Paul Bunyan has traveled back and forth from Ann Arbor to East Lansing throughout the years, but just like in the beginning, the Paul Bunyan Trophy has been quite comfortable on display in MSU’s campus.

Much of that is to do with Connor Cook, MSU’s all-time winningest quarterback with a record of 29-3, included a 2-0 record against U-M. However, this Saturday marks his first game starting in Michigan Stadium, one of the most hostile environments in college sports. Despite this, Cook is confident heading into this fierce rivalry.

“As soon as you are out there for the warmups, you kinda feel it,” Cook said. “The attitude, the emotion, there is just something in the air that you get, that you feel playing against Michigan.”

Fifth-year senior linebacker Darien Harris has been influential as well. During his fifth year as a Spartan, it is only the second time he has the opportunity to play in “The Big House."

“If you look back at 2012, that is the only time that the senior class got to play there (Michigan Stadium),” Harris said. “It would definitely be big for us, big for this team. We know it is gonna be a great environment there. It would be really big for us and this program to come out with a win.”

The unsung heroes of this rivalry games are the equipment managers, the ones who keep Paul Bunyan safe during the travel to Ann Arbor and during the game.

Dylan Marinez is the Head Football Equipment Manager for MSU, and said the trophy comes apart into three separate pieces: Paul Bunyan himself, the state of Michigan and a foot-tall wooden base. From there, the trophy is transported in three separate carts on a semi-truck to the stadium.

“It actually gets a little tricky," Marinez said. "I kinda coordinate with the Michigan equipment manager about how we are gonna meet and how we are gonna do things. And then you just kinda have to watch the clock and feel it out when the right time is to bring it down to the field.”

The equipment manager’s job is stressful, especially with the handling of a trophy that means so much to both programs. But the trophy’s importance is only intensified by the passion and determination the player’s perform with on the field.

“It gets real personal with a lot of the kids just because so many of them are from the state of Michigan on both sides of the ball,” Marinez said. “Most of the players have been recruited by both teams and have friends that are at Michigan or play at Michigan and it becomes very personal for them.”