MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A baby in a giant maroon bow and white headphones, perched on Floyd of Rosedale in a sea of celebrating fans, has become one of the most shared images from the Gophers' upset win over Iowa.
Gophers punter Tom Weston posted the photo Sunday morning with the caption "Hang it in the louvre," followed by a pig emoji.
In the shot, a woman in a maroon jacket holds the infant atop the bronze hog trophy while players and fans crowd around, hands reaching for Floyd. The baby appears to be Weston's own daughter.
The moment capped a wild finish at Huntington Bank Stadium on Saturday. Luke Drzewiecki kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired to lift Minnesota past No. 15 Iowa, 13-10, and fans stormed the field. Weston, an All-Big Ten pick last season, also serves as the Gophers' primary holder on kicks.
The win means Minnesota now holds Floyd of Rosedale, the Little Brown Jug and Paul Bunyan's Axe at the same time for the first time since 1978.
Online, the replies quickly turned into a campaign on the baby's behalf. One fan tagged the University of Minnesota's news account and demanded the child be given free tuition. Weston had a backup plan ready, replying that she could simply go to university in Australia for free anyway.
The Athletic's Ralph D. Russo shared the photo with a one-word review: "Amazing."
Weston's Louvre caption also caught the eye of ArtButMakeItSports, a popular account that pairs sports photos with classical art. It set the photo beside an ancient sculpture titled "Figure of a Child Seated atop a Pig," dated to the 2nd to 1st century B.C.
The 98-pound bronze Floyd has gone to the winner of the Minnesota-Iowa game since 1935. The trophy is named after former Minnesota Gov. Floyd B. Olson, who won a real prize hog from Iowa Gov. Clyde Herring in a bet on that year's game.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Minneapolis Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.