Nickel Trophy

Nickel Trophy
NDSU (30) UND (35)
1938 1942 1945 1946
1948 1952 1965 1966
1967 1968 1969 1970
1972 1973 1976 1977
1981 1982 1983 1984
1985 1986 1987 1988
1989 1990 1991 1992
1997 1998 2000		 1939 1940 1941 1945
1947 1949 1950 1951
1953 1954 1955 1956
1957 1958 1959 1960
1961 1962 1963 1964
1971 1974 1975 1978
1979 1980 1993 1994
1995 1996 1999 2001
2002 2003
Not Played (8)
1943 1944 2004–present
UND
NDSU
Locations in North Dakota

The Nickel Trophy was presented to the winner of the formerly annual football game between the rival University of North Dakota (UND) Fighting Sioux (who changed their nickname and logo in 2012) and the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison. The two universities are approximately 76 miles apart on the eastern border of North Dakota. The two schools last played each other in 2003 and are next scheduled to play each other in 2015.

The Trophy

Robert Kunkel, a UND alumnus and Chicago advertising executive, was the originator of the trophy, and Blue Key, an honorary service fraternity at NDSU, and the UND Blue Key (Student Government after their Blue Key Chapter dissolved) administered the annual awarding. It is an oversized 75-pound replica[1] of the James Earle Fraser-designed U.S. buffalo nickel with a buffalo on one side representing NDSU Bison and a Native American head on the other side representing UND, who were known as the Fighting Sioux until 2012. Fraser is best known for his sculpture, "The End of The Trail" was born in Winona, MN and lived for a time in Dakota Territory. The coin-shaped trophy's "mint" date is 1937, the year the trophy was created. Jack Sather a native of New England, ND was commissioned to design and act a sculpture of the award. It took six weeks to complete the job and he was paid $65 for his work. Those funds were raised by both NDSU and UND Blue Key chapters from members and friends. The Nickel is 250 times larger than a regular five-cent piece, weighs 75 pounds, is 2 inches thick and 22 inches in diameter. Both sides were 3/4" relief and from the original models, plaster casts were poured. The casts were hauled to a St. Paul, MN foundry where plaster copies were recast in an aluminum alloy. The halves were welded together to make the finished piece. It was first awarded in 1938 when NDSU won by a 17-13 score. It has been the object of many theft and "kidnapping" attempts by students from both universities. Governor William Langer was asked to participate in the unveiling of the new award in Grand Forks. Moments after the unveiling an unidentified student stepped up to Governor Langer and told him "I'll take care of this for you," and disappeared with the nickel trophy. It turned up 36 hours later on the front lawn of then UND President John C. West (The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, October 21, 1967) and a new tradition of "kidnapping" or "borrowing" the trophy had begun.

The Rivalry

Nickel Trophy

The Nickel Trophy - NDSU side
Awarded for Winning the regular season NDSU/UND football game
Sponsor NDSU Blue Key & UND Student Government
Date 1938-2003
Location Fargo, ND or Grand Forks, ND
Country United States
Currently held by UND

Prior to 2004, the game was one of the longest-running college football contests, with 110 meetings spanning several decades with the first official game in 1894. The Sioux lead the all-time series 62-45, with 3 ties. In games where the Nickel Trophy has been contested (since 1938), the Sioux lead the series 35-30 and won the last three games in the series. The last NDSU win was in 2000, 16-13. The two playoff games between the teams (1994 and 1995) are not considered part of the Nickel series, and it has been agreed on by both schools that only the regular season scheduled game would determine the Nickel's rightful owner according to former Blue Key member and chapter adviser Tim Flakoll.

Both teams have had long winning streaks in the series. The most recent streaks of significant length were in 1981-1992, where the Bison won 12 straight games in the series, including two shutout wins (1985 and 1989)- and in 1993-1996, where the Sioux snapped the losing streak by winning four straight regular season games. (As mentioned, the two teams did play playoff games in 1994 and 1995 respectively- the Sioux winning in 1994 and the Bison in 1995). Of more historical note, the Sioux won 12 straight also from 1953-1964 before the Bison stopped the streak with a 6-3 win in 1965.[2]

Future

Since 1921, NDSU and UND competed as charter members in the NCAA Division II North Central Conference. In 2002, NDSU announced their intention to move their football program to the Division I-AA level (and athletic program as a whole to Division I). An agreement for the schools to continue competing on the field could not be reached between the two universities and was the subject of much controversy following NDSU's reclassification. Thus, the Sioux have held the trophy since October 18, 2003, when they defeated NDSU in the last Nickel Trophy game by a 28-21 score in Grand Forks.

In mid-2006, UND announced their intention to move their athletic programs to Division I as well, and the 2008 season was their first in Division I. Today, NDSU affiliates with the Missouri Valley Football Conference and UND affiliates with the Big Sky Conference.

Scheduling logistics with their respective conferences, and the yearly frequency of the potential resumption of the series are the stated reasons for not resuming. Several high-profile alumni and sports figures have called for a resumption of the series, and there is a grassroots movement for the legislature to require an annual game by law.[3][4][5][6]

On May 16, 2012, UND athletic director Brian Faison announced that UND and NDSU are planning a contract for two more games between each other, first in 2015 in Fargo (NDSU) and then 2017 in Grand Forks (UND).[7] On August 22, 2014, UND athletics announced the signing of a contract for two games against NDSU to be played in Fargo on September 19, 2015 and September 7, 2019.[8]

Game results

North Dakota victories
North Dakota State victories
Tie games
# Date Location Winner Score Series
UND NDSU Overall Trophy
1 November 3, 1894 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State 4 20 NDSU 1–0
2 November 12, 1894 Fargo, ND North Dakota State424 NDSU 2–0
3 November 4, 1895 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota420 NDSU 2–1
4 November 9, 1895 Fargo, ND North Dakota State412 NDSU 3–1
5 October 28, 1896 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota5812 NDSU 3–2
6 October 30, 1897 Fargo, ND North Dakota390 Tied 3–3
7 November 15, 1897 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota200 UND 4–3
8 November 8, 1898 Fargo, ND North Dakota396 UND 5–3
9 November 11, 1899 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota460 UND 6–3
10 November 19, 1900 Fargo, ND North Dakota State016 UND 6–4
11 November 2, 1901 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1117 UND 6–5
12 November 8, 1902 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State047 Tied 6–6
13 November 5, 1904 Fargo, ND North Dakota220 UND 7–6
14 November 7, 1904 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota170 UND 8–6
15 October 21, 1905 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota235 UND 9–6
16 November 18, 1905 Fargo, ND Tied1111 UND 9–6–1
17 October 27, 1906 Fargo, ND North Dakota State432 UND 9–7–1
18 November 5, 1910 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota180 UND 10–7–1
19 November 2, 1912 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota30 UND 11–7–1
20 November 1, 1913 Fargo, ND North Dakota2014 UND 12–7–1
21 November 7, 1914 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State67 UND 12–8–1
22 November 6, 1915 Fargo, ND North Dakota200 UND 13–8–1
23 November 4, 1916 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota100 UND 14–8–1
24 November 3, 1917 Fargo, ND North Dakota State620 UND 14–9–1
25 November 1, 1919 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State67 UND 14–10–1
26 October 30, 1920 Fargo, ND North Dakota147 UND 15–10–1
27 October 29, 1921 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota383 UND 16–10–1
28 November 4, 1922 Fargo, ND North Dakota70 UND 17–10–1
29 October 27, 1923 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota103 UND 18–10–1
30 November 1, 1924 Fargo, ND North Dakota State720 UND 18–11–1
31 October 31, 1925 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1019 UND 18–12–1
32 November 6, 1926 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota76 UND 19–12–1
33 October 29, 1927 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota130 UND 20–12–1
34 October 27, 1928 Fargo, ND North Dakota180 UND 21–12–1
35 October 25, 1929 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota140 UND 22–12–1
36 October 25, 1930 Fargo, ND North Dakota147 UND 23–12–1
37 October 31, 1931 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota2012 UND 24–12–1
38 October 22, 1932 Fargo, ND North Dakota State67 UND 24–13–1
39 October 28, 1933 Grand Forks, ND Tied77 UND 24–13–2
40 October 27, 1934 Fargo, ND North Dakota State07 UND 24–14–2
41 October 26, 1935 Grand Forks, ND Tied2020 UND 24–14–3
42 October 31, 1936 Fargo, ND North Dakota140 UND 25–14–3
43 October 30, 1937 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota270 UND 26–14–3
44 October 29, 1938 Fargo, ND North Dakota State1317 UND 26–15–3 NDSU 1–0
45 October 28, 1939 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota180 UND 27–15–3 Tied 1–1
46 October 26, 1940 Fargo, ND North Dakota240 UND 28–15–3 UND 2–1
47 October 25, 1941 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota206 UND 29–15–3 UND 3–1
48 October 24, 1942 Fargo, ND North Dakota State1426 UND 29–16–3 UND 3–2
49 October 20, 1945 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota2012 UND 30–16–3 UND 4–2
50 October 27, 1945 Fargo, ND North Dakota State726 UND 30–17–3 UND 4–3
51 October 19, 1946 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State031 UND 30–18–3 Tied 4–4
52 October 18, 1947 Fargo, ND North Dakota2520 UND 31–18–3 UND 5–4
53 October 30, 1948 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State719 UND 31–19–3 Tied 5–5
54 October 29, 1949 Fargo, ND North Dakota136 UND 32–19–3 UND 6–5
55 October 28, 1950 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota330 UND 33–19–3 UND 7–5
56 October 27, 1951 Fargo, ND North Dakota3314 UND 34–19–3 UND 8–5
57 October 25, 1952 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1314 UND 34–20–3 UND 8–6
58 October 31, 1953 Fargo, ND North Dakota266 UND 35–20–3 UND 9–6
59 October 30, 1954 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota407 UND 36–20–3 UND 10–6
60 October 29, 1955 Fargo, ND North Dakota210 UND 37–20–3 UND 11–6
61 October 20, 1956 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota147 UND 38–20–3 UND 12–6
62 October 19, 1957 Fargo, ND North Dakota90 UND 39–20–3 UND 13–6
63 October 18, 1958 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota360 UND 40–20–3 UND 14–6
64 October 17, 1959 Fargo, ND North Dakota2015 UND 41–20–3 UND 15–6
65 October 15, 1960 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota167 UND 42–20–3 UND 16–6
66 October 21, 1961 Fargo, ND North Dakota266 UND 43–20–3 UND 17–6
67 October 20, 1962 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota307 UND 44–20–3 UND 18–6
68 October 19, 1963 Fargo, ND North Dakota217 UND 45–20–3 UND 19–6
69 October 17, 1964 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota2013 UND 46–20–3 UND 20–6
70 October 16, 1965 Fargo, ND North Dakota State36 UND 46–21–3 UND 20–7
71 October 22, 1966 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1518 UND 46–22–3 UND 20–8
72 October 21, 1967 Fargo, ND North Dakota State1034 UND 46–23–3 UND 20–9
73 October 19, 1968 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State814 UND 46–24–3 UND 20–10
74 October 18, 1969 Fargo, ND North Dakota State1464 UND 46–25–3 UND 20–11
75 October 17, 1970 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State320 UND 46–26–3 UND 20–12
76 October 16, 1971 Fargo, ND North Dakota237 UND 47–26–3 UND 21–12
77 October 21, 1972 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1722 UND 47–27–3 UND 21–13
78 October 20, 1973 Fargo, ND North Dakota State1421 UND 47–28–3 UND 21–14
79 October 19, 1974 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota3120 UND 48–28–3 UND 22–14
80 October 18, 1975 Fargo, ND North Dakota3417 UND 49–28–3 UND 23–14
81 October 23, 1976 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1522 UND 49–29–3 UND 23–15
82 October 22, 1977 Fargo, ND North Dakota State2045 UND 49–30–3 UND 23–16
83 October 21, 1978 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota2421 UND 50–30–3 UND 24–16
84 October 13, 1979 Fargo, ND North Dakota147 UND 51–30–3 UND 25–16
85 October 4, 1980 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota3820 UND 52–30–3 UND 26–16
86 September 26, 1981 Fargo, ND North Dakota State731 UND 52–31–3 UND 26–17
87 September 18, 1982 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State310 UND 52–32–3 UND 26–18
88 October 29, 1983 Fargo, ND North Dakota State623 UND 52–33–3 UND 26–19
89 October 27, 1984 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State314 UND 52–34–3 UND 26–20
90 November 16, 1985 Fargo, ND North Dakota State049 UND 52–35–3 UND 26–21
91 November 15, 1986 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1362 UND 52–36–3 UND 26–22
92 November 14, 1987 Fargo, ND North Dakota State1042 UND 52–37–3 UND 26–23
93 November 12, 1988 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State2734 UND 52–38–3 UND 26–24
94 November 11, 1989 Fargo, ND North Dakota State021 UND 52–39–3 UND 26–25
95 November 10, 1990 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1442 UND 52–40–3 Tied 26–26
96 November 16, 1991 Fargo, ND North Dakota State2835 UND 52–41–3 NDSU 27–26
97 November 14, 1992 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1920 UND 52–42–3 NDSU 28–26
98 October 30, 1993 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota2221 UND 53–42–3 NDSU 28–27
99 October 29, 1994 Fargo, ND North Dakota3413 UND 54–42–3 Tied 28–28
100 November 26, 1994 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota 14 7 UND 55–42–3
101 November 4, 1995 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota217 UND 56–42–3 UND 29–28
102 November 18, 1995 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State 10 41 UND 56–43–3
103 November 9, 1996 Fargo, ND North Dakota3319 UND 57–43–3 UND 30–28
104 October 18, 1997 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota State1031 UND 57–44–3 UND 30–29
105 October 17, 1998 Fargo, ND North Dakota3925 UND 58–44–3 UND 31–29
106 October 2, 1999 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota1310 UND 59–44–3 UND 32–29
107 September 30, 2000 Fargo, ND North Dakota State1316 UND 59–45–3 UND 32–30
108 October 6, 2001 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota197 UND 60–45–3 UND 33–30
109 October 12, 2002 Fargo, ND North Dakota126 UND 61–45–3 UND 34–30
110 October 18, 2003 Grand Forks, ND North Dakota2821 UND 62–45–3 UND 35–30
111 September 19, 2015 Fargo, ND
112 September 7, 2019 Fargo, ND
Totals 18791599 UND 62–45–3 UND 35–30

[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rappoport & Wilner; Ken Rappoport; Barry Wilner (2007). Football Feuds: The Greatest College Football Rivalries. Globe Pequot. p. 193. ISBN 1-59921-014-2.
  2. ↑ http://siouxsports.com/football/nickel.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.wdaz.com/event/article/id/19821/
  4. ↑ http://bismarcktribune.com/sports/college/st-peter-und-ndsu-must-meet-in-football/article_7c7765da-15e5-11e3-bd72-001a4bcf887a.html
  5. ↑ http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/64603/
  6. ↑ http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/19/3636657/holtz-lobbies-for-und-ndsu-football.html
  7. ↑ Kolpack, Jeff, and Miller, Tom (May 17, 2012). "UND AD says Sioux-Bison football dates set, but Taylor says details remain". Grand Forks Herald. Archived from the original on May 19, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  8. ↑ "UND-NDSU to resume football rivalry". University of North Dakota Athletics. August 22, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  9. ↑ "North Dakota vs North Dakota St.". cfbdatawarehouse.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.