BleedGopher
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per ESPN:
As time marches on, Rhys Lloyd has accepted why his name remains synonymous with the annual Minnesota-Wisconsin football rivalry -- even if he doesn't like it. Lloyd, the former Gophers kicker, certainly is flattered when fans delight in remembering his famous 35-yard field goal as the clock expired, which sent Minnesota to a stirring 37-34 victory.
Before the kick that beat the Badgers had even split the uprights, Lloyd sprinted toward Wisconsin's sideline, as dozens of joyous Minnesota players followed. He uncovered Paul Bunyan's Axe -- the indelible six-foot symbol of the century-old series -- and hoisted the trophy in the air while teammates grabbed him and slapped his helmet.
"It was kind of a semi-soccer celebration, semi-I-don't-know-where-I'm supposed-to-go celebration," Lloyd said. "I just started running around. It was kind of a blur."
That moment endures as a personal highlight. But, if Lloyd is being honest, he wishes the kick wasn't such a big deal these days. The game took place on Nov. 8, 2003. Lloyd is 34 years old now, with a wife, three kids and an NFL career behind him. After all these years, Minnesota still hasn't won another game in the series, having now lost a record 12 consecutive contests.
Not long ago, Minnesota officials asked Lloyd to come back for the game so he could be honored on the field to commemorate 10 years since the kick. It was almost as though the purpose was to remind Minnesota fans the team had actually possessed the axe.
"My parents said that's pretty cool that you're still the last person to touch it," Lloyd said. "But as a Gopher and as a team player, that sucks. I would rather us have it every single year than me having it 13 years ago. I would much rather them have that in their trophy cabinet for a year because of bragging rights."
Minnesota (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) plays at No. 6 Wisconsin (9-2, 6-2) at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday in the teams' regular-season finale. The Badges can clinch a Big Ten West championship with a victory. The Gophers, yet again, will be trying to recapture the feeling Lloyd gave the university all those years ago.
Lloyd will be watching from his home in Florida, rooting hard for his alma mater as he always does. One day, he keeps telling himself, "the kick" will be replaced with something else for Minnesota fans to remember. Sooner rather than later, he hopes.
"It makes me feel old," Lloyd said. "To say my name is part of history is great when I'm buried and it's 100 years from now. But 13 years later and you're now part of history kind of sucks."
http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...y-for-other-gophers-to-hoist-paul-bunyans-axe
Go Gophers!!
As time marches on, Rhys Lloyd has accepted why his name remains synonymous with the annual Minnesota-Wisconsin football rivalry -- even if he doesn't like it. Lloyd, the former Gophers kicker, certainly is flattered when fans delight in remembering his famous 35-yard field goal as the clock expired, which sent Minnesota to a stirring 37-34 victory.
Before the kick that beat the Badgers had even split the uprights, Lloyd sprinted toward Wisconsin's sideline, as dozens of joyous Minnesota players followed. He uncovered Paul Bunyan's Axe -- the indelible six-foot symbol of the century-old series -- and hoisted the trophy in the air while teammates grabbed him and slapped his helmet.
"It was kind of a semi-soccer celebration, semi-I-don't-know-where-I'm supposed-to-go celebration," Lloyd said. "I just started running around. It was kind of a blur."
That moment endures as a personal highlight. But, if Lloyd is being honest, he wishes the kick wasn't such a big deal these days. The game took place on Nov. 8, 2003. Lloyd is 34 years old now, with a wife, three kids and an NFL career behind him. After all these years, Minnesota still hasn't won another game in the series, having now lost a record 12 consecutive contests.
Not long ago, Minnesota officials asked Lloyd to come back for the game so he could be honored on the field to commemorate 10 years since the kick. It was almost as though the purpose was to remind Minnesota fans the team had actually possessed the axe.
"My parents said that's pretty cool that you're still the last person to touch it," Lloyd said. "But as a Gopher and as a team player, that sucks. I would rather us have it every single year than me having it 13 years ago. I would much rather them have that in their trophy cabinet for a year because of bragging rights."
Minnesota (8-3, 5-3 Big Ten) plays at No. 6 Wisconsin (9-2, 6-2) at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday in the teams' regular-season finale. The Badges can clinch a Big Ten West championship with a victory. The Gophers, yet again, will be trying to recapture the feeling Lloyd gave the university all those years ago.
Lloyd will be watching from his home in Florida, rooting hard for his alma mater as he always does. One day, he keeps telling himself, "the kick" will be replaced with something else for Minnesota fans to remember. Sooner rather than later, he hopes.
"It makes me feel old," Lloyd said. "To say my name is part of history is great when I'm buried and it's 100 years from now. But 13 years later and you're now part of history kind of sucks."
http://www.espn.com/blog/bigten/pos...y-for-other-gophers-to-hoist-paul-bunyans-axe
Go Gophers!!