I went to grad school with a guy from Colorado. We had lunch last week and spoke about how cool it is that we are going to be in the same conference. So we were waiting in line at the Shake Shack (awesome burgers in NYC)and all of a sudden the guy in front of us turns around and congratulates us on joining the PAC 10. He said it was really cool but then immediately started ripping on Oregon. Turns out he was a Washington fan. He said Oregon fans are the worst, "they threw dog crap on us and fill up water balloons with urine." (And some people complain about "bear" being thrown on them? --sounded a bit like Wyoming, anyway.)

At first I was confused at why he cared so much about Oregon and not WSU, but he said Oregon/Washington was a much bigger rivalry. He said that for most of the last 100yrs Oregon State has been crap and so has WSU.

So, adjacent-state rivals work (not that it was really in question). I then asked my Colorado friend about Nebraska. Not much love there but, for some reason, there was no discussion about trying to keep that rivalry going. They are done with it and not interested in reviving it anytime soon. I told him I felt the same about the team down south. We were both like cancer recovering patients, in remission from that which has been clinging to our vital organs for years and we are now free.

I know there are mixed feelings about it but I am done with the Holy War. Bring on The Continental Divide!!! (loved your idea missingute)