There appears to be two main reasons the Michigan football team would like to reclaim the Paul Bunyan Trophy, which is awarded to the winner of the Michigan-Michigan State game.

First, the most obvious one: It looks like Wolverines defensive tackle Ryan Van Bergen.

"I’ve drawn comparisons to the Paul Bunyan Trophy," the senior said. "I think I’m going to have to shave my beard or something … and stop carrying my ax around."

Senior tight end Kevin Koger also sees the resemblance.

"The statue’s ugly, Ryan Van Bergen really is not that good looking, so I guess they resemble each other a little bit," he said, tongue firmly in cheek. "I guess you could make that comparison."

Although Michigan has lost three consecutive years to the Spartans, players seem to have a good recollection of what the trophy looks like. Of course, they'd much rather have the real thing.

It's a part of their legacy.

The Wolverines were ranked and 5-0 last year when they faced Michigan State at home, ready to show the world they were for real after a collapse in 2009. Only, they lost that game 34-17, and proceeded to fall into their second consecutive Big Ten swoon.

This year, they're ranked No. 11, 6-0 after a comeback win on the road against Northwestern and looking to show they're for real.

And to work on that legacy.

"When you come to Michigan to play football, your legacy is left by Big Ten championships, Rose Bowls and how you did against your rivals," Van Bergen said. "And, right now, the legacy with the seniors in my class, we’re going to have to say we lost to Michigan State three years in a row, we lost to Ohio, (and) that’s our legacy, like it or not.

"This year, we’re hoping to change some of that, and that’s our focus going forward."

Van Bergen is a senior from Whitehall, Mich., which is located near Muskegon on the west side of the state. He grew up with the rivalry, and now has been on both sides of it, after beating the Spartans his freshman year, then losing three times in a row.

He knows which side he'd rather be on, and how much it means to the people of this state that he's on it.

"Anybody who’s from here knows this place is split right down the middle," Van Bergen said. "There’s no in between. You’re one of the other, and we’re playing for the title of the state.

"It’s big for the fans, big for the alumni and big for the players and coaches."

Michigan coach Brady Hoke said he held a team meeting Sunday to discuss the rivalry and its history. The in-state players know it well, but some of the out-of-staters don't, especially the younger ones who have yet to play in it.

Hoke also did that the Sunday before the Minnesota game, educating players on the finer points of the rivalry and that game's trophy, the Little Brown Jug. He showed it to them, and displayed it in the team room during the week.

Did he educate the players on the Paul Bunyan Trophy?

"Sure, yeah, but I couldn’t show it to them," he said bitterly.

At least they have Van Bergen.

Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.