Gophers' Claeys speaks passionately about winning back Bunyan's Axe
Tracy Claeys hasn't been Minnesota's head coach for long, but the man knows his history.
Minnesota and Wisconsin have been playing for a prized college-football trophy since 1948 -- Paul Bunyan's Axe. And the Gophers haven't possessed it in a while, having lost their last 11 meetings with the Badgers.
Minnesota hasn't beaten Wisconsin since 2003, but it'll get another crack in Saturday's regular-season finale, at 2:30 p.m. in TCF Bank Stadium.
"The day we show up on the game for the Axe and we play better for four quarters than Wisconsin does, we'll bring the Axe back home," Claeys noted.
"It's a very simple formula, (but) it's hard to execute," the Gophers coach added.
It seems hard to believe, given recent history, but Minnesota still leads the all-time series with Wisconsin, 59-57-8. And if ever Wisconsin were ripe for the picking, it might be this year. The Badgers enter Saturday's border showdown a bit deflated, at 8-3 overall and 5-2 in Big Ten play after an ugly, 13-7 home loss to Northwestern.
The Gophers (5-6, 2-5 Big Ten) certainly won't be lacking for motivation, either, especially considering they almost assuredly need one more win to qualify for bowl consideration.
Claeys wasn't eager to talk about bowl berths on Tuesday, however. The new Minnesota head coach said his thoughts are on winning Bunyan's Axe, above all else.
"There is no comparison. It's the rivalry game and getting the Axe," Claeys told reporters. "No disrespect to the bowl, but that's a side-product of this. . . . Because this Axe has been in play for a long time, and we haven't had it in a while.
"So, without a doubt, that is the No. 1 priority," Claeys added. "Our goal is to bring the Axe back to Minnesota. . ."
Though the Gophers themselves are still fairly banged up, the Badgers seem a bit more vulnerable than in most years. Wisconsin's once-vaunted running attack is running on fumes. Coach Paul Chryst's squad is averaging just 138.2 yards per game on the ground, which ranks 11th in the Big Ten.
"We still have to be able to stop the run," Minnesota's Claeys noted, "and get them in throwing situations or we're going to be in trouble."
Wisconsin still boasts an imposing defense, which ranks second-best in the conference, yielding just 266.3 total yards per game.
Yes, Saturday's "border battle" promises to be as hard-hitting as ever, befitting a long-time Big Ten rivalry. It'll be emotional, too, with recently retired Gophers coach Jerry Kill on hand to celebrate both Senior Day and the Epilepsy Awareness Game. Kill, who has epilepsy, retired on Oct. 28 due to health concerns.
"Both sides, I expect, will play very well," Claeys said. "Hopefully we can hang in there. . . . I think our kids will answer the bell and be ready to go."
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