Tradition will have a new twist on Saturday when the Gophers meet up with Wisconsin at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin head football coach Gary Anderson announced a new policy on Monday regarding Paul Bunyan’s Axe, which the two teams play for every year.
GA: Axe won't be kept on team sideline. Players can celebrate with trophy on field, but won't rush opponent's sideline at end of game
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 24, 2014
Yahoo! Sports notes that traditionally the axe is kept on the sideline of the team who won it the previous season. The winning team is allowed to grab the axe and then pretend to chop down the goalposts in celebration.
But at the conclusion of last year’s game at TCF Bank Stadium a brief skirmish ensued after the Badgers won the axe for a 10th straight time.
Caution: This video contains profanity.
247 Sports highlights Anderson’s statement to reporters after last year’s skirmish.
“Last year was unfortunate to me. Minnesota is going to want to be as respectful as we’re going to want to be, I can promise you that. I don’t think coach Kill and I liked the way it went down a year ago. I don’t think it’s good for college football, our kids. I’m pointing the plan at myself as the head coach. Our kids handled it far from perfect.”
Anderson said in a statement Monday the policy mirrors one that was put in place prior to their game with Nebraska for the Freedom Trophy.
“It is important for us to maintain the traditions of our trophy games while also doing what we feel is in the best interest of our student-athletes.” said Anderson.
#AxeWeek pic.twitter.com/GMnr1EpmHo
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) November 24, 2014
Tensions could be running a little high on Saturday, anyway. There’s a lot more than just The Axe on the line on Saturday. Wisconsin is 9-2 and Minnesota is 8-3. Saturday’s winning team will be the champions of the Big Ten’s western division and will move on to face Ohio State in the conference title game.
Not everyone is a fan of the new policy keeping Paul’s Axe off the sideline.
“I don’t like that,” said Wisconsin’s junior running back Melvin Gordon to FOX Sports Net Wisconsin. “From history, they run over. You see the videos, they run over, they take the axe. That’s kind of what makes the game fun. It hurts when they do take it. I think that’s just what makes the game fun when you’re able to chop down the goal posts.”
