The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a limited-edition Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Rivalry Bobblehead ahead of Saturday’s game between the two rivals in Minneapolis. The bobblehead features Iowa’s mascot Herky the Hawk and Minnesota’s mascot Goldy Gopher with a replica Floyd of Rosedale Trophy. The bobblehead commemorates the rivalry, which dates back to 1891.
The special edition bobblehead, which will be released in conjunction with the 118th meeting between the Hawkeyes and Golden Gophers on Saturday, September 21st, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is available exclusively from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the University of Iowa and the University of Minnesota.
“We’re excited to unveil this limited-edition Iowa vs. Minnesota Rivalry Bobblehead ahead of tomorrow’s game in Minneapolis,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “This bobblehead will be the perfect way for Iowa and Minnesota fans, alumni, students, faculty, and staff to show off their school and state pride!”
Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,024, and they are now available at this link in the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, expected to ship in January, are $50 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.
The unique Floyd of Rosedale trophy, introduced in 1935 and awarded to the winner of the game, is a giant bronze pig commemorating its namesake. After the 1934 matchup was filled with controversy over the treatment of Iowa star running back Ozzie Simmons, the lead-up to the 1935 game was filled with back-and-forth barbs. To lighten the mood, Minnesota Governor Floyd Olson sent a telegram to Iowa Governor Clyde L. Herring on game-day morning, which read, “Minnesota folks are excited over your statement about Iowa crowds lynching the Minnesota football team. I have assured them you are law-abiding gentlemen who are only trying to get our goat. … I will bet you a Minnesota prize hog against an Iowa prize hog that Minnesota wins.” The Iowa governor accepted, and Minnesota won the incident-free game, 13-6. Governor Herring obtained an award-winning prize pig, which had been donated by Allen Loomis, the owner of Rosedale Farms. Dubbed Floyd after Minnesota Governor Olson, a few days later, Governor Herring collected “Floyd of Rosedale” and personally walked him into Governor Olson’s carpeted office. Floyd died of cholera just eight months after making headlines. Since the two schools could not continue wagering a live pig, Governor Olson commissioned Saint Paul sculptor Charles Brioschi to capture Floyd’s image. The result is a 98-pound bronze pig trophy, which is 21 inches long and 15 inches high.
Tied for the fourth-longest rivalry in the Big Ten Conference, Iowa, and Minnesota have been squaring off on the football field since 1881. Minnesota leads the all-time series, 63-52-2, but the Hawkeyes have won eight of the last ten meetings and 15 of the last 20. The Golden Gophers snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Hawkeyes with a 12-10 upset victory last year in Iowa City. One of the most notable games in the rivalry was in 1960 when No. 1 Iowa and No. 3 Minnesota – both undefeated – played for the Big Ten championship, the 1961 Rose Bowl berth, and the No. 1 ranking. Minnesota won the game, 27-10.
