It’s college football rivalry week, and Minnesota and Wisconsin are set to square off on Saturday with Paul Bunyan’s Axe on the line. The trash talking has already begun, and no one has been more vocal than the two teams’ mascots—Goldy Gopher and Bucky Badger.
The two began exchanging jabs on Twitter on Monday morning, when Goldy posted a video clip of him climbing up a ladder and jumping onto a poor, defenseless Bucky.
#AxeWeek pic.twitter.com/Eme4zPfEVD
— Goldy Gopher (@GoldytheGopher) November 24, 2014
But then Bucky flipped the script with a photo of his own.
@UWMadison @GoldytheGopher #AxeWeek pic.twitter.com/U0ERFJy8QI
— Bucky Badger (@UWBuckyBadger) November 24, 2014
And the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Twitter account hit the Minnesota football program where it hurts most with this clever post.
This is what @UWBuckyBadger looked like the last time the Gophers held the axe. #Badgers #AxeWeek pic.twitter.com/qQV4GXYsN6
— UW-Madison (@UWMadison) November 24, 2014
Things really began to heat up on Tuesday, when the two traded jabs throughout the day. Goldy first took a shot at Bucky’s wardrobe.
.@UWBuckyBadger doesn’t wear pants #BoomRoasted #AxeWeek pic.twitter.com/7u1AvcubiI
— Goldy Gopher (@GoldytheGopher) November 25, 2014
Bucky then fired back just minutes later. And he brought out the big guns—comparing Goldy to Chucky Cheese.
@GoldytheGopher Looks like a squirrel. #boomroasted pic.twitter.com/IIHhj2SQHe
— Bucky Badger (@UWBuckyBadger) November 25, 2014
.@GoldytheGopher Separated at birth? #AxeWeek pic.twitter.com/RfDhJu5hBX
— UW-Madison (@UWMadison) November 25, 2014
Bucky then posted a photo of Wisconsin players and fans hoisting the Paul Bunyan Axe over his head, something Goldy has not been able to do in more than a decade.
I tried googling “@GoldytheGopher and the Paul Bunyan Axe” and this is all that showed up… #AxeWeek #BoomRoasted pic.twitter.com/FgBcGk65kq
— Bucky Badger (@UWBuckyBadger) November 25, 2014
They then resumed trading jabs.
.@UWBuckyBadger has three overdue library books #HeToldMeThatInConfidence #AxeWeek
— Goldy Gopher (@GoldytheGopher) November 25, 2014
.@GoldytheGopher I need to put the Axe to use somehow #AxeWeek
— Bucky Badger (@UWBuckyBadger) November 25, 2014
The Badgers have won their last 10 matchups against the Gophers, and the team’s mascot made sure to bring it to the public’s attention on Wednesday.
Hey @GoldytheGopher, how many swings of an Axe does it take to chop down a goal post? Oh wait. You wouldn’t know. #AxeWeek
— Bucky Badger (@UWBuckyBadger) November 26, 2014
The two teams will battle it out at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Wisconsin is a hefty 14-point favorite in the game.