Wisconsin to keep Paul Bunyan’s Axe in locker room to avoid postgame fight

One key member of the Wisconsin-Minnesota rivalry will be missing from the sideline in the rivalry game this Saturday: Paul Bunyan's Axe. 

As the victors of last year's match, Wisconsin will keep the axe trophy in the locker room to avoid a postgame brawl, Badgers head coach Gary Andersen told the media on Monday. 

Wisconsin maintained possession of the rivalry trophy for a 10th straight year with a win at Minnesota last season. As Badgers players rushed to the end zone to pretend to chop down the Gophers' goalpost with the trophy, Minnesota's players stood guard and the student-athletes had a heated exchange.

"I don't think (Minnesota head coach Jerry) Kill and myself liked the way it went down and it ended a year ago," Anderson explained. 

"I don’t think it is good for college football and I don’t think it is good for our kids.”