Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry

"Paul Bunyan's Axe" redirects here. For the similarly named Paul Bunyan Trophy, see Michigan–Michigan State football rivalry.
Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry
First meeting November 15, 1890
Minnesota 63, Wisconsin 0
Latest meeting November 26, 2016
Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 17
Next meeting TBA
Trophy Paul Bunyan's Axe (current)
Slab of Bacon (former)
Statistics
Meetings total 126
All-time series Series tied, 59–59–8 (.500)
Largest victory Minnesota, 63–0 (1890)
Longest win streak Wisconsin, 13 (2004–present)
Current win streak Wisconsin, 13 (2004–present)

The Minnesota–Wisconsin football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Wisconsin Badgers. It is the most-played rivalry in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision with 126 meetings between the two teams. The winner of the game receives Paul Bunyan's Axe, a tradition that started in 1948 after the first trophy, the Slab of Bacon, disappeared after the 1943 game. Minnesota and Wisconsin first played in 1890 and have met every year since, except for 1906. The series is tied 59–59–8.[1] Remarkably, Minnesota had led the overall series since 1902, by as many as 20 games, and Wisconsin has never led it.

History

The rivalry was first played in 1890 on Minnesota's campus, in Minneapolis, resulting in a 63–0 Minnesota victory. Theron Lyman led Wisconsin to its first win over Minnesota in 1894. The game became a conference rivalry with the creation of the Western Conference (later the Big Ten Conference) in 1896. In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt suspended college football rivalry games for safety concerns, due to player injuries and fatalities on the field. It is, to date, the only time that the two teams have not played each other.[2][3]

Minnesota vs. Wisconsin, Randall Field, 1903

In the 2014 matchup the Badgers and Golden Gophers wore purple stickers on their helmets during the game to raise awareness for epilepsy.[4] The 2014 game decided the Big Ten West champion; Wisconsin defeated Minnesota 34–24 to go to the 2014 Big Ten Football Championship Game against Ohio State. The last time the rivalry determined a Big Ten Conference champion was in 1962 when #3 Wisconsin defeated #5 Minnesota for a berth to the 1963 Rose Bowl.[5]

Trophies

Slab of Bacon

The Slab of Bacon

The rivalry's first trophy was the "Slab of Bacon", in use from 1930 to 1943. Created by R. B. Fouch of Minneapolis, it is a piece of black walnut wood with a football at the center bearing a letter that becomes "M" or "W" depending on which way the trophy is hung. The word "BACON" is carved at both ends, implying that the winner has "brought home the bacon." The trophy's tenure ended when Minnesota's 1943 victory in Minnesota led to the fans rushing the field. Wisconsin student Peg Watrous was to bring the trophy to a Minnesota representative after the game, but could not find her in the commotion, and subsequently lost track of the "bacon".[6][7] Reportedly, the trophy was sent to Minnesota's locker room, but coach George Hauser refused it, suggesting such traditions be held off until after World War II.[8] It was subsequently lost; a new trophy, "Paul Bunyan's Axe", was introduced in 1948.[8]

The trophy was lost for over 50 years. In 1992, Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez joked that "we took home the bacon, and kept it."[9] In 1994, Wisconsin intern Will Roleson found it in an old storage closet at Camp Randall Stadium. It had evidently been maintained for some time, as game scores through 1970 were painted on the back. It is now displayed at the Camp Randall Stadium football offices.[6]

Trophy record: Minnesota, 11–3 (.786)

Paul Bunyan's Axe

Badgers celebrating their win by carrying Paul Bunyan's Axe around Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium after the 2009 game
Badgers chopping down the Golden Gophers goal post after their 2012 win at Camp Randall

The Paul Bunyan Axe was created by the Wisconsin letterwinners' organization (the National W Club) and would be instituted as the trophy in the series in 1948. The scores of each game are recorded on the axe's handle, which is 6 feet long. The original axe was retired to the College Football Hall of Fame after the 2003 game. A new axe was created for the 2004 game.[10]

Until 2014, when the game ended, if the team holding the trophy won, they would run to their own sideline, take the axe and carry it around the field and "chop down" one or both goal posts.[11][12][13][14][15] If the team not holding the axe won, they were allowed to run to their opponents' sideline and "steal" the axe. The tradition was changed in 2014, with the Axe now kept off the field until the conclusion of the game. This change was in response to a near skirmish in 2013 in which the Minnesota players surrounded their goal post and would not permit the Wisconsin players to ceremonially chop it down.[16] The usual tradition was restored in 2015, with Wisconsin winning again 31-21. [17]

From 1933 to 1982, it was traditionally the final game of the regular season for both schools. It has resumed being a season finale as of 2014, following the Big Ten's new divisional alignment and schedule for the final weekend of conference play.

Trophy record: Wisconsin, 42–24–3 (.630)

Accomplishments by the two rivals

Team Minnesota[18] Wisconsin[19]
Claimed National titles[20][21] 6 0
Unclaimed National titles[22][23] 0 0
Bowl appearances [24][25] 16 25
Postseason bowl record 5–12 12–14
BCS bowl appearances 0 5
CFP playoff appearances 0 0
CFP bowl appearances* 0 0
Rose Bowl appearances 2 9
Rose Bowl record 1–1 3–6
Division titles[26] 0 2
Conference titles 20 (2 IAAN) 14
Consensus All-America Players[27][28] 28 24
Heisman Trophy Winners[29] 12
All-time program record 673–505–44 672–486–53
All-time win percentage .569 .577

* CFP Bowls include the Cotton, Fiesta, Orange, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowls when not hosting a semi-final playoff game.

Game results

Date Site Winning team Losing team Series
November 15, 1890 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota63 Wisconsin0 Minnesota 1–0
October 24, 1891 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota26 Wisconsin12 Minnesota 2–0
October 29, 1892 Madison, WI Minnesota32 Wisconsin4 Minnesota 3–0
November 16, 1893 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota40 Wisconsin0 Minnesota 4–0
November 17, 1894 Madison, WI Wisconsin6 Minnesota0 Minnesota 4–1
November 16, 1895 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota14 Wisconsin10 Minnesota 5–1
November 21, 1896 Madison, WI Wisconsin6 Minnesota0 Minnesota 5–2
October 30, 1897 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin39 Minnesota0 Minnesota 5–3
October 29, 1898 Madison, WI Wisconsin29 Minnesota0 Minnesota 5–4
November 18, 1899 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin19 Minnesota0 Tie 5–5
November 3, 1900 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota6 Wisconsin 5 Minnesota 6–5
November 16, 1901 Madison, WI Wisconsin18 Minnesota0 Tie 6–6
November 15, 1902 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota11 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 7–6
November 26, 1903 Madison, WI Minnesota17 Wisconsin0 Minnesota 8–6
November 12, 1904 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota28 Wisconsin0 Minnesota 9–6
November 4, 1905 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin16 Minnesota12 Minnesota 9–7
November 23, 1907 Madison, WI Minnesota17 Wisconsin 17 Minnesota 9–7–1
November 7, 1908 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin5 Minnesota0 Minnesota 9–8–1
November 13, 1909 Madison, WI Minnesota34 Wisconsin6 Minnesota 10–8–1
November 12, 1910 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota28 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 11–8–1
November 18, 1911 Madison, WI Minnesota6 Wisconsin 6 Minnesota 11–8–2
November 16, 1912 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin14 Minnesota0 Minnesota 11–9–2
November 1, 1913 Madison, WI Minnesota21 Wisconsin3 Minnesota 12–9–2
November 14, 1914 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota14 Wisconsin3 Minnesota 13–9–2
November 20, 1915 Madison, WI Minnesota20 Wisconsin3 Minnesota 14–9–2
November 18, 1916 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota54 Wisconsin0 Minnesota 15–9–2
November 3, 1917 Madison, WI Wisconsin10 Minnesota 7 Minnesota 15–10–2
November 16, 1918 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota6 Wisconsin0 Minnesota 16–10–2
November 1, 1919 Madison, WI Minnesota19 Wisconsin7 Minnesota 17–10–2
November 6, 1920 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin3 Minnesota0 Minnesota 17–11–2
October 29, 1921 Madison, WI Wisconsin35 Minnesota 0 Minnesota 17–12–2
November 4, 1922 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin14 Minnesota0 Minnesota 17–13–2
October 27, 1923 Madison, WI Minnesota0 Wisconsin0 Minnesota 17–13–3
October 18, 1924 Madison, WI Minnesota7 Wisconsin7 Minnesota 17–13–4
October 31, 1925 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota12 Wisconsin12 Minnesota 17–13–5
October 30, 1926 Madison, WI Minnesota16 Wisconsin10 Minnesota 18–13–5
October 29, 1927 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota13 Wisconsin7 Minnesota 19–13–5
November 24, 1928 Madison, WI Minnesota6 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 20–13–5
November 23, 1929 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota13 Wisconsin12 Minnesota 21–13–5
November 22, 1930 Madison, WI Wisconsin14 Minnesota0 Minnesota 21–14–5
October 31, 1931 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota14 Wisconsin0 Minnesota 22–14–5
November 12, 1932 Madison, WI Wisconsin20 Minnesota 13 Minnesota 22–15–5
November 25, 1933 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota6 Wisconsin 3 Minnesota 23–15–5
November 24, 1934 Madison, WI Minnesota34 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 24–15–5
November 25, 1935 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota33 Wisconsin 7 Minnesota 25–15–5
November 21, 1936 Madison, WI #2 Minnesota24 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 26–15–5
November 20, 1937 Minneapolis, MN #7 Minnesota13 Wisconsin 6 Minnesota 27–15–5
November 19, 1938 Madison, WI Minnesota21 #12 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 28–15–5
November 25, 1939 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota23 Wisconsin 6 Minnesota 29–15–5
November 23, 1940 Madison, WI #1 Minnesota22 Wisconsin 13 Minnesota 30–15–5
November 22, 1941 Minneapolis, MN #1 Minnesota41 Wisconsin 6 Minnesota 31–15–5
November 21, 1942 Madison, WI #7 Wisconsin20 #10 Minnesota 6 Minnesota 31–16–5
November 20, 1943 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota25 Wisconsin 13 Minnesota 32–16–5
November 25, 1944 Madison, WI Minnesota28 Wisconsin 26 Minnesota 33–16–5
November 24, 1945 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin26 Minnesota 12 Minnesota 33–17–5
November 23, 1946 Madison, WI Minnesota6 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 34–17–5
November 22, 1947 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota21 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 35–17–5
November 20, 1948 Madison, WI #15 Minnesota16 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 36–17–5
November 19, 1949 Minneapolis, MN #8 Minnesota14 Wisconsin 6 Minnesota 37–17–5
November 25, 1950 Madison, WI Wisconsin14 Minnesota 0 Minnesota 37–18–5
November 24, 1951 Minneapolis, MN #8 Wisconsin30 Minnesota 6 Minnesota 37–19–5
November 22, 1952 Madison, WI Minnesota21 #13 Wisconsin 21 Minnesota 37–19–6
November 21, 1953 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota21 #8 Wisconsin 21 Minnesota 37–19–7
November 20, 1954 Madison, WI #17 Wisconsin27 #10 Minnesota 0 Minnesota 37–20–7
November 19, 1955 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota21 Wisconsin 6 Minnesota 38–20–7
November 24, 1956 Madison, WI #7 Minnesota13 Wisconsin 13 Minnesota 38–20–8
November 23, 1957 Minneapolis, MN #18 Wisconsin14 Minnesota 6 Minnesota 38–21–8
November 22, 1958 Madison, WI Wisconsin27 Minnesota 12 Minnesota 38–22–8
November 21, 1959 Minneapolis, MN #9 Wisconsin11 Minnesota 7 Minnesota 38–23–8
November 19, 1960 Madison, WI #4 Minnesota26 Wisconsin 7 Minnesota 39–23–8
November 25, 1961 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin23 #3 Minnesota 21 Minnesota 39–24–8
November 24, 1962 Madison, WI #3 Wisconsin14 #5 Minnesota 9 Minnesota 39–25–8
November 28, 1963 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota14 Wisconsin 0 Minnesota 40–25–8
November 21, 1964 Madison, WI Wisconsin14 Minnesota 7 Minnesota 40–26–8
November 20, 1965 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota42 Wisconsin 7 Minnesota 41–26–8
November 19, 1966 Madison, WI Wisconsin7 Minnesota 6 Minnesota 41–27–8
November 25, 1967 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota21 Wisconsin 14 Minnesota 42–27–8
November 23, 1968 Madison, WI Minnesota23 Wisconsin 15 Minnesota 43–27–8
November 22, 1969 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota35 Wisconsin 10 Minnesota 44–27–8
November 21, 1970 Madison, WI Wisconsin39 Minnesota 14 Minnesota 44–28–8
November 20, 1971 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota23 Wisconsin21 Minnesota 45–28–8
November 25, 1972 Madison, WI Minnesota14 Wisconsin6 Minnesota 46–28–8
November 24, 1973 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota19 Wisconsin17 Minnesota 47–28–8
November 23, 1974 Madison, WI Wisconsin49 Minnesota14 Minnesota 47–29–8
November 22, 1975 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota24 Wisconsin3 Minnesota 48–29–8
November 20, 1976 Madison, WI Wisconsin26 Minnesota 17 Minnesota 48–30–8
November 19, 1977 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota13 Wisconsin7 Minnesota 49–30–8
November 25, 1978 Madison, WI Wisconsin48 Minnesota 10 Minnesota 49–31–8
November 17, 1979 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin42 Minnesota37 Minnesota 49–32–8
November 22, 1980 Madison, WI Wisconsin25 Minnesota 7 Minnesota 49–33–8
November 21, 1981 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin26 Minnesota21 Minnesota 49–34–8
November 20, 1982 Madison, WI Wisconsin24 Minnesota 0 Minnesota 49–35–8
October 15, 1983 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin56 Minnesota17 Minnesota 49–36–8
October 13, 1984 Madison, WI Minnesota17 Wisconsin14 Minnesota 50–36–8
November 9, 1985 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota27 Wisconsin18 Minnesota 51–36–8
November 8, 1986 Madison, WI Minnesota27 Wisconsin20 Minnesota 52–36–8
November 14, 1987 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota22 Wisconsin19 Minnesota 53–36–8
November 12, 1988 Madison, WI Wisconsin14 Minnesota 7 Minnesota 53–37–8
November 4, 1989 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota24 Wisconsin22 Minnesota 54–37–8
November 3, 1990 Madison, WI Minnesota21 Wisconsin3 Minnesota 55–37–8
November 16, 1991 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin19 Minnesota16 Minnesota 55–38–8
November 14, 1992 Madison, WI Wisconsin34 Minnesota 6 Minnesota 55–39–8
October 23, 1993 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota28 #15 Wisconsin21 Minnesota 56–39–8
October 22, 1994 Madison, WI Minnesota17 Wisconsin14 Minnesota 57–39–8
November 11, 1995 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin34 Minnesota27 Minnesota 57–40–8
November 9, 1996 Madison, WI Wisconsin45 Minnesota 28 Minnesota 57–41–8
October 25, 1997 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin22 Minnesota21 Minnesota 57–42–8
November 7, 1998 Madison, WI #8 Wisconsin26 Minnesota 7 Minnesota 57–43–8
October 9, 1999 Minneapolis, MN #20 Wisconsin20 #25 Minnesota17 Minnesota 57–44–8
November 4, 2000 Madison, WI Wisconsin41 Minnesota 20 Minnesota 57–45–8
November 24, 2001 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota42 Wisconsin31 Minnesota 58–45–8
November 23, 2002 Madison, WI Wisconsin49 Minnesota 31 Minnesota 58–46–8
November 8, 2003 Minneapolis, MN #24 Minnesota37 Wisconsin34 Minnesota 59–46–8
November 6, 2004 Madison, WI #5 Wisconsin38 Minnesota 14 Minnesota 59–47–8
October 15, 2005 Minneapolis, MN #23 Wisconsin38 #22 Minnesota34 Minnesota 59–48–8
October 14, 2006 Madison, WI #25 Wisconsin48 Minnesota 12 Minnesota 59–49–8
November 17, 2007 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin41 Minnesota34 Minnesota 59–50–8
November 15, 2008 Madison, WI Wisconsin35 Minnesota 32 Minnesota 59–51–8
October 3, 2009 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin31 Minnesota28 Minnesota 59–52–8
October 9, 2010 Madison, WI #19 Wisconsin41 Minnesota 23 Minnesota 59–53–8
November 23, 2011 Minneapolis, MN #16 Wisconsin42 Minnesota13 Minnesota 59–54–8
October 20, 2012 Madison, WI Wisconsin38 Minnesota 13 Minnesota 59–55–8
November 23, 2013 Minneapolis, MN #17 Wisconsin20 #23 Minnesota7 Minnesota 59–56–8
November 29, 2014 Madison, WI #14 Wisconsin34 #22 Minnesota 24 Minnesota 59–57–8
November 28, 2015 Minneapolis, MN Wisconsin31 Minnesota21 Minnesota 59–58–8
November 26, 2016 Madison, WI #5 Wisconsin31 Minnesota17 Tied 59–59–8
All rankings from the AP Poll.

See also

Other Wisconsin traveling trophies:

Other Minnesota traveling trophies:

Other links:

References

  1. ↑ "Series History: Wisconsin vs. Minnesota". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Bielema touts history of Wisconsin-Minnesota rivalry - College Football - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  3. ↑ "Paul Bunyan's Axe - Minnesota vs. Wisconsin - University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site". Gophersports.com. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  4. ↑ "Wisconsin, Minnesota to team up for epilepsy awareness - Bucky's 5th Quarter". Buckys5thquarter.com. 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  5. ↑ "Wisconsin Badgers Football, Basketball, and Recruiting Front Page". Wisconsin.scout.com. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  6. 1 2 Doherty, Justin (2005). Tales from the Wisconsin Badgers. Sports Publishing. p. 104. ISBN 1582614083. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Precursor to the Axe - UWBadgers.com - The Official Athletic Site of the Wisconsin Badgers". UWBadgers.com. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  8. 1 2 Scott Dochterman. "Traveling trophies woven into Big Ten football fabric (with poll, video)". TheGazette. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  9. ↑ Doherty, Justin (2005). Tales from the Wisconsin Badgers. Sports Publishing. p. 105. ISBN 1582614083. Retrieved July 15, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Original Axe headed to Hall of Fame". The Badger Herald. 2003-11-19. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  11. ↑ Fox Sports (2013-11-19). "badgers-gophers-rivalry-gets-boost-as-both-teams-good | FOX Sports on MSN". Foxsportswisconsin.com. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  12. ↑ Bennett, Brian (2014-05-06). "Big Ten weekend rewind: Week 13 - ESPN". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  13. ↑ "Countdown to end begins for Metrodome". kare11.com. 2013-08-09. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  14. ↑ "Former Badgers Recall Axe Rivalry - UWBadgers.com - The Official Athletic Site of the Wisconsin Badgers". UWBadgers.com. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  15. ↑ "Badgers football: Backfield tandem runs wild — and wildcat — over Gophers : Sports". Host.madison.com. 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2014-06-06.
  16. ↑ "Gary Andersen says Paul Bunyans Axe will disappear during Minnesota vs. Wisconsin". The Daily Gopher. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  17. ↑ Journal, Todd D. Milewski | Wisconsin State. "After another Badgers win over Gophers, Axe 'qualifies for a state pension' for tenure in Wisconsin". madison.com. Retrieved 2016-11-29.
  18. ↑ "Minnesota Golden Gophers Index". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  19. ↑ "Wisconsin Badgers Index". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "NCAA Football Championship History". NCAA.com. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  21. ↑ "Minnesota Championships". GopherSports.com. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "1942 College Football National Championship". Tiptop25.com. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  23. ↑ "Andy Baggot: We are — or were — the champions? | Sports". host.madison.com. 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
  24. ↑ "Minnesota Bowl History". CollegeFootballPoll.com. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Wisconsin Bowl History". CollegeFootballPoll.com. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  26. ↑ "Divisional Rankings". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  27. ↑ "Minnesota All-America Selections". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  28. ↑ "Wisconsin Badgers All-America Selections". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  29. ↑ "Past Heisman Trophy Winners". NationalChamps.net. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
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