The Defiance College Yellow Jackets are known to be Bluffton University Beavers’ big rival. In 1997 Defiance College was a part of the MIAA (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association) conference, which is also the time when Bluffton joined the HCAC (Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference). Although, within three years, Defiance College also joined the HCAC conference.
View from the sidelines of the Bluffton Beavers playing the Defiance Yellow Jackets. Photo taken by Elizabeth Rockwell.
The year of 2000, was also a year alumnus Tyson Goings, student counselor and director of diversity, equity and inclusion, was on Bluffton’s football team. He said that the rivalry even took place when he was a student-athlete. With Goings’ return to the university, he has helped coach the football team.
The Hammer during Saturday’s game before it was retrieved by the Bluffton Beavers. Photo taken by Elizabeth Rockwell.
“I would like to say the rivalry between us intensified in 2000 when we played them for the conference title,” said Goings. “Our head coach Carlin Carpenter had graduated from Defiance, so he added a little bit more in hyping it up for us.”
About nine years ago, the hammer was introduced to intensify the rivalry even more. The Defiance coach had called to ask to play for a trophy, which they thought should be a hammer. Since then, the Yellow Jackets and the Beavers compete for the hammer, whoever wins the game for the season keeps the hammer until the following year.
This past weekend, the Bluffton Beavers football team was able to retrieve the hammer, winning with the score 30-12.
With that being said, how exactly does a rivalry such as this start? With being so close in distance, the rivalry can bring in many fans for both teams. Coaches from Bluffton like Guy Neal, head coach for the men’s basketball team, said rivalries are a common thing to be started when teams are in the same conferences while also being so close in distance.
Moments after the game when the Beavers retrieved the Hammer and celebrated their victory. Photo taken by Courtney Weekley.
“I think a lot has to do with the proximity of the two schools and the fact that we play each other in every sport,” said Neal. “We’ve always been in the same conferences where we have played each other in games that have had some meaning, which turns into a big rivalry.”
