"Things You Wouldn't Know If We Didn't Blog Intermittently."
30 November 2025
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin 2025 - battle for the Paul Bunyan's Axe trophy
Posted as memorabilia for me and a few friends and family members. This is not a "game for the ages" for anyone other than Minnesota Gopher fans. Highlights at 4:00, 6:25, and 6:50 for those curious and in a hurry.
For those of us who had to look up what "CFB" stands for, which then made us realize that the two teams were not NFL teams (we originally thought they might be) - could you give some insight into why this was a 'game for the ages'?
Sure. This game was not significant for most people because the teams this year are mid-level to mediocre. But the University of MInnesota vs. University of Wisconsin is a classic rivalry game (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_college_football_rivalry_games) played once a year for over a hundred years, comparable to Arsenal vs. Liverpool etc. One measure of a team's "success" other than wins/losses is a victory against a multi-generation rival. And this one was played in winter weather in the snow. Minnesotans will share memories of this game at class reunions for decades.
A recent NPR segment about rivalries and bowl names / trophies:
https://www.npr.org/2025/11/28/nx-s1-5616278/from-the-holy-war-to-the-egg-bowl-how-wacky-names-for-college-rivalry-games-began From the Holy War to the Egg Bowl, how wacky names for college rivalry games began
I got to watch the game (and the silly shirtless fans in the bleachers) while visiting my sister and her family, and she and I sang the song. She also looked up Ski-u-mah, as I was sure it was ski-u-mah. Not that it matters, as it is not a Lakota word meaning victory as was thought back in the day. But the Golden Gophers won! :-) Sandra
For those of us who had to look up what "CFB" stands for, which then made us realize that the two teams were not NFL teams (we originally thought they might be) - could you give some insight into why this was a 'game for the ages'?
ReplyDeleteSure. This game was not significant for most people because the teams this year are mid-level to mediocre. But the University of MInnesota vs. University of Wisconsin is a classic rivalry game (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NCAA_college_football_rivalry_games) played once a year for over a hundred years, comparable to Arsenal vs. Liverpool etc. One measure of a team's "success" other than wins/losses is a victory against a multi-generation rival. And this one was played in winter weather in the snow. Minnesotans will share memories of this game at class reunions for decades.
DeleteThanks!!! the snow certainly adds something to the playing.
DeleteA recent NPR segment about rivalries and bowl names / trophies:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.npr.org/2025/11/28/nx-s1-5616278/from-the-holy-war-to-the-egg-bowl-how-wacky-names-for-college-rivalry-games-began From the Holy War to the Egg Bowl, how wacky names for college rivalry games began
I got to watch the game (and the silly shirtless fans in the bleachers) while visiting my sister and her family, and she and I sang the song. She also looked up Ski-u-mah, as I was sure it was ski-u-mah. Not that it matters, as it is not a Lakota word meaning victory as was thought back in the day. But the Golden Gophers won! :-)
ReplyDeleteSandra
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ski-U-Mah_(slogan)
Delete