Iowa Football: Designing the Ideal Cy-Hawk Trophy

As The Gazette announced on August 23rd, the trophy to replace the Cy-Hawk Trophy is itself being replaced. 

On Friday, August 19th, the new statue was unveiled at the Iowa State Fair.  Immediately thereafter, fans took to the Internet to show their disapproval of the hardware.

Where did the Iowa Corn Growers (or more likely, the trophy designer) go wrong?  They forgot a few simple truths.

As we unveil those truths, let’s design the ideal replacement trophy for the annual Cy-Hawk rivalry. 

It Should be about Football

I fully realize that such trophies as Floyd of Rosedale or the Old Oaken Bucket don’t necessarily depict anything having to do with football.  They’re icons, though.  They’ve been around a long time and are beloved traditions within the Big Ten Conference.

Creating new “traditions” when it comes to trophies is much more difficult than it used to be. 

The soon-to-be re-replaced trophy depicted a farm family gathered atop a large square base.  While quaint, it looked more like a “Farm Family of the Year” award than a college football trophy.

While I understand that the sponsorship of this rivalry is a business move for the Iowa Corn Growers Association—as it was for local grocer Hy-Vee before them—this game deserves a trophy that accurately represents the event that hosts it.

This is Iowa versus Iowa State football.  It’s as big as it gets in the state of Iowa.  The trophy should accurately represent the fierce nature of the rivalry. 

Keep it Simple

There’s an old acronym we used to use in the Army: K.I.S.S.  It stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. 

While that may sound a little crude, the premise remains.  Don’t over think the whole thing.  It doesn’t have to be complicated or overly elaborate. 

Again, I’ll mention another popular trophy.  How about the Coaches' Trophy, presented to the BCS Champions?  It’s just a crystal football.

Elegant?  Absolutely.  Elaborate?  No, and that shows precisely how a great trophy doesn’t need to be cram-packed with “stuff."

The new Cy-Hawk Trophy should be equally as simple and succinct.  Don’t try to encompass too much into it. 

With these two premises in mind, perhaps the central focal point should simply be a football. 

Embrace the Corn, Don't overdo It

As much as I have railed in the past about how Iowa is so much more than just an Ag state, we can’t ignore who is sponsoring this event now: The Iowa Corn Growers Association.

We also can’t ignore the simple truth that Iowa is the leading corn producing state in the nation.  Even those among us who have little interest in the farming lifestyle are impacted by the fact that they live in such an agriculturally rich environment.

As both teams share the same geography, the farm environment is equally important to both participants.

No, Hy-Vee didn’t need to put one of their employees on top of the trophy representing “a helpful smile in every aisle" just because they were the sponsor.  I'm glad they didn't.

Still, farming—specifically corn and soybean farming—is a huge part of the state’s identity.  It should be a part of the trophy.

So, keeping it simple, why not combine the football and the corn?  How about an ear of “corn” that has the husks pulled back to reveal a football? 

The Hawkeyes and Cyclones Should Be Well Represented

Obviously, around the base, each team that has won the game in the past will be represented with a placard or engraving.  That’s all well and good, but there should be just a touch more to it.

Away from the playing field, Iowa and Iowa State share a mutual respect.  Both schools provide a quality education and work to make the state and its citizens better.

During hardships (recent floods), both universities have offered help to each other.

On the field, however, they are hated rivals.  There are many great rivalries around the nation and throughout each conference and this one stands tall amidst them all.

Both teams deserve a prominent place on the trophy.  After all, without this rivalry, there would be no need for a trophy.

How about having a replica of Herky and Cy squaring off over the corn/football?  

It Should Be Iconic

Bronze (or brass) should used to be the medium of choice for adorning trophies.  It has a rustic feel that well represents the historic nature of the game. 

More recently, other mediums have been used, as mentioned with the Coaches' Trophy. 

The Coaches' Trophy is a relatively new trophy, representing a new game, and that’s perfectly fine.  There’s nothing historic about it, at least in terms of time.  Having a modern feel perfectly represents the newness of the game.

For a contest that has gone on as long as the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry, though, the trophy needs to represent that fact.

Go back to using bronze. 

The Final Product

I envision a trophy that looks something like this:

A large bronze statue of Herky and Cy in three-point stances, preparing to dual over a football that’s poking out of an ear of corn.

The base would be a large block with the winners and resulting scores etched around it.  Of course, there would be plenty of room for future results to be added.

It’s simple.  It’s clean. 

Most importantly, it keeps the focus on what the event is all about, while paying homage to the sponsors and the agricultural heritage of the great state of Iowa.

I would love to hear your thoughts.  What would you consider the “ideal” Cy-Hawk Trophy?