In the Fall of 1972, Southeastern Louisiana University was looking for a new rivalry to replace its discontinued Gulf State Conference annual football clash with the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette) for the Cypress Mug. The alumni of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity felt Nicholls State University, on the Lions schedule for the ’72 season, was a natural choice given the close proximity of the two new Gulf South Conference members, and suggested the River Bell – symbolic of the Mississippi River separating the two schools -- as a trophy to be presented the victorious team. The concept was approved and Sigma Tau Gamma Alumni volunteered to create the trophy.
From the Yellow Pages, the Sig Tau alumni located a marine supply store in Metairie and purchased a suitable bell. The trophy base was designed by Hammond Cabinet Works however time didn’t permit the trophy to be completed before the first game.
For the inaugural River Bell game, September 30, 1972, the “trophy” to the winner was simply the bell itself. At the presentation were Southeastern President Dr. Clea Parker, Student Body Presidents from both universities, and Sigma Tau Gamma alumni. The Lions defeated the Colonels 31-9 in that first game of the River Bell series and the two Southeastern football captains happily received the Bell. After photographs, the captains were congratulated and asked to share the bell with the rest of the team, but have it back in the Athletic Director’s office on Monday. The players enthusiastically took off for the locker room, down the entire length of the football field, clanging the bell the entire way.
It was clear to everyone present the new rivalry was off to a great start. The bell was returned to the A.D.’s office on Monday as promised, and the trophy was subsequently completed.
That original trophy has continued to serve as recognition for the annual victor of the River Bell Classic, as the contest has become known over the past 40 years.
The coveted trophy returned home to Hammond following the Lions win over the Colonels to close out the 2011 season. That provided the perfect opportunity for the Sigma Tau Gamma alumni -- with the support of officials at Southeastern – to begin planning for the retirement and replacement of the historic trophy.
Wes Koon, a local glass artist, Southeastern and Sigma Tau Gamma alumnus, was commissioned to design an appropriate replacement. After some consideration, Wes enlisted the talents of John K. Sammons, a Nicholls graduate, for his craftsmanship with wood. Later, the two approached Bruce Caliva, yet another Sig Tau and Southeastern alum, for his skill with some final woodwork detail.
The redesigned trophy has specific elements representing the colors and geographic location of both universities as well as the legendary river separating the two, yet maintains the tradition of the rivalry – the River Bell. Furthermore, the trophy’s constructed of rich cypress indigenous to the unique region of the proud universities.
The beautifully fabricated new trophy was first awarded on November 15, 2012 to Southeastern after their victory over Nicholls, 35-16, in Thibodaux. The positive reception the trophy received demonstrated to everyone present the significance of the rivalry to the players of both Universities. In many ways it had the same feel as did the original presentation in 1972 to those who were witness to both games.
