Will the Ol' School Bell be on the line in the Salute Veterans Bowl?
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
A historic college football rivalry is coming to the Cramton Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 16 when Jacksonville State football takes on Troy in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl game.
It'll be the first time since 2001 that the two schools have met on the football field after meeting 63 times between 1924 and 2001 in a game that became to be known as the Battle for the Ol' School Bell. The Gamecocks lead the all-time series at 33-28-2, thanks to an impressive run of 13-straight wins from 1954-66.
When Troy moved to the FBS in 2001, the rivalry game stalled as Jacksonville State remained in the FCS until the Gamecocks joined the FBS ranks in 2023. The Trojans won the the last meeting in 2001, taking the Ol' School Bell with them.
So does that mean the Ol' School Bell will be on the line come Dec. 16?
"To my knowledge, the bell is not going to be present," Troy coach Gerad Parker told the Montgomery Advertiser. "I don't know where it is and we're in the process of looking for it."
There's been 24 years since the two last met. Majority of the Troy staff and players don't have much knowledge of the rivalry. Not to mention that the university has gone through many changes whether that was in personnel or literal changes through renovations and construction projects.
"Our guys weren't even born since the last time the two teams played," Parker said. "But I want them to understand the richness of this rivalry and I am anxious for them to be educated about it because of the fan base they'll be playing in front of."
It's possible if the Ol' School Bell is found before the bowl game on Dec. 16 that it could be on the line, after all, Parker and Executive Associate Director of Athletics Adam Prendergast looked for it around four hours. And the search will be ongoing. But for Parker, what's on the line is the right to hoist the Salute to Veterans trophy when everything is said and done.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Are Jacksonville State football and Troy playing for the Ol' School Bell?
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos