The Goat Game

[bequickdonthurry]

Would love to learn about the Goat Game, the rivalry game between Lisbon and Enderlin. Can anyone share the story or tradition? How/when did it start? All time series record? That kind of info...

Are there other games like this in ND beside the Ellendale/Oakes Cowbell game?

[class_b_fan22]

I found a little bit of history of the "Goat Game" in a local newspaper, so thought I'd share the article.

"In 1934 the basketball rivalry between the Lisbon team (then known as the Crimson Whirlwind, now as the Broncos) and the Enderlin team (The Eagles then and now, but then a.k.a. the Soo-Liners) already was fervid. That winter a Lutheran minister named O.J. Lutness in collaboration with M.C. Olufson, principle of Enderlin at the time of inception of the trophy,
Huddled in Enderlin with some friends and family members and constructed what they considered a suitable trophy for the contest - a wooden nail-keg goat as a focus of school spirit and friendly rivalry., as in, "We're gonna get your goat." The reverend's daughter recalled her mother made popcorn for the construction crew, and they draped the parsonage windows to keep the project secret (or perhaps draw attention to it!). Others involved in the secrecy and planning were Otto Lutness, Wilmington, Del., Mrs. Austin (Margit Lutness) Zander, Watertown, SD., and Maurice Strand, a former resident and now deceased. The nail-keg trophy was built in Paster Lutness' workroom in the First Lutheran Parsonage. It's legs are dowels with wooden feet; it's tail and beard are unbraided ropes.
The goats name is Rednob, a name fashioned by taking a syllable from each town's name and reversing letter order. Who did this would also be known later. This is how the name comes about: Lisbon became nob, Enderlin became red, hence the name "Rednob". His legs are dowels, his feet and head cut and carved of wood. His eyes once were red bicycle reflectors, but those were replaced with painted wood following a nasty highway accident in 1945. Enderlin had won the annual goat game, and the car carrying Rednob home struck a farmer's horse on Highway 32. The horse was killed, and Rednob was in intensive care for a while, Paster Lutness repaired the breaks Rednob suffered. Baldy Graalum, former student and basketball player could tell about that, maybe some from here could too. Centered on the goats back is a blanket flap, one side displaying Enderlin Orange, the other side Lisbon crimson. The blanket is parts of banners or pillows from Fargo and Morehead colleges. To prevent and leakage of the secret building, The window to the workroom in the parsonage was covered with blankets. No one was to know about the trophy until it was presented to the school before the Lisbon game, the year it was built. The goat is placed at the victors' school with the vanquished school's colors on display - "We got your goat."
Since Rednob was built, many traditions have become a part of the "Goat Game" including the traditional dance around Rednob including the crowd chanting "Hurray for Rednob" as the cheerleaders (now just spectators and loyal fans) danced around him center stage, marking his arrival before the game.
Rednob has also mysteriously disappeared on more than one occasion and teams; after rescueing him went as far as having the Ransom County Sheriff keep him under a close eye and delivering him to the game in order to ensure his safe arrival."