The Sabine Shoe trophy was first awarded in 1968 by the University of Southwestern Louisiana's chapter of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity.

[4] The name of the bronze rivalry trophy was derived from the Sabine River that forms part of the Texas–Louisiana border.

USL defeated Lamar in the 1978 edition of the rivalry game, but the Ragin' Cajuns were not awarded the trophy as it had vanished.

[n 1] The game has been played infrequently following the Ragin' Cajuns departure from the Southland Conference after the 1981 season.

[6] The Ragin' Cajuns, met the NCAA requirements to remain a Division I-A member and chose to continue participation in that subdivision.