Quick Hit: The New, Steinbeck-Inspired Cy-Hawk Trophy

The newly Iowa Corn-sponsored Cy-Hawk Trophy was revealed today, and to quote a friend and Iowa State alumnus: “I’m not sure I want to win the game if it means we have to display that somewhere.”

Sponsorship meant replacing the old Cy-Hawk Trophy, viewable here. The traditional version was rather generic, but signified football. The new Cy-Hawk Trophy looks more like the award given first place in a John Steinbeck essay competition than winner of a heated football rivalry game.

For as…dare I write it? Yes, I dare…CORNY as the new trophy may be, UI and ISU dodged a bullet. Imagine the monstrosity a WalMart-sponsored trophy would have resulted in.

This isn’t the only head-smacking rivalry angle involving the Hawkeyes on the horizon. Iowa begins a “rivalry” with Nebraska this November in which the two teams play for the Heroes Trophy. I quote rivalry not in some Carles, hipster-meta fashion but because use of the forced nature behind it. Podcast guest Brandon Cavanaugh from HuskerLocker.com suggested a wrestling title belt. Now were THAT at stake, I would forgive the administrators’ premature labeling of this a rivalry.