The podcast covers school rivalry pranks gone wrong, from explosives to hostages. It explores the intense pride and dumb actions of smart students. Discussions include rivalries like CU vs CSU, Auburn vs Georgia Tech, and Harvard vs Yale.
College rivalries encompass more than sports, involving historical pranks and traditions.
John Evans' legacy includes contributions to mental health care tainted by involvement in the Sand Creek Massacre.
The establishment of educational institutions in Colorado in the 1800s shaped its academic landscape and traditions.
Deep dives
John Evans: A Complex Legacy
John Evans, a historical figure known for his contributions to mental health care and higher education, has a complex legacy. While he helped found mental health institutions in Indiana and Northwestern University in Chicago, he also played a significant role in the Sand Creek Massacre, leading to the deaths of Native Americans, mainly women and children. Evans' involvement in this massacre and the closure of a mental health hospital due to patient abuse cast a shadow over his historical contributions.
Educational Institutions in Colorado
In the late 1800s, Colorado saw the establishment of various educational institutions. The University of Northern Colorado, founded in Greeley in 1889, started as a public school for education experiments. The University of Colorado Boulder emerged in 1876 after Boulder won a bid over Canyon City. Colorado State University, known for its grounded students, originated in 1870 as the agricultural college of Colorado and morphed into a state university over the years. The Colorado School of Mines, founded in 1874, catered to pioneers in the mining industry and evolved into a renowned educational institution.
Historical Background of University Establishment
In 1868, George M. Randall received land for the university in Golden, Colorado, leading to the founding of the Jarvis Hall Collegiate School. Mines opened under the Episcopal Church in 1873, and in 1874, it became the territorial School of Mines, later changing to the Colorado School of Mines after statehood. The first diploma was awarded in 1883.
Early College Rivalries and Pranks
Historically, college rivalries went beyond football games and often involved campus pranks. The podcast delves into the tradition of school rivalries, where early colleges engaged in pranks like releasing pigs on campuses or creating football-related campus stunts. Intense rivalries persisted, like the Colorado State University versus Air Force Academy games, highlighting long-standing competitive traditions among colleges.
Legacy of Sporting Rivalries and Pranks
Sporting rivalries, like the Rocky Mountain Showdown between CU Boulder and CSU, have enduring impacts, shaped by historical competition. The podcast explores how college rivalries extended beyond sports into campus pranks and traditions. These events symbolize the rich history and intense camaraderie shared among students and alumni.
Pranks, Reprisals, and Campus Traditions
The episode recounts modern and historical pranks between colleges, such as the Harvard pep squad prank at Yale, showcasing the humorous yet competitive nature of collegiate rivalries. From cheeky pranks to intricate showdowns, the podcast sheds light on unique traditions and playful sparring that characterize college life across the centuries.
Today’s podcast episode is about a famous school rivalry. The rivalry between Denver University and the Colorado School of Mines. Maia covers some pranks that go too far. Pranks with explosives, hostages, and lots of ways to go wrong, at least a little. It is about more than a game of football, or a big white M on the side of the mountain. An episode on school pride and smart people doing dumb things. CU vs CSU. Auburn vs Georgia Tech. Harvard vs Yale. John Evans vs History. Who's side are you on?
How do a high school debate tournament, a sketchy Quality Inn, and one very loud snorer turn into a full-blown history lesson with explosions and academic beef? In this delightfully unhinged episode, Grant and Maia kick things off with tales of chaperoning chaos, room-sharing drama, and road trip rituals—before swerving straight into the wild world of Colorado campus lore. From the tangled legacy of John Evans to dorm room antics that might technically count as terrorism (oops), they blend laugh-out-loud stories with sharp historical insight and just the right amount of heartfelt reflection. Vocabulary lessons, personal confessions, and absurd adventures collide in this episode about how the past keeps showing up—in classrooms, in college rivalries, and in the backseat of a debate van. Press play and prepare to be both entertained and strangely educated.
