“Battle for the Paddle” brings rivalry to the river

Regional rivals – the Augusta University and the University of South Carolina Aiken athletic departments are launching a new tradition in their longstanding sports competitions:  The Battle for the Paddle.

Student government leaders from both institutions have teamed up to create a friendly competition between Augusta University and USC Aiken. Points will be awarded based on which university wins the sports competitions throughout the academic year.

“While campaigning for SGA president, I often spoke on further establishing the culture here at Augusta University,” LeDarius Scott said. “I am passionate about strengthening the pride that comes with being a Jaguar, and I believe that the River Rivalry: Battle for the Paddle is a pragmatic approach to doing so. I believe it can be an important step towards bringing the student body closer to the meaning of being a Jaguar.”

The victorious university earns bragging rights and the paddle, which will be displayed on campus. In addition, the losing institution’s student body president must make a congratulatory video, which will be aired across the Savannah River, on the winner’s campus.

On Monday, Oct. 16, at 8:00 p.m., Student Government Association (SGA) Presidents LeDarius Scott from Augusta University and Jacob Yarbrough from USC Aiken, will sign the proclamation in the USC Aiken Convocation Center, officially initiating this unique aspect of the historic rivalry.

View the Battle for the Paddle proclamation and articles below:

The River Rivalry
Battle for the Paddle
Proclamation

Whereas, on this Day the sixth day of October, year two thousand and seventeen, the Student Government Association Presidents of Augusta University and the University of South Carolina at Aiken come together to create a spirit initiative to celebrate the storied rivalry between the Jaguars of Augusta University and the Pacers of USC Aiken.

Whereas, this Spirit Initiative shall be called the River Rivalry: Battle for Paddle, to showcase the geographical locations of both universities, which are separated by the Savannah River.

Whereas, the sport programs up for battle between Augusta University and USC Aiken are volleyball, baseball, softball, and competitive cheerleading; men’s basketball, golf, and tennis; women’s basketball, tennis, and cross country.

Whereas, the University with the most points at the end of the athletic calendar year will be awarded the paddle.

Whereas, the SGA President of the losing university shall create a short video congratulating their victorious rival.

Now, Therefore, by signing this proclamation, both SGA Presidents agree to abide by the articles as their respective universities battle for the paddle.

The River Rivalry
Battle for the Paddle
Articles I-X
  1. Name
    1. To showcase the geographical locations of both universities, this student government spirit initiative shall be called The River Rivalry: Battle for the Paddle, since Augusta University (Georgia) and University of South Carolina at Aiken are separated by the Savannah River.
  2. Purpose of the River Rivalry
    1. The River Rivalry: Battle for the Paddle is created to further establish the rivalry between Augusta University and University of South Carolina at Aiken.
  3. Sport Programs
    1. Sport programs up for battle between Augusta University and USC Aiken are volleyball, baseball, softball, and competitive cheerleading; men’s basketball, golf, and tennis; women’s basketball, tennis, and cross country.
    2. Due to USC Aiken not having the sport programs of women’s golf, women’s track, men’s track, or men’s cross country those programs will not be up for battle in the point system competition.
      1. Therefore, the women’s golf team, women’s track team, men’s track team, and men’s cross country of Augusta University will not be up for battle in the point system competition.
  4. Point System
    1. The point system will determine the winner of The River Rivalry.
    2. A total of ten points are up for grabs.
    3. The college with the most points at the end of the athletic calendar year, will win the paddle and of course, bragging rights.
  5. Series Battles
    1. The team with the winning record in a series battle will earn the point for their university.
      1. If a series results in a split, one half of a point will be rewarded to each university.
  6. Tournament Battles
    1. Sport programs up for [regular season] tournament battles are men’s golf, women’s cross country, and competitive cheerleading.
      1. Men’s Golf
        1. The men’s golf teams of Augusta University and USC Aiken will battle in two tournaments over the course of the athletic year. Eventhough Augusta University men’s golf team is D1 and USC Aiken men’s golf team is D2, both teams will play in two golf tournaments together.
          1. If a college earns the highest placed for both tournaments, that college will receive one point.
          2. If the golf series results in a split of highest placed over the course of the two tournaments played in, one half of a point will be rewarded to each college.
      2. Women’s Cross Country
        1. The women’s cross country teams of Augusta University and USC Aiken will battle in one tournament over the course of the athletic year.
          1. The cross country team with the highest placing will earn a point for their respective college.
      3. Competitive Cheerleading
        1. The competitive cheerleading teams of Augusta University and USC Aiken will compete in the Peach Belt cheerleading competition.
          1. The Peach Belt cheerleading competition will place the top three cheerleading teams.
          2. If Augusta University and USC Aiken get placed in the top three, the team that placed higher will receive the point.
          3. If one college makes the top three and the other does not, that one point will go to the college that makes the top three.
          4. If neither team makes the top three, the competitive cheerleading point will be nullified.
  7. Post Season
    1. If a win against a school rival leads to a birth in a NCAA tournament by way of conference automatic bid, double points will be awarded.
  8. Conference Champions
    1. If a sport program wins the Peach Belt conference championship, double points will be awarded to that university.
      1. This does include the Peach Belt competitive cheerleading competition.
  9. Tie-Breaker
    1. If The River Rivalry: Battle for the Paddle ends in a tie, the university with the highest overall student athlete grade point average will win.
      1. Overall grade point average only includes the sport programs that competed in The River Rivalry: Battle for the Paddle.
  10. Sportsmanship
    1. Sportsmanship is a virtue, students are expected to show good sportsmanship to one another while both institutions compete.
    2. The SGA President of the losing university will make a short video congratulating their victorious rival. That SGA President is also required to wear a shirt of the victorious rival while congratulating.
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Written by
Taylor Lamb

Taylor Lamb is the Digital Content Manager at Augusta University Contact him at talamb@augusta.edu.

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Written by Taylor Lamb

Jagwire is your source for news and stories from Augusta University. Daily updates highlight the many ways students, faculty, staff, researchers and clinicians "bring their A games" in classrooms and clinics on four campuses in Augusta and locations across the state of Georgia.

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