The Concordia-Moorhead vs. St. Olaf football rivalry is a storied rivalry in college football famously known as "The Troll". This rivalry began in 1974 when St. Olaf re-joined the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) after more than 20 years. The trophy, a troll figurine, was created to reflect the Norwegian heritage shared by both schools.
The rivalry is celebrated for its quirky trophy and the passionate support from both schools' communities. Over the years, the rivalry has produced many memorable games and moments, making it a tradition for both Concordia-Moorhead and St. Olaf.
Concordia-Moorhead vs St. Olaf Football Rivalry History
The Concordia-Moorhead vs. St. Olaf football rivalry is one of the notable matchups in NCAA Division III football, particularly within the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
The Troll trophy began in 1974 when St. Olaf re-joined the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) after more than 20 years, however, the team first met in 1921. To celebrate this reunion, Herb Morgenthaler, a 1961 Concordia graduate, and Mark Halaas, a former Concordia alumni director, came up with the idea of a unique trophy. They wanted to reflect the Norwegian heritage shared by both schools, so they chose a troll figurine, which is part of Norse mythology.
The troll trophy was created by John Proitz, who made trolls from natural items like pine cones and moss. The trophy's lore grew when it appeared on ESPN College GameDay in 2013, where it was dubbed "The Ugliest Rivalry Trophy in College Football".
Concordia-Moorhead vs St. Olaf Football Rivalry Head-to-Head Stats
The Concordia-Moorhead vs. St. Olaf football rivalry has featured 70 total meetings between the two teams, from 1921 to 2019. Concordia-Moorhead leads the series with 43 wins, while St. Olaf has recorded 25 victories. The rivalry has seen 2 ties. The largest victory for Concordia-Moorhead came in 1994 with a 38-0 win, while St. Olaf's most dominant win occurred in 1921 when they defeated Concordia-Moorhead 97-0.
| Statistic | Concordia-Moorhead Cobbers | St. Olaf Oles |
| Total Meetings | 70 | 70 |
| Wins | 43 | 25 |
| Ties | 2 | 2 |
| Largest Victory | 38-0 (1994) | 97-0 (St. Olaf, 1921) |
Concordia-Moorhead vs St. Olaf Football Rivalry Winner Year By Year
Here's a list of Concordia-Moorhead vs St. Olaf Football Rivalry Winner Year By Year, starting from 1921 to 2019:
| Year | Winning Team | Score |
| 1921 | St. Olaf | 97 - 0 |
| 1922 | St. Olaf | 35 - 0 |
| 1923 | St. Olaf | 17 - 0 |
| 1924 | St. Olaf | 16 - 0 |
| 1925 | St. Olaf | 40 - 0 |
| 1926 | St. Olaf | 26 - 0 |
| 1927 | Concordia-Moorhead | 13 - 12 |
| 1928 | Concordia-Moorhead | 25 - 0 |
| 1929 | St. Olaf | 12 - 7 |
| 1931 | St. Olaf | 21 - 6 |
| 1932 | Concordia-Moorhead | 13 - 7 |
| 1933 | St. Olaf | 25 - 13 |
| 1934 | Concordia-Moorhead | 19 - 7 |
| 1935 | St. Olaf | 20 - 6 |
| 1937 | Concordia-Moorhead | 13 - 7 |
| 1939 | Tie | 7 - 7 |
| 1940 | Concordia-Moorhead | 6 - 0 |
| 1941 | Concordia-Moorhead | 7 - 0 |
| 1942 | Concordia-Moorhead | 7 - 6 |
| 1946 | St. Olaf | 20 - 0 |
| 1947 | St. Olaf | 7 - 6 |
| 1948 | St. Olaf | 30 - 13 |
| 1950 | St. Olaf | 18 - 12 |
| 1951 | St. Olaf | 33 - 27 |
| 1974 | Concordia-Moorhead | 6 - 3 |
| 1975 | Concordia-Moorhead | 9 - 6 |
| 1976 | Concordia-Moorhead | 17 - 8 |
| 1977 | Concordia-Moorhead | 17 - 6 |
| 1978 | St. Olaf | 26 - 17 |
| 1979 | Concordia-Moorhead | 16 - 13 |
| 1980 | Concordia-Moorhead | 16 - 6 |
| 1981 | Concordia-Moorhead | 42 - 13 |
| 1982 | Concordia-Moorhead | 39 - 11 |
| 1983 | Concordia-Moorhead | 14 - 9 |
| 1984 | Tie | 10 - 10 |
| 1985 | St. Olaf | 12 - 2 |
| 1986 | Concordia-Moorhead | 39 - 14 |
| 1987 | Concordia-Moorhead | 31 - 10 |
| 1988 | Concordia-Moorhead | 10 - 0 |
| 1989 | Concordia-Moorhead | 24 - 7 |
| 1990 | Concordia-Moorhead | 24 - 7 |
| 1991 | St. Olaf | 24 - 13 |
| 1992 | Concordia-Moorhead | 45 - 21 |
| 1993 | St. Olaf | 58 - 34 |
| 1994 | Concordia-Moorhead | 38 - 0 |
| 1995 | Concordia-Moorhead | 48 - 16 |
| 1996 | Concordia-Moorhead | 21 - 7 |
| 1997 | Concordia-Moorhead | 38 - 0 |
| 1998 | Concordia-Moorhead | 35 - 21 |
| 1999 | Concordia-Moorhead | 17 - 10 |
| 2000 | St. Olaf | 27 - 24 |
| 2001 | St. Olaf | 34 - 33 |
| 2002 | Concordia-Moorhead | 24 - 14 |
| 2003 | Concordia-Moorhead | 47 - 14 |
| 2004 | Concordia-Moorhead | 50 - 7 |
| 2005 | Concordia-Moorhead | 49 - 35 |
| 2006 | St. Olaf | 49 - 14 |
| 2007 | St. Olaf | 52 - 51 |
| 2008 | St. Olaf | 28 - 25 |
| 2009 | Concordia-Moorhead | 17 - 14 |
| 2010 | Concordia-Moorhead | 24 - 21 |
| 2011 | St. Olaf | 49 - 34 |
| 2012 | Concordia-Moorhead | 28 - 14 |
| 2013 | Concordia-Moorhead | 33 - 29 |
| 2014 | Concordia-Moorhead | 52 - 14 |
| 2015 | Concordia-Moorhead | 37 - 7 |
| 2016 | Concordia-Moorhead | 42 - 13 |
| 2017 | Concordia-Moorhead | 54 - 12 |
| 2018 | Concordia-Moorhead | 21 - 10 |
| 2019 | Concordia-Moorhead | 14 - 0 |
FAQs on Concordia-Moorhead vs St. Olaf Football Rivalry
A. The first matchup of Concordia-Moorhead vs. St. Olaf was in 1921.
A. The trophy is called The Troll, which reflects the Norwegian heritage shared by both schools.
A. Concordia-Moorhead leads the series with 43 wins, while St. Olaf has 25 wins.
A. Concordia-Moorhead's largest win was 38-0 in 1994, while St. Olaf's largest win was 97-0 in 1921.
