Badger of Honor
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Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe: Wisconsin Badgers’ best moments

By Trevor Jossart

Nov 28, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players hold up the Paul Bunyan Axe after defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Badgers won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Wisconsin Badgers players hold up the Paul Bunyan Axe after defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. The Badgers won 31-21. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Before the current rivalry trophy of Paul Bunyan’s Axe, Minnesota and Wisconsin played for a slab of bacon. Yes, you read that right: bacon. Created in 1930, the trophy only lasted until 1943. It displayed a graphic in the middle of the piece that hung as a Wisconsin “W” or a Minnesota “M” depending on which way it was propped up.

As you can see, the word “bacon ” is carved in to each side of the trophy as well, which stands for the winning team “bringing home the bacon.” Now displayed in Camp Randall offices, the Badgers were the last team to win the slab after it was discontinued in 1943, despite the Gophers winning it 11 out of 14 times during its existence.

Paul Bunyan’s Axe was then implemented into the rivalry in 1948.