Golden Grizzlies and UDM Titans enter a new rivalry, the Metro Series

The rivalry was announced Tuesday, Sept 30 at the Somerset Collection in Troy. The first game of the Metro Series is the men's soccer game on Wednesday, Oct. 1 in Detroit at 4 p.m.

There’s a new rivalry in town.

The Oakland University Golden Grizzlies and University of Detroit Mercy Titans begin an annual tradition, competing for the Metro Series title and trophy.

The winner of the series will be awarded to the school with the most head-to-head victories over the course of the academic year. Separated by just 26 miles, Oakland and Detroit are the only Division I schools located in the Metro Detroit area and are both members of the Horizon League. The Golden Grizzlies and Titans will compete in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's soccer, softball, women's tennis, men's and women's track and field.

"I think this is incredibly exciting," said Director of Athletics Jeff Konya. "You have two mid-major properties that have had a lot of success recently, and generated a lot of excitement last year in men's basketball. We think there is going to be an experience to our fans and our constituents that's going to be revolutionary and first class. … Sports fans in Detroit and Metro Detroit should be excited for the opportunity to get behind, support and see where this rivalry can grow to."

UDM Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr., agrees that the rivalry will engage sports fans in Metro Detroit.

"I believe within this city there is some excitement brewing between both the schools from an academic and athletic perspective,” Vowels said. “I think because of the close proximity it's going to generate some interest and believe we can find our own niche within the marketplace to help build our brand. We have 13 sports that we are competing in during this rivalry and that the fans can come out and watch many sports and student-athletes compete in the highest level in the city of Detroit."

A picture of @CoachMcCallum and @KampeOU next to the #MetroSeries cup pic.twitter.com/2p0DYXK99m — Detroit Titans (@detroittitans) September 30, 2014

The winner of each competition will be awarded points, with cross country, golf and track and field being decided by the highest finish at the Horizon League Championships. The school with the most points at the end of the season will be awarded the Metro Rivalry cup. In an event of a tie in the first year, the school with the most Horizon League All-Academic selections from all sports will be the winner. Following the inaugural season, the school that wins the cup the previous year will retain the cup in an event of a tie.

Last season Oakland and Detroit witnessed attendance highs at the men's basketball games that produced an overtime thriller in the O'rena on ESPNU during Rivalry Week. The Golden Grizzlies had an attendance record of 4,065 and the Titans featured a crowd of 6,976 in Calihan Hall, the third largest attendance since the 1999-00 season.

Teams will be transported between the O’rena and Calihan Hall courtesy of Trinity Transportation. 

#MetroSeries