Nebraska volleyball will temporarily step in for the football team’s trophy matchup against Minnesota, aiming to reclaim a popular internet trophy for Lincoln. A social media update from the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy page shared that this viral trophy from the Nebraska-Minnesota football rivalry will be used for a charity fundraiser in advance of the No. 2 Husker volleyball team’s game against No. 15 Minnesota on November 14. The fundraising will support Nebraska’s Team Jack foundation and Minnesota’s Team One Four.
The Nebraska and Minnesota football teams won’t be vying for the trophy this season because of the conference schedule. As a result, the two fundraising programs have opted to “not take a season off,” as stated on their website.
The $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy was created in 2014 before the Nebraska-Minnesota football game. It originated from a Twitter exchange between Minnesota’s mascot Goldy Gopher and a parody account of then-Nebraska coach Bo Pelini (@FauxPelini), who made a wager.
Goldy displayed the trophy at University of Minnesota events until the following year, when it was handed over to the Nebraska team. After Nebraska’s 48-25 victory, the players celebrated by passing the trophy around in the locker room. Ahead of the 2016 game, rumors emerged that both universities were considering ending this unofficial tradition. Nebraska won the matchup in Lincoln 24-17, but the trophy was absent.
Since 2017, fans from both schools have raised over $162,000, but Nebraska has not reclaimed the trophy since 2018. The Huskers have lost five consecutive “trophy games” to Minnesota, including last year’s 13-10 defeat in Matt Rhule’s first game as head coach.
This season, fans from both universities are taking their rivalry to the court at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, where No. 2 Nebraska volleyball will host No. 14 Minnesota on November 14. Both teams have been ranked in the AVCA’s top 25 throughout the season, with Nebraska coming off a strong finish as the national runner-up last year.
The match also features a notable twist, as former Minnesota outside hitter Taylor Landfair transferred to the Huskers during the offseason. Landfair brings a wealth of accolades from her time at Minnesota, including being named Region and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2022.
According to a post from the Chair Trophy account, Minnesota fans who donate via the brokenchairtrophy.com link will be entered into a raffle for tickets to the Gophers’ match against Iowa later this season. Meanwhile, Nebraska fans donating to the Team Jack foundation will have a chance to win tickets to the trophy game.
The Nebraska-Minnesota football trophy contest may return in 2025, as the Huskers are scheduled to face the Golden Gophers next year in Minneapolis.
