By: Lincoln Reed | Sports Editor
A rivalry 65 years in the making comes to a head Saturday when Taylor football opens its 2015 season against Anderson University in the final Wagon Wheel game.
Taylor and Anderson have waged war yearly since 1949. In 1990, the rivalry gained momentum with the introduction of the Wagon Wheel. Painted purple on one side and orange on the other, the wheel itself is an artifact of antiquated farm equipment and serves as both trophy and symbol for the annual game between Taylor and Anderson.
"The interesting thing about this Wagon Wheel game is that this is the last one in history," said senior receiver Shawn Lashbrook. "So this is a pretty significant game for both schools to determine who keeps the wagon wheel forever."
Since its inception, the tradition of the Wagon Wheel has favored Taylor with a 13-12 record. The Trojans have possessed the wheel for the last seven years. Anderson last won the wheel in 2007.
For Taylor, however, the rivalry and Wheel are not the main focus of this weekend's game. The Trojans spent their offseason focusing on player and team development. Since December, the team has emphasized improving fundamentals and strength training. The long offseason, culminating in two and a half weeks of training camp, ends when the Trojans take the field Saturday night.
"That opener - rival or not, home or not, at night or not - that's what matters because we are looking far beyond the Wagon Wheel game . . . it's just a building block," said head coach Ron Korfmacher. "It's not the centerpiece. The centerpiece is the beginning of the season."
Saturday night's game against Anderson begins a three-game home stand for the Trojans with games against Saint Francis and Butler following in the next two weeks.
The final owner of the Wagon Wheel will be decided tomorrow night at 7 p.m. when Taylor opens their 2015 season at Turner Stadium.
Photograph by Fayth Glock
