Bremner Cup added to Cornell-Coe rivalry

The Bremner Cup will be a new fixture in the Coe-Cornell athletics rivalry starting in Fall 2012.

The long-time rivals will compete for an all-sport traveling trophy named in honor of Barron Bremner, a legendary coach and administrator with 42 collective years of service at the two institutions.

"The advent of the Bremner Cup is a tremendous opportunity to recognize in perpetuity a man who has meant so much to so many people on both campuses," Cornell Director of Athletics John Cochrane said. "Barron is an adored figure, having touched the lives of two generations of students in immeasurable ways, as individuals and as athletes."

A point system is based on current mutual sponsorship of 19 intercollegiate sports. Scoring is equally weighted with one point awarded per sport to the winner of the contest designated as the Bremner Cup event. In sports such as cross country and track and field, coaches will determine an event to be scored for the Bremner Cup.

The Rams and Kohawks have developed storied rivalries in multiple sports. The teams have met 121 times on the gridiron, holding claim to the oldest college football rivalry west of the Mississippi River. The men's basketball series dates back to the 1909-10 season. The two nationally-ranked wrestling programs have squared off in dual meets every season since 1966.

"We are very happy to continue our long tradition of competition with Cornell," Coe Director of Athletics John Chandler said. "The addition of the Bremner Cup allows us to continue competing with Cornell, while honoring an athletics legend who has skillfully represented both institutions."

In 2012-13, Cornell returns to the Midwest Conference and ends a conference relationship with Coe that spans nearly a century. Both schools were charter members of the Midwest Collegiate Athletic Conference in 1921. They both left the modern-era Midwest Conference after the 1996-97 season and joined the Iowa Conference.

"Our two institutions begin separate conference affiliations for the first time in many years next fall," Cochrane said. "It seemed appropriate to help ensure the continuation of this rivalry and the association with each other that we've shared, for many years to come."

Bremner had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of student-athletes at both schools, where he is a member of their respective Athletic Halls of Fame. The Iowa Falls native and University of Iowa graduate began his career at Cornell in 1959 as head wrestling coach and assistant football and tennis coach. Over 12 years, he coached six sports, taught, was dean of men, director of housing, and director of placement.

In 1971, Bremner left for Coe as athletic director, chair of the physical education department, and head wrestling coach. He went back to Cornell in 1978 as the college's athletic director, wrestling coach and assistant to the president. Four years later he gave up his athletic duties, and by 1985 was named vice president for institutional advancement and director of the $62 million Program for Cornell, which included the Small Multi-Sport Center.

Bremner made his final career move in 1993, returning to Coe as athletic director and assistant to the president. He retired in 2001.

Bremner compiled a 153-8-1 dual meet record against Midwest Conference foes and fashioned a 196-39-3 overall mark. His wrestling teams won 18 conference championships in 23 years - 13 at Cornell, five at Coe. He coached 14 all-Americans and led Cornell to a fifth-place national team finish in 1963.

Bremner was elected to the NCAA Division III Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 1993, and served eight years on the NCAA Division III Wrestling Committee. He twice served as president of the NCAA Division III National Wrestling Coaches Association, and was Grand Marshall at the 2008 NCAA Division III Championships in Cedar Rapids. Bremner and his wife, Ginne, reside in Iowa City.