What Is The Big Bear Trophy? [Video]
Did you know there is a Big Bear Trophy up for grabs every fall in Michigan? What is it? And who has current possession of it?
I never knew this before today, but the Big Bear Trophy goes annually to the winner of the Michigan-Michigan State game in men's soccer.
Although the soccer rivalry goes back to 1956, the trophy wasn't introduced until 2000 when then Michigan head coach Steve Burns bought a bear sculpture, which appears to be carved with a chain saw. He offered it up to then State coach Joe Baum when State won the initial Big Bear game 2-1.
State held a commanding 12-5-2 mark in the years since the trophy was introduced, but the Wolverines won the Big Bear back Tuesday with a 2-0 shutout of the Spartans, prompting the celebration shown below via Michigan Athletics.