This piece, published in the Sunday Des Moines Register, sums up my feelings about the Iowa/ISU athletic departments decision to scrap the historic rivalry trophy in favor of a piece of corporate sponsorship. It will remain online at The Register for a few days.
Fans are left behind in athletics' quest for cash
When the Iowa and Iowa State athletic departments announced they were retiring the Cy-Hawk trophy for a new corporate-sponsored award, they also cast aside a significant piece of history.
The Iowa/Iowa State rivalry would never have been renewed were it not for the will of the fans. For 43 years, the schools refused to play, despite a growing public outcry and multiple resolutions from the Legislature. Between 1968, when the schools agreed to play, and 1977, when the first game took place, both schools tried to cancel the contracts and the series.
It’s fitting that the trophy also came not from the reluctant athletic departments but from the fans. Bob Uetz and a group of friends, branding themselves the “Greater Des Moines Athletic Club,” paid $500 to have a trophy made, and convinced Gov. Bob Ray to hand it out to the winning team.
The trophy helped cement the legitimacy of the series, which at the time wasn’t guaranteed to last more than a few years. For 33 years, the trophy has been the symbol of the rivalry.
As a symbol, some are critical of the trophy’s appearance. But what’s happening now is not a redesign of the trophy. The athletic departments are dumping the Cy-Hawk entirely, severing its long history and connection to the fans.
There was a hint of these intentions in 2004, when the schools announced the “Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series.” The Iowa Corn Growers are getting more than just naming rights — they are getting their own trophy. So when their sponsorship ends, will a new trophy be made?
We haven’t seen the new trophy yet. Maybe it will look great. But it won’t be a piece of history, born of the fans .
The greatest moment for fans comes from that feeling that we are part of the event . The Cy-Hawk was the best of that spirit. Moves like this make it clear the athletic departments view fans not as any kind of partner, but merely as consumers of their product.
— Ben Godar, Des Moines
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