Look at this piece of crap. This over-sized monopoly piece is now the traveling trophy for the Illinois/Northwestern football game. Dubbed the "Land of Lincoln Trophy," it replaces the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, which served as the award for the previous 64 years of the series. I know that I'm not the first to refer to this as the "LOL Trophy." That actually is appropriate for two LOL football programs.

Why the change? It's part of the University of Illinois's attempts to remove Native American imagery from their traditions. To what extent has Illinois gone? They killed off school mascot Chief Illiniwek, stopped using their circular headdress logo, and dropped the Sweet Sioux trophy. They didn't just drop the trophy, though. They told Northwestern that the 'Cats can keep the award. Just don't bring it near Cham-bana.

In addition, the NCAA pushed for Illinois to change its team nickname. Illini, of course, refers to the dozen Native American tribes that lived along the upper Mississippi River prior to the Revolutionary War. Even referencing the tribes of the Illinois confederation was, apparently, offensive.

The NCAA has not yet attempted to make Illinois change the name of its institution, which references those same tribes. Also, the NCAA has not yet attempted to make the Illinois legislature change the name of the state, which also references those tribes.

So, goodbye Sweet Sioux Tomahawk. You presided over 64 games in this Prairie State rivalry. Illinois won 33. Northwestern won 29 (amazing considering how bad Northwestern was from the late-60s to mid-90s). They tied twice. May the stovepipe hat see a series that is as competitive.