After a 60-year hiatus, Utah Tech and Southern Utah universities are bringing back the Battle of the Ax this football season.
This friendly in-state rivalry started in 1937, when the student body presidents of then-Branch Agricultural College and Dixie Junior College created an ax with each college’s name on it. The Battle Ax was presented to the winning team in all athletic competitions between the two institutions.
“We are really excited to restore the Battle of the Ax tradition,” said SUU Student Body President McKay Pollmann. “I am hopeful this will be a great way to get students engaged and active on both campuses, as we are constantly seeking to improve student life. This will be fun. Go T-Birds!”
In 1963, when SUU gained four-year status and the St. George institution remained a junior college, athletic competitions ceased between the two schools. It was then decided that the original ax would be split in two so each institution could display it on their respective campuses.
This year on July 1, the historic in-conference rivalry between the two institutions was reignited when SUU joined Utah Tech as a member of the Western Athletic Conference ahead of the 2022-23 athletic season. With the help of Vandy Creations, the institutions created a new ax that displays the universities’ updated names and colors to signify the renewal of their old rivalry.
“Students are excited about our move to Division-I athletics,” said UT Student Body President Devon Rice. “We like to watch teams that we know. Reviving this old Battle Ax tradition will provide a great opportunity for us as students to be passionate about the teams we’re playing.”
UT and SUU will play each other for their homecoming games this football season. SUU will host UT on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. in Eccles Coliseum Stadium, while the Trailblazers will host the Thunderbirds on Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. in Greater Zion Stadium. To purchase game tickets and for more information on the two athletic programs, visit suutbirds.com and utahtechtrailblazers.com.