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The Land of Lincoln Trophy was first awarded in 2009 and goes
annually to the winner of the Northwestern-Illinois football Game.
Designed by Dick Locher (right), the Land of Lincoln Trophy is modeled after
Abraham Lincoln's hat. The bronze trophy sits atop a wood base measuring
14 by 14 inches. The trophy, along with a walnut base, weighs 28.5 pounds.
Locher was a longtime editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune who won a
Pulitzer Prize in 1983. He also worked on the popular comic strip "Dick Tracy"
for more than three decades, both writing and drawing the adventures of
the private detective. Locher passed away in August of 2017.
The Land of Lincoln trophy idea was the result of an online vote by
Northwestern and Illinois fans. "Land of Lincoln" edged three other finalists:
President's Trophy (named after the state's four presidents), Popcorn Bowl
(named after the Illinois state snack) and the Graham-Grange Fire Bell
(named after two of the greatest players at each school).
From 1945 to 2008 Northwestern and Illinois met for the Sweet Sioux
Tomahawk, but it was retired in 2008 out of respect for Native American
Nations. The Sweet Sioux itself initially was designed as an authentic wooden
Indian, like those that used to stand in front of cigar stores throughout the
nation. It eventually posed a transportation problem and was replaced by
the Tomahawk.
As with Sweet Sioux Tomahawk in 1945, Northwestern gained first possession
of the Land of Lincoln Trophy with a 21-16 victory over Illinois in 2009. After
Illinois took two of the first three trophy games, NU has won five-of-six.
LAND OF LINCOLN
