Every year, Nevadans around the state celebrate the anniversary of statehood on the last Friday of October with parades and celebrations around the state the next day. Since the University of Nevada moved into the Mountain West Conference for athletics, joining intrastate rival the University of Nevada Las Vegas, it is only fitting that their annual football game be played on Nevada Day. The Battle for the Freemont Cannon, as the game is called, will take on much more meaning if it is played on the state's most important holiday.