by: Daniel House (DanielHouseNFL)
Photo credit: Nikki Moore Photography
Even in the heart of intense conference competition, college football has the power to bring fans together. When Minnesota and Nebraska meet at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday night, fans will be hosting their own “trophy game.” The “$5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy” originated in 2014, following social media exchanges between Goldy Gopher and a Bo Pelini fan account. The trophy wasn’t affiliated with either athletic department, but quickly brought fans together.
When P.J. Fleck was hired in 2017, Minnesota fans wanted to find a way to promote “Row the Boat” in the local community. The football program’s “never give up mantra” is built upon serving and giving. When Mary Stepnick and a group of fans heard P.J. Fleck’s introductory press conference, they were ready to make a difference.
“Emboldened by P.J. Fleck’s culture and the serving and giving, I got involved,” chair team member Mary Stepnick said. “On the Minnesota fan side, we got a hold of Nebraska fans, and just said, let’s collaborate. We decided to throw the charitable aspect on it, figuring that nothing can join two fanbases together like helping some kids that need it. [We thought] if it’s not going to be an official school trophy, let’s make it a fan trophy.”
A group of seven Minnesota and Nebraska fans started a group chat and turned their charitable vision into a reality. The trophy became a way for fans from both teams to make an impact in their local communities. Minnesota fans raised money for the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital and donated funds to family experience initiatives, such as Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph’s “End Zone.”
“[The money] helps give siblings and parents a place to go to kind of relax and gives the patients a space to get out of their hospital room, hang, play video games, do puzzles and feel like kids. It’s a great feature of that hospital,” Stepnick said.
This year, Minnesota fans are again donating funds to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital. However, in 2019, they will be directly supporting the “Fleck Family Row the Boat Fund.” The foundation, created by Heather and P.J. Fleck, supports patient and family programs. Donations help fund parent nights out, parent day brighteners, and other activities that help families and patients through difficult times.
Nebraska fans will continue to support “Team Jack,” which raises money and awareness for pediatric brain cancer. Jack Hoffman, now an eighth-grader, is battling cancer and was recently cleared to play center for his local football team. On the same weekend ESPN shared Hoffman’s story, Gophers’ holder Casey O’Brien was also featured. A four-time cancer survivor, O’Brien is now using his platform and Minnesota’s “Row the Boat” culture, to impact patients at the University of Minnesota’s Masonic Children’s hospital.
When leaders of the $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy committee see these stories, it inspires them to keep making a difference. Since the initiative started in 2017, both Minnesota and Nebraska fans have raised $18,800. Last year, $11,500 was donated and split between the organizations.
“Those stories put it into words better than we could in any 150-character tweet about why we’re doing this,” Stepnick said. “That’s what it’s all about. These stories made a huge difference to all of us and reinvigorated our commitment to this.”
When Minnesota and Nebraska meet on Saturday, money will be collected in every tailgate lot. Fans can also donate to each team at BrokenChairTrophy.com. Everyone can track the progress of donations as Gophers and Huskers supporters compete to see which fanbase can raise the most money. The committee hopes to eclipse $20,000 for “Team Jack” and the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s hospital. When Stepnick and members of “Team Chair” see donations pour in, it brings a smile to their face.
“Every dollar we raise means that somebody else saw this, cared about it, clicked through the forms on the internet, filled it out and put the payment through,” Stepnick said. “They made a difference. Every time that I see the total go up a little bit throughout the day — all week long — it means that the fans are out there, they’re caring about this and involved with the programs.”
Members of “Team Chair” want to make a difference by connecting with the football program’s culture. They ultimately wanted to support an organization Minnesota football players were passionate about. The trophy’s mission provides Gopher fans with an opportunity to serve and give.
“Fans are buying into it too,” Stepnick said. “This is a great way to show the team that you guys are working hard every week and we are supporting something that you care about. We are donating money to this so you can go over to the hospital, volunteer and have a good time with these kids that need you there to support them. We, as fans, are going to support you doing that.”
No matter what, “Team Chair” wants to bring people together.
“It’s about building connections and showing support,” Stepnick. “We’re not asking for much, but anything that people can give will support that and show your teams that you’re there for them, as much as you would be yelling in the stands.”
Donate by following this link: http://brokenchairtrophy.com/donate