MINNEAPOLIS — The last time the Minnesota football team beat rival Wisconsin, the Gophers played their home games indoors, George W. Bush was in his first term as president of the United States and a gallon of gas cost well under $2.
You have to go back even further to find the last time the Gophers went into Camp Randall Stadium in Madison and defeated the Badgers. When that last happened, Bill Clinton was in the Oval Office, "Forrest Gump" was the top-grossing movie at the box office, Jerry Kill was in his first year as a college head coach — and several current Gophers were not even 1 year old.
Not since Nov. 8, 2003, has Minnesota beaten Wisconsin to claim Paul Bunyan's Axe. And it was Oct. 22, 1994, when the Gophers last topped the Badgers in Madison.
"In a rivalry game, if you don't ever win, it's not really a rivalry," said Gophers senior linebacker Mike Rallis.
Yes, the Minnesota-Wisconsin rivalry — the longest-running rivalry in college football — has been a bit one-sided in recent years.
The Badgers have beaten Minnesota eight straight seasons and have won 15 of the last 17 meetings between the two schools. Wisconsin's recent run of success against Minnesota has closed the gap in the all-time series, which dates back to 1890. The Gophers now hold a slight edge in the rivalry, 58-55-8, but it's been a while since Minnesota has added to the win column.
One year ago, the Gophers were routed at home, 42-13, by the Badgers. Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson had just one incompletion in that game, a drop by wide receiver Nick Toon.
That Gophers squad finished the 2011 season just 3-9 in Kill's first year as coach, while Wisconsin won the Big Ten championship and advanced to its second straight Rose Bowl. But this year's teams are different. Wisconsin has already suffered two losses through seven games and doesn't boast the same high-powered offense it did a year ago. Minnesota, meanwhile, is 4-2 and has improved in many areas since last year.
"There's no doubt in my mind, Coach Kill is a guy that's a phenomenal football coach," Badgers coach Bret Bielema said. "You knew they were going to better from where they were a year ago."
Minnesota has four rivalry trophy games with Big Ten foes, including the annual battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe against Wisconsin. Prior to this year, the only trophy in the Gophers' possession was Floyd of Rosedale, a bronze pig statue awarded to the annual winner of Minnesota's game against Iowa. The Hawkeyes reclaimed Floyd by beating the Gophers in the first game of the Big Ten season after Minnesota beat Iowa the past two seasons.
The Gophers last beat Penn State for the Victory Bell in 2004 and last won the Little Brown Jug as part of the rivalry with Michigan in 2005. That makes Paul Bunyan's Axe the most elusive of Minnesota's four trophies.
"I think it loses its spark when you don't have both teams winning. That's on us," said Gophers wide receiver A.J. Barker, whose father, John, grew up in Madison as a Badgers fan. "We've got to be competitive out here. We've got to put up a fight because they've been dominating us as of late. That's just the reality."
Wisconsin is favored again in this Saturday's matchup as the 5-2 Badgers enter the latest installment of the Border Battle on a two-game winning streak. The Gophers, meanwhile, have dropped their first two Big Ten games after beginning the year a perfect 4-0.
The old cliché in a rivalry game is that records get thrown out the window. But regardless of either team's record in recent years, Wisconsin has had the upper hand.
Minnesota is hoping 2012 will be different and that its losing streak against one of its biggest rivals will finally come to an end.
"I was telling the guys, my D-line brothers earlier that this one's real important to me," said Gophers redshirt senior defensive lineman D.L. Wilhite. "The Axe is one I really haven't had a chance to win. I've been here five years. Even when I was redshirting, I didn't get a chance to get it. I really want the opportunity to swing that thing before I get out of here. It's real important to me."
FOX Sports Wisconsin's Jesse Temple contributed to this story.
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