Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium
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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, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin are collectively known the "Maine Big Three",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 the C-B-B Trophy in three-way football games in the Fall of their respective academic years. As of the 2023–24 season, Bowdoin leads the conference in wins, with 20; Colby has 17 and Bates has won 13. Colby holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive wins (1988–1992). Bates holds the record for biggest shutout with a 51–0 game over Colby in 1985. There have been eight three-way-ties: 1965, 1979, 1993, 1995, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2022. The three colleges also contest the Chase Regatta, an annual up-and-down river tourney. The inaugural winner was Bowdoin, but the series has since been dominated by Bates and Colby; Colby has won the regatta five times and the President's Cup nine times. Bates currently holds the most titles (14 out of 20 wins), the winning streak (2006–present), and the most President's Cups (9 cups).<ref name=":02">Template:Cite web</ref>
The CBB Consortium often draws comparisons to the football games of the Big Three of the Ivy League, with Bowdoin often drawing the connection to Harvard, Bates to Princeton, and Colby to Yale.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Just as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are initialized as HYP, so too are Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin as "CBB".<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
History
From its inception, Bates College served as an alternative to a more traditional and historically conservative Bowdoin College.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> There is a long tradition of rivalry and competitiveness between the two colleges, revolving around socioeconomic class, academic quality, and collegiate athletics.<ref name=":03222">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=":0422">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":03222"/>
The Bates-Bowdoin Game is the most attended football game every academic year at both colleges. From 2015 to 2022, both college's presidents were named Clayton (Spencer and Rose), leading students to include them in chants against each other. Bowdoin developed a "football fight song" entitled, "Forward the White" in 1913.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> All football games between the two occurred on Bowdoin's Whittier Field, but with the development of Bates' Garcelon Field, both fields have been used to hold football games.
Colby remained isolated from neighboring Bates, and the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium because of its location in Waterville, and socio-economic and political differences.<ref name=":0422" /> However, in the 1940s, Colby began competing with the two colleges and in the first game, had a three-way tie. In 1988, Bates president Reynolds began the Chase Regatta, which features the President's Cup, which is contested by Bates, Colby, and Bowdoin annually.<ref name=":02"/>
The CBB Games is a college football competition between the three colleges. Each team plays the others once, with the C-B-B Trophy awarded to the college that beats the other two. 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.<ref name=":03222"/><ref name=":42">Template:Cite book</ref>
The Chase Regatta is an annual rowing race between the men's and women's heavyweight varsity and club rowing crews of the colleges.<ref name=":02"/> The colleges have competed in the regatta since August 3, 1988 but have competed annually since August 3, 1997, when Bates President Thomas Hedley Reynolds instated the President's Cup to be contested by all three of the CBB schools. 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.<ref name=":02"/>
C-B-B Games results
| Season | Result | Colby–Bates Score | Bates–Bowdoin Score | Bowdoin–Colby Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 3-way tie | Colby, 39–20 | Bates, 10–0 | Bowdoin, 28–21 |
| 1966 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 28–7 | Bates, 35–13 | Bowdoin, 15–6 |
| 1967 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 38–14 | Bates, 38–24 | Bowdoin, 7–0 |
| 1968 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 28–12 | Bowdoin, 41–14 | Bowdoin, 17–0 |
| 1969 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 14–13 | Bowdoin, 13–10 | Bowdoin, 38–14 |
| 1970 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 14–7 | Bowdoin, 21–3 | Bowdoin, 31–17 |
| 1971 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 17–8 | Bowdoin, 42–15 | Bowdoin, 30–27 |
| 1972 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 35–21 | Bowdoin, 37–10 | Colby, 28–22 |
| 1973 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 14–0 | Bowdoin, 20–12 | Bowdoin, 28–20 |
| 1974 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 16–14 | Bates, 18–7 | Bowdoin, 27–6 |
| 1975 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 21–12 | Bowdoin, 19–6 | Bowdoin, 41–13 |
| 1976 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 38–16 | Bowdoin, 20–14 | Bowdoin, 37–19 |
| 1977 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 25–14 | Bowdoin, 21–17 | Bowdoin, 15–14 |
| 1978 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 27–20 | Bates, 24–14 | Bowdoin, 27–10 |
| 1979 | 3-way tie | Bates, 20–7 | Bowdoin, 14–0 | Colby, 21–20 |
| 1980 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 14–13 | Bowdoin, 13–0 | Bowdoin, 8–0 |
| 1981 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 10–6 | Bates, 23–13 | Colby, 17–13 |
| 1982 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 28–21 | Bowdoin, 33–14 | Bowdoin, 18–0 |
| 1983 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 20–13 | Bates, 33–15 | Colby, 15–14 |
| 1984 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 31–21 | Bowdoin, 28–23 | Bowdoin, 20–14 |
| 1985 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 51–0 | Bowdoin, 24–21 | Bowdoin, 24–0 |
| 1986 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 21–6 | Bates, 36–0 | Bowdoin, 21–14 |
| 1987 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 46–28 | Bowdoin, 20–19 | Bowdoin, 14–10 |
| 1988 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 19–3 | Bowdoin, 10–6 | Colby, 24–0 |
| 1989 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 30–0 | Bates, 10–0 | Colby, 38–20 |
| 1990 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 9–3 | Bates, 19–14 | Colby, 23–20 |
| 1991 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 41–7 | Bowdoin, 34–13 | Colby, 28–13 |
| 1992 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 50–0 | Bowdoin, 35–14 | Colby, 26–18 |
| 1993 | 2-way tie: Colby and Bowdoin | Colby, 53–14 | Bowdoin, 34–6 | Tie, 21–21 |
| 1994 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 28–6 | Bates, 33–14 | Colby, 34–13 |
| 1995 | 3-way tie | Colby, 26–6 | Bates, 33–29 | Bowdoin, 24–3 |
| 1996 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 28–21 | Bowdoin, 35–16 | Colby, 39–15 |
| 1997 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 22–21 | Bowdoin, 28–19 | Bowdoin, 27–19 |
| 1998 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 13–7 | Bowdoin, 49–14 | Bowdoin, 10–7 |
| 1999 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 20–17 (OT) | Bates, 38–7 | Colby, 20–0 |
| 2000 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 14–0 | Bates, 44–13 | Colby, 34–7 |
| 2001 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 42–0 | Bates, 38–35 (OT) | Colby, 41–13 |
| 2002 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 19–14 | Bates, 48–28 | Colby, 32–27 |
| 2003 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 27–14 | Bates, 20–17 | Colby, 7–6 |
| 2004 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 17–16 | Bowdoin, 21–0 | Colby, 23–0 |
| 2005 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 24–17 | Bowdoin, 21–14 | Colby, 28–3 |
| 2006 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 10–7 (4OT) | Bowdoin, 23–14 | Bowdoin, 13–10 |
| 2007 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 20–13 | Bowdoin, 31–7 | Bowdoin, 20–17 |
| 2008 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Bates, 31–21 | Bowdoin, 55–14 | Bowdoin, 20–6 |
| 2009 | 3-way tie | Colby, 34–27 | Bates, 28–24 | Bowdoin, 32–27 |
| 2010 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 10–6 | Bowdoin, 21–20 | Bowdoin, 26–21 |
| 2011 | 3-way tie | Colby, 37–13 | Bates, 24–2 | Bowdoin, 20–10 |
| 2012 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 31–6 | Bates, 14–6 | Colby, 17–0 |
| 2013 | 3-way tie | Colby, 21–3 | Bates, 17–10 | Bowdoin, 32–22 |
| 2014 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 34–28 (OT) | Bates, 10–7 | Colby, 14–7 |
| 2015 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 10–9 | Bates, 31–0 | Bowdoin, 35–13 |
| 2016 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 21–19 | Bates, 24–7 | Colby, 32–16 |
| 2017 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bates | Bates, 27–24 | Bates, 24–17 | Colby, 31–20 |
| 2018 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 21–6 | Bowdoin, 31–14 | Colby, 30–14 |
| 2019 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 23–20 | Bates, 30–5 | Colby, 47–34 |
| 2021 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 10–2 | Bates, 25–24 | Colby, 21–10 |
| 2022 | 3-way tie | Colby, 38–17 | Bates, 21–14 | Bowdoin, 21–14 |
| 2023 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Bowdoin | Colby, 30–24 | Bowdoin, 35–20 | Bowdoin, 35–14 |
| 2024 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 28–26 | Bowdoin, 35–24 | Colby, 34–10 |
| 2025 | align="center" style="Template:CollegePrimaryStyle" |Colby | Colby, 13–6 | Bowdoin, 17–9 | Colby, 16–6 |
| Season | Winner | Colby – Bates score | Bates – Bowdoin score | Bowdoin – Colby score |
Note: Source of wins and losses: games between 1966 and 1978,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> games between 1979 and 1998,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and for all other games not specified in aforementioned years:<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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' 51–0 game against Colby in 1985. The longest consecutive streak of games won is Colby with 5 championships in a row (1988–1992). 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).
Series 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 |
Chase Regatta results
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They then drive up to Colby and Bowdoin using Drew University in New Jersey as the two college's exteriors.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
See also
References
External links
For further information on history of the Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium:
For further reading:
- CBB Faculty Resource Sharing
- Bowdoin College Football History
- CBB Study Abroad
- CBB Library Resources
- Bowdoin Football Featured in Sporting News "50 States, 50 Rivalries"
For further information on the NESCAC, and individual collegiate scores:
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