See, I don't mind this. Unlike the NU-Wisconsin and NU-Iowa trophies, which were very contrived, the NU-Minnesota trophy is essentially a social media joke that is fun to embrace. No corporate sponsor, nothing shoved down our throats from the administration(s).
Do I consider Minnesota a rival? Not really. They could be with more high-stakes games. But this trophy is fun IMO because of its origins. I think you can separate the rivalry from the trophy in this case and call it what it is: A good bit of humor attached to a hopefully hard-fought game.
The $5 Bits of a Broken Chair is my favorite rivalry trophy by far. It is unique and organic (and completely ridiculous). I agree, the Iowa and Wisconsin ones are manufactured and corporate. They don't mean anything.
The best rivalry trophies come from weird histories and/or unique pieces. The Jeweled Shillelagh, the Iron Skillet, Little Brown Jug, the Floyd of Rosedale (etc) all are cool and organic trophies.
Remember the Iowa-Iowa State 'But I don't want to be a farmer dad - you'll be a farmer and like it, son' trophy? (
http://www.cbssports.com/images/collegefootball/corntrophy.jpg). Horrible... The Hero's Game is manufactured crap and I am not even sure what they call the Wisconsin rivalry trophy, that is how little it means to me. At least this one is fun and organic.