Three in One

Football season is upon us. For those not familiar with the three trophies series traditions, I included them below:

1. “Illibuck”(Ohio State—Since 1925) OSU Leads 52-20-2 “Illibuck” is—or was—a turtle, destined for long life, it was hoped. But the wear and tear of traveling between Champaign-Urbana and Columbus was too much, even for a hardy marine reptile. “Illibuck” died in the spring of 1927 and his successor is now a wooden replica. Members of two junior honorary societies, Bucket and Dipper of Ohio State and Sachem of Illinois, annually meet at halftime of the Fighting Illini-Buckeye game to smoke the peace pipe and present the “Illibuck” trophy to last year’s winning school. Ohio State has won the last four meetings, including a 41-0 win last season in Champaign.
2. “Cannon” (Purdue—Since 1943) Purdue Leads 25-23-2 The “Cannon,” more accurately known as the Purdue Cannon, made its first trip to Champaign-Urbana in 1905 when a group of Purdue students brought it to fire after a Boilermaker victory. Purdue won the game, 29-0, but the Cannon was never fired. Illinois student Quincy Hall found the Cannon hidden near the old Illinois Field. Hall and a group of Delta Upsilon brothers confiscated the Cannon and held it until 1943 when they donated it as a symbol of the Illinois-Purdue rivalry. The Cannon was last fired October 22, 1983, at halftime in Champaign. Tomahawk Service and Leadership honorary at Purdue and Illini Pride of Illinois maintain the trophy when the respective school has won it. Purdue has won the last three meetings, including a 42-9 win last season in West Lafayette.
3. “Tomahawk” (Northwestern—Since 1945) UI Leads 28-22-2 The story of the Illinois-Northwestern trophy dates back to 1945 when the staff members of the two student newspapers conceived the idea of a wooden Indian trophy, “Sweet Sioux.”In September, 1946, “Sweet Sioux” was stolen from a showcase at Northwestern. A Tomahawk Trophy was inaugurated in 1947 to replace the wooden Indian and has been used since. “Sweet Sioux” was found in 1948, but was discarded because of its bulk. Illinois reclaimed the Tomahawk Trophy with a 13-10 win in Evanston last fall.

2006 Football Schedule
09/02/06 - EASTERN ILLINOIS
09/09/06 - at Rutgers
09/16/06 - SYRACUSE
09/23/06 - IOWA
09/30/06 - at Michigan State
10/07/06 - INDIANA (Homecoming/Varsity 'I' Day)
10/14/06 - OHIO
10/21/06 - at Penn State
10/28/06 - at Wisconsin
11/04/06 - OHIO STATE
11/11/06 - PURDUE (Dad's Day/Senior Day)
11/18/06 - at Northwestern