Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry

Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry
Floyd of Rosedale in 2006 at the University of Minnesota Building at the Minnesota State Fair
Teams	Iowa Hawkeyes Minnesota Golden Gophers
First Meeting	1891 (Minnesota, 42–4)
Trophy Originated	1935
Last Meeting	2012 (Iowa, 31–13)
Next Meeting	September 28, 2013
All Time Series	Minnesota, 61–43–2
Trophy Series	Minnesota, 41–35–2
Current Streak	Iowa, 1
Longest Winning Streak	Minnesota, 12 (1891–1916)

The Iowa–Minnesota football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Iowa Hawkeyes football team of the University of Iowa and the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team of the University of Minnesota. The Floyd of Rosedale is a bronze trophy in the shape of a pig which is awarded to the winner of the game.

History

The 1934 football game between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Golden Gophers had been filled with controversy over the treatment of Iowa star halfback Ozzie Simmons. Simmons was also one of the few black football players of that era, and several rough hits by the Gophers on Simmons forced him to leave the game multiple times in Minnesota’s 48–12 victory. “What it amounted to was that they were piling on – late hits,” Simmons recalled. “I had bruised ribs...they came at me with knees high, and some of it was pretty obvious.”

The following year, Coach Bernie Bierman’s Gophers were 5–0, and Coach Ossie Solem’s Hawkeyes were 4–0–1. Before the 1935 Iowa–Minnesota contest in Iowa City, Bierman received a flood of threatening letters from Iowa fans. He requested and received special police protection for the team when it detrained in Iowa a couple days before the contest.

The day before the game, Iowa Governor Clyde L. Herring told reporters, "If the officials stand for any rough tactics like Minnesota used last year, I'm sure the crowd won't." Herring’s message was clear. “What he was saying was, ‘If you treat Ozzie like you treated him last year, we’re coming out of the stands,’” Simmons said.

The news quickly reached Minnesota. Coach Bierman threatened to break off athletic relations. Minnesota Attorney General Harry H. Peterson practically accused the Iowa governor of thuggery. "Your remark that the crowd at the Iowa–Minnesota game will not stand for any rough tactics is calculated to incite a riot," said Peterson. "It is a breach of your duty as governor, and evidences an unsportsmanlike, cowardly and contemptible frame of mind."

To lighten the mood, Minnesota Governor Floyd Olson sent a telegram to Governor Herring on game-day morning, which read, "Dear Clyde, Minnesota folks excited over your statement about the Iowa crowd lynching the Minnesota football team. I have assured them that you are a law-abiding gentleman and are only trying to get our goat. The Minnesota team will tackle clean, but, oh! how hard, Clyde. If you seriously think Iowa has any chance to win, I will bet you a Minnesota prize hog against an Iowa prize hog that Minnesota wins today. The loser must deliver the hog in person to the winner. Accept my bet thru a reporter. You are getting odds because Minnesota raises better hogs than Iowa. My best personal regards and condolences. "

The Iowa governor accepted, and word of the bet reached Iowa City as the crowd gathered at the stadium. Things calmed down and the game was untroubled. Minnesota won 13–6, and Iowa star Ozzie Simmons played an injury-free game. Afterwards, the Minnesota players went out of their way to compliment Simmons, and Simmons praised the Gophers for their clean, hard-fought play. Minnesota went on to win their second straight national championship.

Governor Herring obtained an award-winning prize pig which had been donated by Allen Loomis, the owner of Rosedale Farms near Fort Dodge, Iowa. Dubbed Floyd after Minnesota Governor Olson, the pig was the brother of Blue Boy from Will Rogers' movie State Fair. A few days later, Governor Herring collected "Floyd of Rosedale" and personally walked him into Governor Olson’s carpeted office.

Iowa social crusader Virgil Case swore out a criminal warrant in Des Moines against Governor Herring, alleging that the bet violated Iowa gambling laws. Herring jokingly stated that he had retained Governor Olson as his attorney, who argued that it was not a true bet because Herring did not have a chance of winning it. However, an assistant Iowa attorney general convinced a judge to dismiss on jurisdictional grounds because the bet had been made in Minnesota and Iowa City, beyond the local court's jurisdiction. Case also argued that the governors were guilty of violating federal gambling laws because the pig had been placed into interstate commerce when Herring made good on the bet, but the U.S. Attorneys declined to prosecute. President Franklin Roosevelt's former son-in-law, Curtis Dall, who attended the 1935 game as a guest of the governors, suggested that they name the pig "New Deal." Herring vetoed that proposal.

Aftermath

Governor Olson later offered Floyd up as the grand prize in a state-wide essay-writing contest, which was won by 14-year old Robert Jones. A few years later, Floyd of Rosedale caught cholera and died.

Since the two schools could not continue wagering a live pig, Governor Olson commissioned Saint Paul sculptor Charles Brioscho to capture Floyd's image. The result was a bronze pig trophy 53 cm (21 inches) long and 38 cm (15 inches) high. Iowa and Minnesota have played for the Floyd of Rosedale every year since then. The winner of the annual Iowa–Minnesota football game is entitled to keep the trophy until the following year's contest.

One of the most notable games in the rivalry was in the 1960 college football season when undefeated and number three-ranked Minnesota met undefeated and number-one ranked Iowa in Minneapolis. The game was for the Big Ten Conference championship, the 1961 Rose Bowl berth, and the #1 ranking. Minnesota won 27–10.

In 2008, Rivals.com named Floyd of Rosedale the top rivalry trophy in college football.

Game results

Iowa victories are shaded ██ black. Minnesota victories are shaded ██ maroon. Ties are white.

Pre-Trophy Era

The two schools have played each other 28 times between 1891 and 1934, before a trophy was established in 1935.

Date	Site	Winning team		Losing team		Series
November 2, 1891	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	42	Iowa	4	Minnesota 1–0
October 26, 1901	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	16	Iowa	0	Minnesota 2–0
October 25, 1902	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	34	Iowa	0	Minnesota 3–0
October 17, 1903	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	75	Iowa	0	Minnesota 4–0
November 28, 1904	Cedar Rapids, IA	Minnesota	11	Iowa	0	Minnesota 5–0
October 21, 1905	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	39	Iowa	0	Minnesota 6–0
October 2, 1909	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	41	Iowa	0	Minnesota 7–0
October 28, 1911	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	24	Iowa	6	Minnesota 8–0
October 26, 1912	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	56	Iowa	7	Minnesota 9–0
October 24, 1914	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	7	Iowa	0	Minnesota 10–0
October 23, 1915	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	51	Iowa	13	Minnesota 11–0
October 28, 1916	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	67	Iowa	0	Minnesota 12–0
November 9, 1918	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	6	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 12–1
October 25, 1919	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	9	Minnesota	6	Minnesota 12–2
November 13, 1920	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	28	Minnesota	7	Minnesota 12–3
November 5, 1921	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	41	Minnesota	7	Minnesota 12–4
November 11, 1922	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	28	Minnesota	14	Minnesota 12–5
November 27, 1923	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	20	Iowa	7	Minnesota 13–5
October 25, 1924	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	13	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 13–6
November 14, 1925	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	33	Iowa	0	Minnesota 14–6
November 6, 1926	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	41	Iowa	0	Minnesota 15–6
October 22, 1927	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	38	Iowa	0	Minnesota 16–6
October 22, 1928	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	7	Minnesota	6	Minnesota 16–7
November 9, 1929	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	9	Minnesota	7	Minnesota 16–8
October 24, 1931	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	34	Iowa	0	Minnesota 17–8
October 22, 1932	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	21	Iowa	6	Minnesota 18–8
October 28, 1933	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	19	Iowa	7	Minnesota 19–8
October 28, 1934	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	48	Iowa	12	Minnesota 20–8

Floyd of Rosedale Era

Since 1935, the two schools have met 77 times for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy.

Date	Site	Winning team		Losing team		Series
November 9, 1935	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	13	Iowa	6	Minnesota 21–8
November 7, 1936	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	52	Iowa	0	Minnesota 22–8
November 6, 1937	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	35	Iowa	10	Minnesota 23–8
November 5, 1938	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	28	Iowa	0	Minnesota 24–8
November 18, 1939	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	13	Minnesota	9	Minnesota 24–9
October 26, 1940	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	34	Iowa	6	Minnesota 25–9
November 15, 1941	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	34	Iowa	13	Minnesota 26–9
November 14, 1942	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	27	Iowa	7	Minnesota 27–9
November 13, 1943	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	33	Iowa	14	Minnesota 28–9
November 18, 1944	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	46	Iowa	0	Minnesota 29–9
November 17, 1945	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	20	Minnesota	19	Minnesota 29–10
November 16, 1946	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	16	Iowa	6	Minnesota 30–10
November 15, 1947	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	13	Minnesota	7	Minnesota 30–11
November 13, 1948	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	28	Iowa	21	Minnesota 31–11
November 5, 1949	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	55	Iowa	7	Minnesota 32–11
November 4, 1950	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	13	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 32–12
November 3, 1951	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	20	Minnesota	20	Minnesota 32–12–1
November 1, 1952	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	17	Iowa	7	Minnesota 33–12–1
November 14, 1953	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	27	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 33–13–1
November 13, 1954	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	22	Iowa	20	Minnesota 34–13–1
November 5, 1955	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	26	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 34–14–1
November 10, 1956	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	7	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 34–15–1
November 9, 1957	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	44	Minnesota	20	Minnesota 34–16–1
November 8, 1958	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	28	Minnesota	6	Minnesota 34–17–1
November 7, 1959	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	33	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 34–18–1
November 5, 1960	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	27	Iowa	10	Minnesota 35–18–1
November 11, 1961	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	16	Iowa	9	Minnesota 36–18–1
November 10, 1962	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	10	Iowa	0	Minnesota 37–18–1
November 9, 1963	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	27	Minnesota	13	Minnesota 37–19–1
November 7, 1964	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	14	Iowa	13	Minnesota 38–19–1
October 16, 1965	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	14	Iowa	3	Minnesota 39–19–1
October 15, 1966	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	17	Iowa	0	Minnesota 40–19–1
November 4, 1967	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	10	Iowa	0	Minnesota 41–19–1
November 2, 1968	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	35	Minnesota	28	Minnesota 41–20–1
November 1, 1969	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	35	Iowa	8	Minnesota 42–20–1
October 31, 1970	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	14	Iowa	14	Minnesota 42–20–2
October 16, 1971	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	19	Iowa	14	Minnesota 43–20–2
October 21, 1972	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	43	Iowa	14	Minnesota 44–20–2
October 20, 1973	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	31	Iowa	23	Minnesota 45–20–2
October 19, 1974	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	23	Iowa	17	Minnesota 46–20–2
October 25, 1975	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	31	Iowa	7	Minnesota 47–20–2
October 23, 1976	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	22	Minnesota	12	Minnesota 47–21–2
October 8, 1977	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	18	Minnesota	6	Minnesota 47–22–2
October 14, 1978	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	22	Iowa	20	Minnesota 48–22–2
October 20, 1979	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	24	Iowa	7	Minnesota 49–22–2
October 25, 1980	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	24	Iowa	6	Minnesota 50–22–2
October 24, 1981	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	12	Iowa	10	Minnesota 51–22–2
October 23, 1982	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	21	Minnesota	16	Minnesota 51–23–2
November 19, 1983	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	61	Minnesota	10	Minnesota 51–24–2
November 17, 1984	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	23	Iowa	17	Minnesota 52–24–2
November 23, 1985	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	31	Minnesota	9	Minnesota 52–25–2
November 22, 1986	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	30	Minnesota	27	Minnesota 52–26–2
November 21, 1987	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	34	Minnesota	20	Minnesota 52–27–2
November 19, 1988	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	31	Minnesota	22	Minnesota 52–28–2
November 25, 1989	Iowa City, IA	Minnesota	43	Iowa	7	Minnesota 53–28–2
November 24, 1990	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	31	Iowa	24	Minnesota 54–28–2
November 23, 1991	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	23	Minnesota	8	Minnesota 54–29–2
November 21, 1992	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	28	Iowa	13	Minnesota 55–29–2
November 20, 1993	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	21	Minnesota	3	Minnesota 55–30–2
November 19, 1994	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	49	Minnesota	42	Minnesota 55–31–2
November 25, 1995	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	45	Minnesota	3	Minnesota 55–32–2
November 23, 1996	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	43	Minnesota	24	Minnesota 55–33–2
November 22, 1997	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	31	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 55–34–2
November 21, 1998	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	49	Iowa	7	Minnesota 56–34–2
November 20, 1999	Iowa City, IA	#17 Minnesota	25	Iowa	21	Minnesota 57–34–2
November 18, 2000	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	27	Iowa	24	Minnesota 58–34–2
November 17, 2001	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	42	Minnesota	24	Minnesota 58–35–2
November 16, 2002	Minneapolis, MN	#5 Iowa	45	Minnesota	21	Minnesota 58–36–2
November 15, 2003	Iowa City, IA	#20 Iowa	40	#17 Minnesota	22	Minnesota 58–37–2
November 14, 2004	Minneapolis, MN	#19 Iowa	29	Minnesota	27	Minnesota 58–38–2
November 19, 2005	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	52	Minnesota	28	Minnesota 58–39–2
November 18, 2006	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	34	Iowa	24	Minnesota 59–39–2
November 10, 2007	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	21	Minnesota	16	Minnesota 59–40–2
November 22, 2008	Minneapolis, MN	Iowa	55	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 59–41–2
November 21, 2009	Iowa City, IA	#13 Iowa	12	Minnesota	0	Minnesota 59–42–2
November 27, 2010	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	27	#24 Iowa	24	Minnesota 60–42–2
October 29, 2011	Minneapolis, MN	Minnesota	22	Iowa	21	Minnesota 61–42–2
September 29, 2012	Iowa City, IA	Iowa	31	Minnesota	13	Minnesota 61–43–2

See also

• Other Iowa traveling trophies:
  • Cy-Hawk Trophy (with Iowa State)
  • Heroes Trophy (with Nebraska)
  • Heartland Trophy (with Wisconsin)

• Other Minnesota traveling trophies:
  • Little Brown Jug (with Michigan)
  • Governor's Victory Bell (with Penn State)
  • Slab of Bacon/Paul Bunyan's Axe (with Wisconsin)

External links

• Borzi, Pat. "Trophy Tells a Tale of Rivalry and Race," The New York Times, Friday, November 26, 2010.