The rivalry between St. Thomas and St. John’s football, which continues this Saturday at O’Shaughnessy Stadium, has been raging for more than a century. The Johnnies have won 50 of the 82 matchups between the two schools, but St. Thomas has won three of the past four matchups.
The tradition and magnitude of the rivalry have increased since its humble beginnings on Thanksgiving Day, 1901. Philosophy professor Steve Laumakis has worked the clock at the St. Thomas football games for 25 years and said he was immediately impressed when he arrived at his first Tommie-Johnnie game.
“I remember it was one of my first games ever,” Laumakis said. “I had never seen such a big crowd in Division-III football. It was packed.”
The Tommie-Johnnie football game has drawn more than 10,000 fans each game in recent years. However, St. Thomas Athletic Director Steve Fritz said the game wasn’t always that way.
“At one time, it seemed to just be a football game,” Fritz said. “Now it is more of an event, and it’s something people have to be at. That’s probably the biggest change.”
Laumakis said that the players have always understood how important the game is.
“It’s just a big deal. I’ve taught a number of football players throughout my years here,” Laumakis said. “And a lot of them have told me that (their college decision) came down to St. Thomas versus St. John’s.”
Justice and peace studies professor Michael Andregg has worked the first down chains at St. Thomas games for numerous years. Andregg said the best memories in the Tommie-Johnnie rivalry have often been the most surprising ones.
“It seemed like St. John’s won every year when I was first here,” Andregg said. “But the best games were always the ones that pulled an upset. Those were fun.”
Fritz said his favorite memory from the rivalry came from a nighttime win for the Tommies.
“My favorite memory is from the early ‘70s when we played a night game,” Fritz said. “We ended up winning that game, and people talked about it for years.”
For those participating in the festivities for the first time, both Laumakis and Andregg advised fans to “get there early for good seats.”
The history and the memories that revolve around the Tommie-Johnnie game is what makes it special. The next chapter in the Tommie-Johnnie saga will be written on Saturday, and Fritz said that if history is any indication, fans can expect another classic game.
“In a lot of ways, it’s a very natural rivalry. I think it’s the best in Division-III,” Fritz said. “A day like Saturday is the best it gets.”
Andrew Frentz can be reached at fren2218@stthomas.edu.