Big Mac up for grabs with a side of pride

Posted Oct 20, 2009 by Katherine Smith

Updated Oct 20, 2009 at 02:49 PM

Back in the day, Chamberlain vs. Gaither was a rivalry as big as Armwood vs. Plant and Jesuit vs. Tampa Catholic.

The battle for the Big Mac Classic trophy was an intense one, with neighborhood bragging rights on the line. This year, with both teams struggling, pride is on the line.

Chamberlain (0-7) is winless and has been outscored 247-49 this season. Gaither (1-5) has been shutout in three-consecutive games by combined scores of 145-0. On Saturday, coaches Joe Severino and Mark Kantor exchanged game tape, and shared familiar woes.

“We know we’re both really young teams,” Kantor said. “But we’ve got kids that want to work and be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem. We’ve both had problems this year, but I think we both have a tough mental attitude.”

The loser of Friday’s game is eliminated from the playoffs. The winner gets the Big Mac Classic trophy.

Worth noting, in this day and age of a McDonalds on every street corner, the Big Mac Classic got its name from the lone restaurant the two schools shared and where the players would hang out.