| Paul Bunyan Trophy | |
| Teams | Michigan Wolverines Michigan State Spartans |
| Overall Series | Michigan leads, 67–32–5 |
| Trophy Originated | 1953 |
| Trophy Series | Michigan leads, 34–23–2 |
| Current Holder | Michigan State |
The Paul Bunyan–Governor of Michigan Trophy is the trophy awarded to the winner of an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Michigan State Spartans football team of Michigan State University and the Michigan Wolverines football team of the University of Michigan. The winner retains possession of the trophy until the next year's game. The trophy has been retained by Michigan State since 2008.[1][2]
The naming of the trophy after the mythical giant lumberjack Paul Bunyan reflects Michigan's history as a major lumber-producing state. The trophy was first presented in 1953 (Michigan State's first year as a full Big Ten member) by then-governor G. Mennen Williams, and is a four-foot-high wooden statue on a five-foot-high base.
The University of Michigan and Michigan State University are natural in-state rivals who compete for resources and recruits. Their rivalry extends to all forms of achievement, including athletics. Some of their other athletic rivalries include a hockey rivalry and a basketball rivalry. Even though Michigan State did not join the Big Ten Conference until 1950, the two schools have played each other in football annually since 1910, and they first played each other in 1898.[3]
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The overall series record for the rivalry is 67–32–5 for Michigan. The series record for the Paul Bunyan Trophy is 34–23–2 for Michigan as the trophy was not added to the rivalry game until Michigan State became a full member in the Big Ten in 1953 at which point Michigan already held a 33–9–3 edge. At the start of the trophy game series Michigan State held a nearly two decade long period of dominance. From 1950 to 1969 MSU went 14–4–2 against the Wolverines. After the hiring of Bo Schembechler in 1969 though, Michigan dominated the series for the next four decades going 30–8 from 1970 to 2007. Michigan holds the longest winning streak at eight (1970–77) and Michigan State holds a current winning streak of four (2008–11) in Paul Bunyan Trophy series history.
"Number One vs. No One" was the tag line spouted by the Michigan faithful. The 1990 game was held in Ann Arbor and Michigan came into the game ranked #1 in the country. With only a a few seconds remaining Michigan scored a TD making the score 28-27 MSU. Michigan coach Gary Moeller elected to line up for a two point conversion and go for the win. Desmond Howard lined for a pass and was defended by Spartan Eddie Brown. While going out for the pass Desmond stumbled, appeared to have caught the ball for a moment before dropping it as he fell to the turf. It was a controversial play as some Michigan fans feel Howard was interfered with by Brown on the play. No penalty was called. The game ended with a Spartan 28-27 victory.
In 2001, the game ended on a last-second play where Michigan State quarterback Jeff Smoker threw a touchdown pass to T. J. Duckett to win the game. The game became known as "Clockgate". The Wolverines had contended that the clock had run out of time before the last play of the game took place. Video evidence was later examined by several media stations and the Big Ten Conference commissioner of referees declared that the clock call was correct. It is a common misconception that this incident led to a conference rule change that control of the game clock would be held by a game official instead of a school representative. However it had already been decided that change would be made in 2002 prior to the start of this game.[4]
The 2004 edition of the rivalry game ended with Michigan defeating Michigan State, 45–37, in the first triple overtime game at Michigan Stadium.[5] Michigan was down 27–10 with 8:43 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Wolverines managed to tie the game up, 27–27, by the end of the fourth quarter. Michigan proceeded to dispatch Michigan State in three overtimes. Braylon Edwards led the Wolverines in receiving with 11 receptions for 189 yards and three touchdowns, while Mike Hart carried the ball 33 times for 224 yards.[6]
In 2005, the game once again went into overtime. Again, Michigan emerged victorious, winning 34–31.[7] Michigan twice held leads of 14 points, but Michigan State was able to tie the game 31–31 before heading into overtime. Michigan State had the first possession of overtime, but Michigan State kicker John Goss's field goal attempt was wide right. Afterward, Michigan kicker Garrett Rivas made a 35-yard field goal to win the game. In his second game playing against the Spartans, Mike Hart rushed for over 200 yards, gaining 218 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries.
The 2007 game marked Michigan's sixth straight win over Michigan State. The Wolverines once again narrowly won with a comeback in the fourth quarter, winning 28–24.[8] Michigan quarterback Chad Henne led two touchdown drives in the final 7:35 of the fourth quarter of the game, completing touchdown passes to Greg Mathews and Mario Manningham, to lead the Wolverines back from a 24–14 deficit. Henne finished the game with 18 completions for 211 yards and four touchdowns, while Mario Manningham had eight receptions for 129 yards and two touchdowns.[9] After the game, Michigan running back Mike Hart called Michigan State Michigan's "little brother." "I was just laughing,” Hart said of Michigan State taking the lead. “I thought it was funny. They got excited. Sometimes you get your little brother excited when you’re playing basketball, and you let him get the lead, and then you come back and take it back." Mark Dantonio later responded to Hart's comment stating "Pride comes before the fall."
The game on October 25, 2008, in Ann Arbor, was the first UM–MSU game for new Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez who, like his four immediate predecessors, lost his first meeting with MSU. Early in the game, Michigan scored on a pass to running back Brandon Minor, who was only able to get one foot on a pylon. The pass was initially called incomplete, but the play was reviewed and ruled a touchdown. The commissioner of the Big Ten later said the call was wrong.[10] The two teams traded touchdowns for most of the game until MSU broke free in the fourth quarter. The Spartans won the game handily, 35–21. [11]
The next contest took place on October 3, 2009, in East Lansing. The undefeated, 25th-ranked, Wolverines were expected to defeat the 1–3 Spartans, but Michigan State took the lead in the first quarter and held it for much of the game, extending the lead to 20–6 with a touchdown 13 seconds into the fourth quarter. However, Michigan quarterback Tate Forcier rallied to tie it up 20–20 with a touchdown pass to Roy Roundtree with two seconds remaining. In overtime, Michigan State cornerback Chris L. Rucker intercepted a tipped pass from Tate Forcier. On MSU's possession, running back Larry Caper scored on a 24-yard touchdown run. It marked the first time Michigan State had won in back-to-back years since winning three straight from 1965 to 1967. [12]
The next game took place in Ann Arbor on October 9, 2010. At one point in the second quarter Michigan led the Spartans 10–7, but the Spartans began a rally and led 17–10 at the half. In the third quarter the Spartans went up 31–10 until the early fourth quarter when Michigan was able to score another touchdown. This game marked the third Spartan victory in a row, including two at Ann Arbor; this was the first time since 1965–1967 that the Spartans had won three consecutive contests against their in-state rival. This game was the first since MSU's victory at home against Notre Dame earlier in the season that coach Mark Dantonio was able to coach the entire game due to a heart attack suffered soon after the ND game. Many MSU players and staff cited his return as a major factor in defeating UM so decisively. [13]
On a windy day in East Lansing, Denard Robinson led the Wolverines to a touchdown on the opening drive. Michigan State answered back with a Edwin Baker touchdown. After two quarters, they were tied 7-7. After a couple of Kirk Cousin touchdowns, the Wolverines answered back with a few turnovers and got within seven. But Robinson threw a pick six and it proved too much of an insurmountable lead for the Wolverines to come back. Final score was 28-14, Michigan State. Michigan State won for the fourth straight year.
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Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Paul_Bunyan_Trophy Paul Bunyan Trophy] at Wikimedia Commons
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