| Concordia vs. St. Olaf | Football | Founded: 1974 |

Herb Morgenthaler, a 1961 Concordia graduate, and Mark Halaas, a former Concordia alumni director, developed the concept of "The Troll" in the early 1970s. The pair wanted a unique way to welcome the Oles back into the MIAC after St. Olaf had departed for another conference more than two decades earlier earlier. Since Concordia and St. Olaf both have Norwegian heritage, using a troll – which is part of Norse mythology – was a way to reflect that.

The Troll's origins can be traced to the mountains near Lillehammer. That's where John Proitz, who made trolls from natural items, lived. Morgenthaler got the Troll trophy through Jim Johnson, who operated a Scandinavian-themed store in the Twin Cities for four decades. Johnson has since retired.

While Johnson is Swedish, his wife, Mary, is Norwegian. Johnson found out about Proitz through his wife's relatives who lived in Lillehammer. In the fall, Proitz climbed pine trees and bagged moss that he would use through the winter to make trolls. Proitz also used natural items like pine cones to create toenails and fingernails.

Concordia and St. Olaf have played for The Troll since 1974. In 2013, The Troll's lore grew with an appearance on ESPN College GameDay, where the show's hosts dubbed it: "The Ugliest Rivalry Trophy in College Football."

| "The Troll" on ESPN College GameDay | Fargo Forum Feature on "The Troll" | MIAC Rivalry Trophies |