(Well, in honor of PURDUE HATE WEEK we kind of need to front page this. -- Ross)
Pictured: The Land of Lincoln Trophy (est.) via www.laprogressive.com
A year after the Illinois-Northwestern rivalry was rechristened the "Land of Lincoln Trophy", another effort has been growing in the Big Ten to properly honor America's Grandest Rivalry: Iowa-Purdue. The Presidents, Board of Trustees, Athletic Directors, and local boosters have gathered in the states of Iowa and Purdue to explore opportunities to celebrate this storied tradition.
Below are some of the candidates:
The Battle for the '70s Ranchera Album. Like many rivalries, this involved the music departments of both schools. The story goes that in 1983 Iowa bandmembers secretly snuck into the Boilermakers' band closet, and walked away with a varied assortment of oboe repair parts, Jane Fonda tapes, and '70s ranchera albums. Several of the stolen items, including most ranchera albums were returned years later, but the two teams square off to commemorate this daring heist.
The Bacon AK-47. A more recent entry in this legendary rivalry, the bacon AK-47 honors both state's pork industries, while offering an incredible dilemma for the Taliban.
The Ugly Purdue Shirt. In the style of the Purdue Cannon, the rivalry trophy between Purdue and Illinois, the Ugly Purdue Shirt provides a Purdue-centric icon as a basis for heated disdain on one side, institutional pride on the other.
The Old French Bastard. Encased in bronze, the OFB's roots can be traced to the early 1800s, when the states of Purdue and Iowa were discovered by an old French bastard. This curmudgeonly relic was forged using Iowa copper and Purdue tin, and was modeled off sports writing great and avowed French Huguenot Frank DeFord.
The directors of athletics at both institutions are excited to introduce a new series rivalry prize. Said Morgan Burke, Purdue's director of athletics and recreation. "Iowa versus Purdue is always a highly anticipated football game for our student-athletes and fans. The trophy series is symbolic for our great states and the two proud Big Ten institutions that something something something. I eagerly anticipate the results of this vote!"