THOUGHTS ON THE BUCKET
Downers Grove Reporter, October 10, 1935:
“Hinsdale started a 'Little Brown Jug' rivalry with the game last Saturday. Boys in their manual training room made an “Old Oaken Bucket” bound with copper strips, which is to be contended for by the heavyweight football teams each year. Downers Grove will have its name and the score engraved on the Bucket this fall. It will be in the possession of the local team until the next game”.
My earliest remembrance of The Bucket game was in 1971 when a Hinsdale newspaper ran a piece on the game. In the article, a Hinsdale Central player made the following statement when asked if both sides in this rivalry were guilty of smack-talking, rib-kicking, leg-twisting and helmet-yanking in pileups: …yes, yes, yes and yes” and added, “there always seems to be cheap shots when we play them.”
That article made its way to the Trojan bulletin board and may have helped inspire DGN. The Trojans won 15-14 that year on a time-expiring field goal that ended their 20-game Old Oaken Bucket losing streak to the Red Devils. DGN was led by Quarterback Mike McCollum, who now is on the field for each Trojan game as part of the “Chain Gang.” Mike celebrated the victory by lying in bed with ice bags spread all over his body.
In 1996, Hinsdale won at Carstens Field and then walked through the Trojan bench area with the Bucket. Something that didn't lay well with the Trojans. The following year the Trojans shut out the Red Devils 21-0. In 2000, a Trojan team led by Kyle Kleckner faced a very talented Hinsdale team. During warm-ups I was amazed to watch the Hinsdale kicker nail field goals of over 50 yards. After Hinsdale scored late in the game to tie the score and gain momentum, the emotion filled game went into overtime. The Trojans scored on the first play of overtime when Kyle Kleckner ran it in and with the extra point, the Trojans led by 7. Hinsdale answered with a touchdown but that kicker, who had earlier kicked extra points into the concession stand, had his kick blocked and the Trojans celebrated their Bucket victory.
In 2003, the Trojan Seniors had lost to Hinsdale in each meeting since their Freshman year by a combined score of 91-7. They were determined to make a statement and take home the Bucket. During the game, the sound of helmets and pads hitting was louder than I ever heard and heightened the sense of urgency of the game. With the score tied in the second half, DGN sent a 150 pound wide receiver in motion who cut through the middle of the line to “block” a future Division 1 Hinsdale linebacker. A collision ensued with the linebacker clearly getting the better of it. However it was enough for Trojan Quarterback Tommy Edwards to slip by and run for 20 yards to set up the winning touchdown in a 14-7 win. In 2004, the Trojans lost to Hinsdale 20-14 in the regular season but beat them in the Playoffs in another hard hitting game enroute to a DGN State title.
On Friday, at Carstens Field, the rivalry is renewed.
Lets line up and beat the Red.
