The Hate Runs Deep

The Neches River runs, twists, and bends all through Southeastern Texas. It is a natural barrier for towns, cities, and counties—most importantly, Hardin and Jasper Counties. Within these lie two historically renowned high school football programs: The Silsbee Tigers and the Jasper Bulldogs. The thing to remember about these two programs is this: sheer hatred runs deep.

Thank goodness there's a river between the two of them.

It's not a rivalry that's necessarily celebrated by news and media, but to the residents of Silsbee and Jasper, there's nothing more important than beating the ever living tar out of the other. It's one of the oldest rivalries in Texas.

"If we lose every game but one in a year, as long as that one came against Jasper, you can count it as a winning season," says a Silsbee High School teacher as she explains that she once had to run an errand in Jasper and mistakenly left a Silsbee Tiger towel in the back of her car. She returned to find the window shattered and the towel ripped.

Former Silsbee lineman Zach Skinner recounts an experience in 2004 when both teams were undefeated, and ranked #1, and #2 in the state. "The tension was high, when we ran onto the field both teams went to mid field and taunted each other, I was sure a brawl was going to break out. Tigers Stadium was packed and the roaring from both sides of the crowd was deafening. In the end we won in overtime 29-28 and all of our fans stormed the field. It was a night I will never forget."

"I hate Jasper, my dad hated Jasper, his dad hated Jasper, and I'm pretty sure his dad hated Jasper."

When these two get together, you know you're in for a treat. There are few places where football is bigger than Texas, and there are few schools that absolutely despise one another as Silsbee and Jasper.