| The River City Rivalry is the name of the football | | | | created in 2005 when the University of Cincinnati |
| game played every season between the | | | | joined the Big East Conference. Cincinnati and |
| University of Cincinnati Bearcats and the | | | | Pittsburgh are geographically in close proximity |
| University of Pittsburgh Panthers for the right to | | | | with one another and have historically had rivalries |
| claim the Paddlewheel Trophy. The history of this | | | | between the professional sports teams in the two |
| rivalry technically dates back to October 15, 1921 | | | | cities. The idea behind the Paddlewheel Trophy |
| when these two football programs first played | | | | was to jump start the college football rivalry |
| each other. The result of that first meeting | | | | between these two cities as soon as possible in |
| between the two colleges ended with a University | | | | an attempt to drum up interest and ignite a |
| of Pittsburgh win by a score of 21-14 at a game | | | | friendly rivalry that everyone could enjoy. |
| played in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. | | | | The name Paddlewheel Trophy refers to the |
| Despite the fact that these two teams first | | | | paddle wheel style boats that were mainstays on |
| played one another roughly 90 years ago the | | | | American rivers in 1800s and early 1900s. The |
| River City Rivalry is relatively new by college | | | | Ohio River separates these two cities and it is in |
| football rivalry standards as it only dates back to | | | | keeping with this geographic landmark theme that |
| 2005. Since 2005 the Panthers and Bearcats have | | | | both the names River City Rivalry and |
| played each other consecutively for each of the | | | | Paddlewheel Trophy were spawned. The |
| past five seasons and as mutual members of the | | | | dimensions of this particular traveling trophy are |
| Big East Conference their continued match ups | | | | quite large at 46 inches in height with a weight of |
| against one another are scheduled annually for the | | | | 95 pounds. The intricate design of the trophy is |
| foreseeable future. Prior to 2005 the two schools | | | | said to have taken more than 175 man hours to |
| had played each other only four times. The first | | | | complete between both labor and design. Carries |
| four encounters came in 1921, 1922, 1979, and | | | | In the short history of this rivalry series the |
| 1981. Each of those four occurrences resulted in | | | | University of Pittsburgh leads the overall standings |
| University of Pittsburgh victories. | | | | with an all-time record of 7-2 against the |
| The Paddlewheel Trophy that travels to | | | | University of Cincinnati. Cincinnati can take solace |
| whichever campus won the most recent head to | | | | in knowing that their only two victories also |
| head competition between these two schools was | | | | happen to be the most recent two games played. |
