita, contact Student Senate President Josh Rubin at [email protected].

Battle of the Ravine 2014 Schedule
All events take place at Ouachita’s Tiger statue near Grant Plaza unless otherwise noted.

Monday, Nov. 10