Trophy should shout ‘rivalry’

By The Gazette Editorial Board

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We don't think a traveling trophy for the winner of the Iowa-Iowa State football game is necessary to Iowans' quality of life.

But we are glad to see that the universities and sponsors bowed to public outcry and dumped the proposed new Cy-Hawk Series football trophy. It's also good to see that they plan to listen to fans' ideas before making a design decision - something they could have done in the first place.

Actually, the old trophy wasn't so bad. The doomed successor was, well, as Craig Floss, CEO of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, a project partner, said at Tuesday's news conference: “ ... a nice piece of art, but we missed the mark on what it was for. We were trying to elevate the series beyond just the football game.”

Which was exactly the mistake. No one looking at the trophy could readily see that it shouted football or rivalry - the key ingredients that make the game a big event here.

The trophy partners, which also include the two universities, Iowa Corn Growers and Learfield Sports, say a new trophy won't be ready in time for this year's Sept. 10 showdown.

Whatever the replacement turns out to be, we hope they keep it simple and more relevant. Herky and Cy more prominently displayed might be a good start. Something, anyhow, that will consistently convey its meaning over time.

Whatever the outcome, we wonder if the Cy-Hawk trophy will ever take on the folklore status of, say, the Floyd of Rosedale trophy (winner of Iowa-Minnesota). Such a rivalry is deeply rooted in tradition and events that evolved without prior formal planning. They've persisted over a long period of time. Only a relative handful of those longtime annual confrontations and accompanying trophies exist - like Little Brown Jug (Michigan-Minnesota) or Old Oaken Bucket (Indiana-Purdue). Most of the 90-plus rivalry trophies in NCAA Division I are much less known outside of their locales. For example, Iowa State-Missouri (Telephone Trophy). And newer versions seem more forced, more about marketing than storied tradition.

For now, the old Cy-Hawk trophy's place in history has been elevated by the controversy. As for its deposed replacement, it better represents the farm family heritage of this state. 'Twould be a shame to waste it. And it is nice art.

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