The China Bull

Omro Foxes Vs. Winneconne Wolves

The China Bull series started in 1948. The series started when the administrators from Omro and Winneconne decided that it would add to school and community spirit to play the annual football game for a trophy of some kind. As the story goes, while at a teachers convention they came across a Red China Bull on display. It was decided that this would be the prize to play for. The first Bull was broken beyond repair during the exchange after the 1960 game, which Omro won 7-6. A number of players from both of those teams still have a piece of that Bull. Kathy Goss, wife of former Hall of Fame Coach Ed Goss, found another Bull to replace the original.
The team that wins the Bull has the honor to paint that year's score on the Bull and keeps it in their trophy case until the next game. Scores are written the same size each year and when a Bull runs out of room for more scores it is retired. The team that wins that year's game gets to have the Bull permanently in their trophy case. Omro and Winneconne each have two retired Bulls. The current Bull which was started in 2005 is the last of the original Bulls.

This is one of the biggest rivalry games in the state. The intensity and passion displayed by each team and their fans is not matched by any other rivalry. Many people new to the rivalry comment that they have never seen any game as intense. Many rivalries claim that records do not matter when their two teams play. Omro/Winneconne is a rivalry that holds true to that statement. In 1981 Winneconne entered the last game of the season winless and Omro needed a win to claim the conference championship. Winneconne won the game in a driving snowstorm to send the Foxes home without the Bull or the championship. In 2005, Omro entered the game 3-0 and ranked in the state. Winneconne was winless again and won the Bull 7-6 on a missed last second field goal try by the Foxes. Winneconne won the Bull as well as their only victory of the season. The Foxes missed the playoffs by one game.

Though an intense rivalry, it is also a rivalry that has distinguished itself by the level of class that each school displays. Whenever the Bull is won back from the other school, the head coach and captains of the loosing school must go and present the Bull to the winning coach and captains in front of the entire student body. An experience that is unforgettable. The schools, players, coaches and communities realize what this experience means to the lives of not only those involved, but of those who will be involved in future generations.