All good things must come to an end.
That’s what we’re told when traditions end or our favorite restaurant/bar closes its doors, and that’s what is about to happen when the Badgers and Gophers get together for the 124th time in the most-played rivalry in FBS football.
Last season, Wisconsin won Paul Bunyan’s axe for the 10th straight time and the Gophers were none too happy about that. As the Badgers went to a goal post to symbolically chop it down with the axe, the Gophers suddenly got all upset and a mass brawl nearly broke out between the two teams.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGpyrVH1Ihk]It was clear frustration had boiled over for the Gophers, and in the mix you see Wisconsin head coach Gary Andersen get shoved and a security guard start yelling at Andersen for some strange reason.
At Big Ten media days, Minnesota players didn’t pull any punches when asked about what happened last season.
“They were trying to get our goal post again and we weren’t going to have it,” Gophers defensive back Cedric Thompson said, via the Wisconsin State Journal. “We’re tired of them chopping down our goal post. We just weren’t going to have it.”
Needless to say, it was one of the more ugly incidents in a rivalry that has included storming the opposing sideline and chopping down goal posts (on both sides) for as long as I can remember.
That will all change this Saturday though, thanks to what transpired last season. Andersen announced the changes during his weekly press conference, noting that the changes were all about protecting players and making sure another ugly incident like that doesn’t take place.
Gary Andersen said last season was “very close to going South.” Wants losing team to leave. Trying to protect the kids. #Badgers
— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) November 24, 2014
At the end of the game, there will be no team charging the other sideline (remember that hasn’t happened in nine years) to grab the axe or celebrating with the trophy right away.
UPDATE: Gary Andersen issued the following statement clarifying the procedure for presentation of the trophy.
“I would like to clarify our policy in regards to the post-game presentation of Paul Bunyan’s Axe. The only change is that the Axe will not be staged in the bench area. Instead, it will be presented in the end zone, closest to the winning team’s locker room. I support this policy that has been put in place by our administration and was put into action during our game with Nebraska. It is important for us to maintain the traditions of our trophy games while also doing what we feel is in the best interests of the student-athletes.”
While it may seem different, the winner can still celebrate with the trophy on the field and can still chop down goal posts. It just won’t happen with the other team still on the field.
Fans may need to be patient in wanting to celebrate the big win, something that shouldn’t be a problem for Badger fans in Madison. After all, they are used to sticking around for the 5th quarter.
At the end of the day, tradition will still stay strong, but it just goes to show how a bunch of kids acting like 5-year-old’s can ruin something so fun and so unique.
Don’t expect Gary Andersen to stop the overall fun though, heck he may even get in on the act.
Andersen on swinging the Axe: “Maybe I’ll take a swing if I’m lucky enough to have the chance once everyone is off the field.”
— Bucky’s 5th Quarter (@B5Q) November 24, 2014
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