When I found out that Husker football was going to join the ranks of some of the most prestigious programs in the history of college football, I couldn’t have been happier. Another thing I was pumped about was trophy games.
I know, plenty of people think they’re stupid, but I don’t care. Floyd of Rosedale, the Land-Grant Trophy and especially Paul Bunyan’s Axe are all as much a part of college football as kickoff in Lincoln, NE on a Saturday.
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After Big Ten commish Jim Delaney appropriately rolled out the red carpet for Nebraska, what better team to face for one such trophy than Iowa? Among months of curiosity about the game’s prize, we were greeted with…this.
The trophy isn’t really about the game, either. It’s about recognizing citizen heroes, and that’s all well and good. It happens during every Nebraska home game…and I’m going to venture a guess at several hundred others across the country, too.
I wanted something…I dunno, even stupid. Go trite, go stereotypical and have it be a bronzed stalk of corn.
Apparently someone had a few days to kill in shop class and the fans’ attitude towards the series matches its hardware. Let me sum up the shoehorned Heroes Game “rivalry” as it stands: “You’re dumb.” “No, you’re dumb.”
Then something magical happened. Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst announced that he and his mentor, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, were working to make the Nebraska-Wisconsin series a trophy game. Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous.
There’s history between the two programs, blood runs deep, this game will likely have implications in the Big Ten championship race every year. Great, let’s do this. Couldn’t be more on board.
So, I waited. In fact, I threw an idea out there myself.
The big day came, November 10, the day before Veterans Day and we all found out that Nebraska and Wisconsin would henceforth be playing for…the Freedom Trophy.
What?
Did Delany go the classic WWF Hulk Hogan well on us again? “No, surely not,” I said to myself in full denial.
Two things: That base is marvelously sculpted and stop pandering, Jim! It’s insulting!
Maybe it’s just me, I thought. Maybe I’ve become jaded. I went out in search of others’ views on the new trophy. I would embed the tweets, but I try to keep my articles family-friendly.
"“It’s a problem that I’m more shocked they couldn’t find a sponsor than that they put down some sort of pretentious bull**** as a theme.” – @tamattes“All of the new trophies are so Jim Delany #B1G: Chock full of fake tradition, conjured for TV, and pure bull****.” – @HS_BHGP“Nebraska could win “Heroes” and “Freedom” games this year, have most patriotic trophy case ever. I prefer pigs and axes, but that’s just me.” – @BennettESPN"
I could say that I disagree with any one of those points of view, but I would be lying.
I decided to go to the people that Delany’s allegedly trying to honor with this thing. The individuals that are part of the reason the United States of America’s flag is saluted. I spoke with veterans, and ones close to the topic. They just happen to be Husker football fans.
Petty Officers Michael Welke and Scott Mausbach both are actually turned off by the idea of a trophy that puts veterans in the spotlight.
“I feel a trophy based on our veterans sounds great in concept,” said Welke, “but the fact there has to be a losing side bothers me. All veterans are winners and none should have to be lumped into a losing side.
Freedom of our country that was hard fought by our vets shouldn’t be categorized by a losing team in a sports contest.
A Freedom trophy would signify one group of veterans who are on the losing side and to me that isn’t cool.”
Mausbach’s feelings won’t endear him to Delany, either. “I would rather there not be a trophy at all between the two teams. Most veterans, myself included, do not require attention.
We know what we did, we’re proud of it. Carry on as a country and do the right thing, honor our freedoms.”
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When asked about a re-design of a trophy for the series, Mausbach had a focus that both states might not object to: beer.
“This may sound a bit off, but how about The Golden Mug? Both areas, specifically Wisconsin, are known for their craft breweries and the State of Nebraska’s are exploding,” he said.
“If you want to honor veterans, do it! There is no greater honor, in my opinion, than being present at any sporting event and standing at attention during the National Anthem!”
Perhaps Delany will pay attention to the words of Welke, Mausbach and others like them. Revere the living, breathing heroes and leave the trophies to creativity.