Ever heard of the Broken Chair Trophy? If you’re a football fanatic, you probably know the story behind the first and only Big Ten rivalry trophy born entirely online, without any official input from the involved athletic departments. It all started back in 2014 with a playful Twitter exchange between Minnesota’s mascot, Goldy Gopher, and the parody account “Faux Pelini,” based on then-Nebraska Huskers’ head coach Bo Pelini. Goldy threw out a cheeky challenge for their upcoming game, tweeting, “Hey @FauxPelini, how about a friendly wager for this weekend’s game?” Faux Pelini took it up a notch with his response: “OK how about if we win you give me $5, if you win I get to smash a wooden chair over your back.”

That’s all it took for fans across Twitter and Reddit to jump in, coming up with designs for the now-legendary “$5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy.” Soon enough, Goldy transformed the online banter into reality, unveiling the Broken Chair trophy at the 2014 game in Lincoln. Since then, it’s become a cherished symbol of the Nebraska-Minnesota rivalry. But here’s the twist this season: with their schedules keeping the teams apart, how will the trophy’s spirit stay alive? Instead of taking a season off, both teams’ fundraising programs decided to get creative and keep the “fight for the chair” going!

On October 28, the official $5 Bits of Broken Chair Trophy account took to X with some exciting news: “Cancer doesn’t take a season off! It’s a 2024 Volleyball Chair-ity Takeover! The game is November 14th in Lincoln, and the donation sites are live! Support @TeamJack and @mhfvpediatrics Team One Four! Football will be back in 2025! Donate now at BrokenChairTrophy.com! SHARE!”

In a twist of tradition, this year’s beloved football rivalry is taking a side step and moving over to the volleyball court, with Nebraska Huskers and Minnesota’s volleyball teams now set to bring the same spirit of competition for a great cause. In the video, Nebraska Huskers players excitedly shared, “Hey husker nation! The volleyball team takes over the broken chair trophy for football this year when we play Minnesota in Lincoln on November 14.”

The Nebraska Huskers’ Players added, “Everyone who donates their broken chair trophy program will win tickets to our game on November 14!” And here’s the best part—this isn’t the first time Nebraska’s volleyball stars are rallying to raise cancer awareness and stand strong for the cause.

Nebraska Huskers raises awareness for cancer!

Earlier this month, the Nebraska Huskers stormed through their matchup against Purdue and dominated Rutgers in a clean sweep, sealing each set 25-15, 25-16, and 25-12. Nebraska’s offense was firing on all cylinders, hitting a fierce .314, while their defense held strong with 51 digs and nine blocks, limiting Rutgers to a mere .083.

But this victory wasn’t just about the scoreline—it had a heartwarming touch. Right before the game, Nebraska Huskers Volleyball lit up X with a thrilling post: “It’s Pink Night at The Bob!” To honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the night featured honorary starters who’ve fought bravely against breast cancer. The Huskers kept their promise, later sharing a touching post of the team paying tribute to these resilient women, captioned, “We all fight together.”

And the lineup was packed with phenomenal women: Kelsey Rengstorf, Kathy Clinton, Joanna Draper, Marlene Wagner, Caroline Hug, Kelly Konen, and Denise Clements. Embracing the night’s spirit, the Nebraska Huskers rocked pink sleeves, turning the court into a bright sea of pink and rallying together in a show of strength, unity, and heart.