Bluebonnet Battle: TCU and Baylor Formalize Rivalry with Name and Trophy

The Bears and Frogs first met in 1899. This week they play for the 119th time. And now the game has a new name - the Bluebonnet Battle.

It'sBaylorRivalry week on campus. TCU will face its rival on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

This will be the 119th time the two teams have met on the gridiron. For the first 118 meetings, the game did not have an official name, nor was there a trophy at stake. That won't be the case this year. 

The rivalry game between TCU and Baylor is now known as the Bluebonnet Battle.  / Courtesy of TCU and Baylor Student Governments

On Monday, the student governments of both schools jointly announced that the game between TCU and Baylor will be known as the "Bluebonnet Battle." A trophy has also been designed that will reside on the campus of the winning team, just as the Iron Skillet (SMU) and Saddle (Texas Tech) do. 

TCU has played Baylor more than any other school. Behind Baylor, it's SMU (102), Texas (94), and Texas A&M (92). This year, with the 119th game between the two teams, the rivalry will exceed the 118 games played between Texas and Texas A&M, making the Baylor/TCU rivalry the longest-standing college football rivalry in the state of Texas.

About the Bluebonnet Battle Name

The name "Bluebonnet Battle" was selected to pay homage to the State of Texas and the

prairies in which both schools reside:

• More than the state flower of Texas, the Bluebonnet symbolizes bravery and sacrifice.
• Bluebonnets are well known for lining Interstate 35, which connects the two schools in Waco and Fort Worth.
• The Bluebonnet is a common thread in iconography found in Fort Worth, Waco, and Texas as a whole.

About the Trophy

The Bluebonnet Battle trophy is a circular battle shield, hand-forged in steel by Baylor alumnus

Bryant Stanton of Stanton Studios in Waco, Texas. Additional facts:

The face of the shield features:

• The logos of both universities;
• An outline of the State of Texas adorned with Bluebonnets on either side and boldly displaying the rivalry's official name; and
• The year 1899, when Baylor and TCU first met on the gridiron.

The trophy is two-and-a-half feet wide and rests in a mesquite wooden base, embellished with the lone star of Texas.

The Bluebonnet Battle trophy will reside on the campus of the winning team after the TCU and Baylor game this week.  / Courtesy of TCU and Baylor Student Governments

Joe Winick, TCU's Student Body President, said the significance of this rivalry lies within the rich history of the two institutions.

"This is a rivalry established by students, for students, and acts as a proud tradition that will be carried on by future generations of TCU Horned Frogs and Baylor Bears," Winick said.

Winick also pointed out that the establishment of the Bluebonnet Battle coincides with TCU's 150th anniversary.

"Our sesquicentennial year began with a National Championship appearance and ends with the Bluebonnet Battle," he added.

TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes said about the rivalry, "Rivalries are what make college football special, and we are very proud to partner with Baylor on the Bluebonnet Battle. Thank you to the Student Government Associations at both TCU and Baylor for their initiative in coming together to create this trophy. It's a great testament to how important our annual game is to both universities and especially the student bodies."

TCU Football Week 12 Opponent Preview: Baylor Bears

---

Want to join the discussion? Click here to join the Killer Frogs message board community today!

Follow KillerFrogs on Twitter to stay updated on all the latest TCU news! Follow KillerFrogs on Facebook and Instagram as well. Download the KillerFrogs app on Google Play or in the Apple App Store.