Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium
The Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium (CBB) is an athletic conference and academic consortium between three private liberal arts colleges in the U.S. state of Maine. The group consists of Colby College in Waterville, Bates College in Lewiston, and Bowdoin College in Brunswick. In allusion to the Big Three of the Ivy League, they are collectively known the "Maine Big Three",[1][2] a play on words with the words "Maine" and "main". The school names are ordered by their geographical organization in Maine (north to south).
The colleges contest a variety of college sports between themselves, primarily in football and rowing. On the former, they compete for a CBB Championship Trophy in three-way football games in the Fall of their respective academic years. As of the 2023β24 season, Bowdoin leads the conference in wins, with 20; Colby has 17 and Bates has won 13. There have been eight three-way-ties: 1965, 1979, 1993, 1995, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2022. For rowing, the schools contest the CBB Chase Regatta, an annual up-and-down river tourney for the President's Cup. The all-time leader of the Chase Regatta is Bates with a total of 18 composite wins, followed by Colby's 5 wins, concluding with Bowdoin's 1 win.
History
From its inception, Bates College served as an alternative to a more traditional and historically conservative Bowdoin College.[3][4] There is a long tradition of rivalry and competitiveness between the two colleges, revolving around socioeconomic class, academic quality, and collegiate athletics.[5][6][7] The two colleges have competed against each other athletically since the 1870s, and subsequently share one of the ten oldest NCAA Division III football rivalries, in the United States.[8][5] The Bates-Bowdoin Game is the most attended football game every academic year at both colleges. Bowdoin developed a "football fight song" entitled, "Forward the White" in 1913.[9] All football games between the two occurred on Bowdoin's Whittier Field, until the development of Bates' Garcelon Field.
Colby remained isolated from neighboring Bates, and the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium because of its location in Waterville as well as socioeconomic and political differences.[8] The CBB Games was created for the 1965 college football season. Previously, Bates and Bowdoin have competed since 1870s against the University of Maine in the Maine State Series or Maine State Championship. When the University of Maine moved to a higher division in 1965, Colby joined and the rivalry took its current name.[5][10] In the 1940s, Colby began competing with the two colleges and in the first game, had a three-way tie. In 1988, Bates president Thomas Hedley Reynolds began the Chase Regatta, a rowing competition, which features the President's Cup, which is contested annually.[11] Since August 3, 1997, when Reynolds instated the President's Cup to be contested by all three for rowing.[12] Rowing is the most active boat sport of Bates and Colby, with Bowdoin being more active in Sailing. Bowdoin is the only college in the CBB to maintain a Club Rowing team, and suspended its varsity team at its founding.
Football
Series results
| Season | Result | ColbyβBates Score | BatesβBowdoin Score | BowdoinβColby Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 3-way tie | Colby, 39β20 | Bates, 10β0 | Bowdoin, 28β21 |
| 1966 | Bates | Bates, 28β7 | Bates, 35β13 | Bowdoin, 15β6 |
| 1967 | Bates | Bates, 38β14 | Bates, 38β24 | Bowdoin, 7β0 |
| 1968 | Bowdoin | Bates, 28β12 | Bowdoin, 41β14 | Bowdoin, 17β0 |
| 1969 | Bowdoin | Colby, 14β13 | Bowdoin, 13β10 | Bowdoin, 38β14 |
| 1970 | Bowdoin | Bates, 14β7 | Bowdoin, 21β3 | Bowdoin, 31β17 |
| 1971 | Bowdoin | Colby, 17β8 | Bowdoin, 42β15 | Bowdoin, 30β27 |
| 1972 | Colby | Colby, 35β21 | Bowdoin, 37β10 | Colby, 28β22 |
| 1973 | Bowdoin | Colby, 14β0 | Bowdoin, 20β12 | Bowdoin, 28β20 |
| 1974 | Bates | Bates, 16β14 | Bates, 18β7 | Bowdoin, 27β6 |
| 1975 | Bowdoin | Colby, 21β12 | Bowdoin, 19β6 | Bowdoin, 41β13 |
| 1976 | Bowdoin | Bates, 38β16 | Bowdoin, 20β14 | Bowdoin, 37β19 |
| 1977 | Bowdoin | Bates, 25β14 | Bowdoin, 21β17 | Bowdoin, 15β14 |
| 1978 | Bates | Bates, 27β20 | Bates, 24β14 | Bowdoin, 27β10 |
| 1979 | 3-way tie | Bates, 20β7 | Bowdoin, 14β0 | Colby, 21β20 |
| 1980 | Bowdoin | Bates, 14β13 | Bowdoin, 13β0 | Bowdoin, 8β0 |
| 1981 | Bates | Bates, 10β6 | Bates, 23β13 | Colby, 17β13 |
| 1982 | Bowdoin | Colby, 28β21 | Bowdoin, 33β14 | Bowdoin, 18β0 |
| 1983 | Colby | Colby, 20β13 | Bates, 33β15 | Colby, 15β14 |
| 1984 | Bowdoin | Bates, 31β21 | Bowdoin, 28β23 | Bowdoin, 20β14 |
| 1985 | Bowdoin | Bates, 51β0 | Bowdoin, 24β21 | Bowdoin, 24β0 |
| 1986 | Bates | Bates, 21β6 | Bates, 36β0 | Bowdoin, 21β14 |
| 1987 | Bowdoin | Bates, 46β28 | Bowdoin, 20β19 | Bowdoin, 14β10 |
| 1988 | Colby | Colby, 19β3 | Bowdoin, 10β6 | Colby, 24β0 |
| 1989 | Colby | Colby, 30β0 | Bates, 10β0 | Colby, 38β20 |
| 1990 | Colby | Colby, 9β3 | Bates, 19β14 | Colby, 23β20 |
| 1991 | Colby | Colby, 41β7 | Bowdoin, 34β13 | Colby, 28β13 |
| 1992 | Colby | Colby, 50β0 | Bowdoin, 35β14 | Colby, 26β18 |
| 1993 | 2-way tie: Colby and Bowdoin | Colby, 53β14 | Bowdoin, 34β6 | Tie, 21β21 |
| 1994 | Colby | Colby, 28β6 | Bates, 33β14 | Colby, 34β13 |
| 1995 | 3-way tie | Colby, 26β6 | Bates, 33β29 | Bowdoin, 24β3 |
| 1996 | Colby | Colby, 28β21 | Bowdoin, 35β16 | Colby, 39β15 |
| 1997 | Bowdoin | Bates, 22β21 | Bowdoin, 28β19 | Bowdoin, 27β19 |
| 1998 | Bowdoin | Bates, 13β7 | Bowdoin, 49β14 | Bowdoin, 10β7 |
| 1999 | Bates | Bates, 20β17 (OT) | Bates, 38β7 | Colby, 20β0 |
| 2000 | Colby | Colby, 14β0 | Bates, 44β13 | Colby, 34β7 |
| 2001 | Colby | Colby, 42β0 | Bates, 38β35 (OT) | Colby, 41β13 |
| 2002 | Bates | Bates, 19β14 | Bates, 48β28 | Colby, 32β27 |
| 2003 | Colby | Colby, 27β14 | Bates, 20β17 | Colby, 7β6 |
| 2004 | Colby | Colby, 17β16 | Bowdoin, 21β0 | Colby, 23β0 |
| 2005 | Colby | Colby, 24β17 | Bowdoin, 21β14 | Colby, 28β3 |
| 2006 | Bowdoin | Colby, 10β7 (4OT) | Bowdoin, 23β14 | Bowdoin, 13β10 |
| 2007 | Bowdoin | Colby, 20β13 | Bowdoin, 31β7 | Bowdoin, 20β17 |
| 2008 | Bowdoin | Bates, 31β21 | Bowdoin, 55β14 | Bowdoin, 20β6 |
| 2009 | 3-way tie | Colby, 34β27 | Bates, 28β24 | Bowdoin, 32β27 |
| 2010 | Bowdoin | Colby, 10β6 | Bowdoin, 21β20 | Bowdoin, 26β21 |
| 2011 | 3-way tie | Colby, 37β13 | Bates, 24β2 | Bowdoin, 20β10 |
| 2012 | Bates | Bates, 31β6 | Bates, 14β6 | Colby, 17β0 |
| 2013 | 3-way tie | Colby, 21β3 | Bates, 17β10 | Bowdoin, 32β22 |
| 2014 | Bates | Bates, 34β28 (OT) | Bates, 10β7 | Colby, 14β7 |
| 2015 | Bates | Bates, 10β9 | Bates, 31β0 | Bowdoin, 35β13 |
| 2016 | Bates | Bates, 21β19 | Bates, 24β7 | Colby, 32β16 |
| 2017 | Bates | Bates, 27β24 | Bates, 24β17 | Colby, 31β20 |
| 2018 | Colby | Colby, 21β6 | Bowdoin, 31β14 | Colby, 30β14 |
| 2019 | Colby | Colby, 23β20 | Bates, 30β5 | Colby, 47β34 |
| 2021 | Colby | Colby, 10β2 | Bates, 25β24 | Colby, 21β10 |
| 2022 | 3-way tie | Colby, 38β17 | Bates, 21β14 | Bowdoin, 21β14 |
| 2023 | Bowdoin | Colby, 30β24 | Bowdoin, 35β20 | Bowdoin, 35β14 |
| 2024 | Colby | Colby, 28β26 | Bowdoin, 35β24 | Colby, 34β10 |
| 2025 | Colby | Colby, 13β6 | Bowdoin, 17β9 | Colby, 16β6 |
| Season | Winner | Colby β Bates score | Bates β Bowdoin score | Bowdoin β Colby score |
Note: Source of wins and losses: games between 1966 and 1978,[13] games between 1979 and 1998,[14] and for all other games not specified in aforementioned years:[15][16][17][18] The highest scoring game was the 1987 Colby-Bates with a total of 74 points. The lowest scoring game was the 1967 Bowdoin-Colby game with a total of 7 points. The biggest shutout was Bates' 51β0 game against Colby in 1985. The longest consecutive streak of games won is Colby with 5 championships in a row (1988β1992). There have been 7 three-way-ties, 1 two-way tie, and 4 uses of overtime, (the 2006 Colby-Bates game required overtime to be issued four times for a winner to be determined).
Statistics
| Statistic | Colby | Bates | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Games played | 114 | ||
| Series Wins | 17 | 13 | 20 |
| Highest series streak | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Current series streak | L1 | L1 | W1 |
| Total points scored in the series | 2294 | 2105 | 2285 |
| Most points scored in a winning game | 53 | 51 | 55 |
| Most points scored in a losing game | 28 | 27 | 35 |
| Fewest points scored in a winning game | 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Most points scored in a shutout win | 50 | 51 | 24 |
| Overtime wins | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Largest margin of victory | 50 | 51 | 41 |
| Smallest margin of victory | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Rowing
Series results
| No. | Date | Site | Overall winner | President's Cup | Composite time | Bates total | Bowdoin total | Colby total | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1997 | Kennebec River | Bowdoin | Colby | β | β | 1 | β | [19] |
| 2 | 1998 | Messalonskee Stream | Colby | Colby | β | β | β | 1 | [19] |
| 3 | 1999 | Messalonskee Stream | Colby | Colby | β | β | β | 2 | [19] |
| 4 | 2000 | Kennebec River | Bates | Bates | β | 1 | β | β | [19] |
| 5 | 2001 | Messalonskee River | Colby | Colby | β | β | β | 3 | [19] |
| 6 | 2002 | Kennebec River | Colby | Colby | β | β | β | 4 | [19] |
| 7 | 2003 | Messalonskee River | Bates | Colby | β | 2 | β | β | [19] |
| 8 | 2004 | Messalonskee River | Bates | Colby | β | 3 | β | β | [19] |
| 9 | 2005 | Kennebec River | Colby | Colby | β | β | β | 5 | [19] |
| 10 | 2006 | Kennebec River | Bates | Bates | β | 4 | β | β | [19] |
| 11 | 2007 | Messalonskee Stream | Bates | Colby | β | 5 | β | β | [19] |
| 12 | 2008 | Messalonskee Stream | Bates | Bates | β | 6 | β | β | [19] |
| 13 | 2009 | Kennebec River | Bates | Bates | β | 7 | β | β | [19] |
| 14 | 2010 | Messalonskee Stream | Bates | Bowdoin | MV8 (10:11.1)
WV8 (11:43.0) |
8 | β | β | [20] |
| 15 | 2011 | Androscoggin River | Bates | Bates | MV8 (6:41.1)
WV8 (7:26.3) |
9 | β | β | [21] |
| 16 | 2012 | Messalonskee Stream | Bates | Cancelled | MV8 (8:57.7)
WV8 (9:41.9) |
10 | β | β | [22] |
| 17 | 2013 | Messalonskee Stream | Bates | Bates | MV8 (6:45.6)
WV8 (7:27.3) |
11 | β | β | [23] |
| 18 | 2014 | Androscoggin River | Bates | Bates | MV8 (6:18.9)
WV8 (7:02.3) |
12 | β | β | [24] |
| 19 | 2015 | Kennebec River | Bates | Bates | MV8 (5:30.1)
WV8 (5:53.0) |
13 | β | β | [25] |
| 20 | 2016 | Kennebec River | Bates | Bates | MV8 (5:53.0)
WV8 (6:39.0) |
14 | β | β | [26] |
| 21 | 2017 | Androscoggin River | Bates | Bates | MV8 (7:17.2)
WV8 (8:16.2) |
15 | β | β | [27] |
| 22 | 2018 | Androscoggin River | Bates | Bates | MV8 (6:37.2)
WV8 (7:35.7) |
16 | β | β | [28] |
| 23 | 2019 | Androscoggin River | Bates | Bates | MV8 (6:38.6)
WV8 (7:32.1) |
17 | β | β | [29] |
| 24 | 2022 | Androscoggin River | Bates | Bates | MV8 (6:28.1)
WV8 (7:16.0) |
18 | β | β | [30] |
Note: The President's Cup is given to the team that has won the most overall heats and races, while the overall winner is determined by who won the most varsity and heavyweight competitions in the regatta.[12]
The all-time leader of the Chase Regatta is Bates with a total of 18 composite wins, followed by Colby's 5 wins, concluding with Bowdoin's 1 win. The regatta has been held on various waters, and is hosted by all three of the colleges; the most frequent waters occupied are: the Androscoggin River (Bates and Bowdoin), the Kennebec River (Colby), and Messalonskee River (Colby).[12][30]
Records
- Number of wins: (Bates) β 18 composite wins
- Most consecutive victories: (Bates, 2006 - 2022 β overall winner), (Bates, 2011-2022)
- Smallest winning margin: (Bowdoin, 1997) β .9-second margin over Colby
- Largest winning margin: (Bates, 2013) β 59-second margin ahead of runner-up Colby.[31]
Trophies
The President's Cup β instated to be contested by all three of the schools in rowing.[12]
In fiction and literature
In 1999, all three colleges were prominently featured in The Sopranos. In the episode entitled, "College", Tony Soprano takes his daughter, Meadow on a trip to Maine to tour the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium.[32][33] They first visit Bates in Lewiston; while walking past the college's chapel she states, "[Bates has] a 48-to-52 male-female ratio, which is great, strong liberal arts program and this cool Olin Arts Center for music."[34] They then drive up to Colby and Bowdoin using Drew University in New Jersey as the two college's exteriors.[35] On the drive from Bates to Colby, Tony Soprano reveals to his daughter that he is in the mafia, a major turning point in the series.[36]
See also
References
- ^ Staff, Maine Public (March 20, 2020). "Two of the Maine Big Three colleges have reported positive cases of COVID-19". www.mainepublic.org. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ Snyder, Kayla (April 12, 2019). "A look into the art museums of the Maine Big Three". The Bowdoin Orient. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ Calhoun, Charles C (1993). A Small College in Maine. Hubbard Hall, Bowdoin College: Bowdoin College. p. 163.
- ^ Eaton, Mabel (1930). General Catalogue of Bates College and Cobb Divinity School. Coram Library, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine.: Bates College. pp. 34, 36, 42.
- ^ a b c Nevin, David (1970). Muskie of Maine. Ladd Library, Bates College: Random House, New York. p. 99.
- ^ Larson, Timothy (2005). Faith by Their Works: The Progressive Tradition at Bates College from 1855 to 1877. Edmund S. Muskie Archives and Special Collections, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine: Bates College Publishing. pp. Multiβsource.
- ^ "Chapter 4 | 150 Years | Bates College". www.bates.edu. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
- ^ a b Woz, Markus (2002). Traditionally Unconventional. Ladd Library, Bates College, Lewiston, Maine: Bates College. p. 6.
- ^ "Bowdoin Football β "Forward the White" β Bowdoin". athletics.bowdoin.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
- ^ Clark, Charles E. (2005). Bates Through the Years: an Illustrated History. Edmund Muskie Archives: Bates College, Lewiston, Maine. p. 37.
- ^ "Athletics | Bates College" (PDF). athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
- ^ a b c d "Athletics | Bates College" (PDF). athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
- ^ "Football vs. Bowdoin, Nov. 7, 2015 (Josh Kuckens and Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College) | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
- ^ "Football vs. Bowdoin, Nov. 7, 2015 (Josh Kuckens and Phyllis Graber Jensen/Bates College) | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
- ^ "Football Begins CBB Chase Saturday at Bates". Bowdoin. 2017-11-03. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
- ^ "Bowdoin Football Opens CBB Chase Saturday at Bates". Bowdoin. 2015-11-05. Archived from the original on 2018-08-13. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
- ^ "Postgame Reaction from 17-10 win over Bowdoin | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
- ^ "Football preview: CBB series offers a new start for Bates (0-6) and Colby (0-6) | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Athletics | Bates College" (PDF). athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
- ^ "Bates rowing wins men's and women's races at CBB Chase | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
- ^ "Bates rowing teams win CBB President's Cup | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
- ^ "Bates crews sweep CBB Chase at Colby | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
- ^ "Men's rowing sweeps eights races at Presidents Cup | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
- ^ "Women's rowing finishes 14-1, retains President Cup | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
- ^ "Collegiate Men: 20th Presidents Cup, April 17, 2016". www.row2k.com. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
- ^ "2015-16 Bates Rowing Schedule | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
- ^ Horton, Lee (2017-04-24). "College rowing: Bates sweeps races, claims President's Cup". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Rowing wins Presidents Cup for seventh straight year". Bates College. 22 April 2018. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ Andree KehnSun Journal (2019-04-28). "PHOTOS: Bates hosts, wins Presidents Cup Regatta". Lewiston Sun Journal. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ a b "Rowing wins ninth consecutive President's Cup over rivals Bowdoin and Colby". Bates College. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
- ^ "Men's rowing beats Colby, Bowdoin at CBB Chase | Athletics | Bates College". athletics.bates.edu. Retrieved 2016-05-16.
- ^ "Season One, Episode 2, Script". Springfield! Springfield!. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ "Looking back at Maine's most notorious college applicant". WCSH. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ^ "College (1.05)". Sopranos Autopsy. 2014-08-15. Archived from the original on August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
- ^ Ugoku. "The Sopranos location guide - Colby College". www.sopranos-locations.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
- ^ Edgerton, Gary (2013-03-01). The Sopranos. Wayne State University Press. ISBN 978-0-8143-3852-0.
External links
For further reading on consortium:
For further information on the NESCAC and collegiate scores: