The creation of a new Spud King trophy for the University of Idaho and Idaho State University, nearly 50 years after the disappearance of the original, will be made possible with the allocation of funds by ASUI.
Both ASUI and the Associated Student Body of Idaho State University have been working together to revitalize the rivalry between the schools by recreating the Spud King. The bill was proposed by ASISU Sen. Maclane Westbrook after he wanted to revive the old tradition.
“What we needed was someone to say, ‘Let’s do this,’ and we got that,’” Westbrook said. “There is a lot of energy and excitement for king spud from both schools.”
The trophy will be 3D printed at UI’s Integrated Research and Innovation Center, using the printers there.
“Everyone can recognize that the trophy is something unique, and it’s really special that we can create a new tradition and stand out from other universities,” ASUI President Tanner McClain said.
The methods of trading the trophy are currently in the works between ASUI and ASISU, but most likely the trophy will be awarded to the winner of the UI versus ISU basketball game this year. ASUI is hoping that the Spud King can replace the current trophy for the game.
The original Spud King was constructed in 1962 by Alfred C. Dunn, a well-known artist and faculty member of the art department. The trophy was also sponsored by the Moscow Chamber of Commerce. The trophy was notoriously ugly, and it was a very tongue and cheek joke, with one coach suggesting that the loser should be awarded the trophy instead of the winner.
After 17 years of trading the trophy, the tradition would be retired in 1979. Shortly after this, the trophy disappeared. It wasn’t until 2021 the university decided to recreate a replica of the trophy in efforts to promote the Digital Library of Idaho, a collection of libraries from across the state. A new trophy was constructed out of clay and scanned with a 3D printer with the help of Kasey Doyle and Jean-Marc Gauthier.
“I think it’s such a fun part of the university’s history, the athletics history and the state,” UI Library Dean Ben Hunter said. “It looks like King Spud is getting a second life thanks to the library, ASUI and people interested in this strange trophy.”
Ben DeWitt can be reached at [email protected]