Little Brown Jug (football)

Little Brown Jug (football)

The Little Brown Jug is awarded to the winner of each college football game between Minnesota and Michigan and is the second oldest trophy in college football history (the oldest being the Territorial Cup). [cite book | title= Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book | publisher = National Collegiate Athletic Association | date = 2007 | url = http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/football/football_records_book/2007/2007_d1_football_records_book.pdf ]

History

The Little Brown Jug rivalry was created after the two teams met up on October 31, 1903. The earthenware jug, originally used by Michigan coach Fielding Yost, is painted with the victories of each team. The name most likely originates in the 1869 song of the same name by Joseph Winner.

After Yost took over coaching the Wolverines in 1901, the team went on to win 28 straight games. In the meantime, Minnesota assembled one of the best teams in school history, so Gopher fans were excited about possibly ending the Wolverines' streak.

As Yost and the team came into Minneapolis, student manager Thomas B. Roberts was told to purchase something to carry water. Yost was somewhat concerned that Gopher fans might contaminate his water supply. Roberts purchased a five-gallon jug for 30¢ from a local variety store.

Twenty thousand fans watched the matchup between the two teams in an overflowing Northrop Field. Minnesota held the fabled "point-a-minute" squad to just one touchdown, but hadn't yet managed to score a touchdown of their own. Finally, late in the second half, the Gophers reached the endzone to tie the game at 6–6. As clouds from an impending storm hung overhead, pandemonium struck when Minnesota fans stormed the field in celebration. Eventually the game had to be called with two minutes remaining. The Wolverines walked off the field, leaving the jug behind in the locker room of the University of Minnesota Armory. ["History and Philosophy of Reserver Officer Training." University of Minnesota ROTC Alumni Society. http://www.umnrotcalumnisociety.org/history.php]

The next day custodian Oscar Munson brought the jug to L. J. Cooke, head of the Minnesota athletics department, and declared in a thick Scandinavian accent: "Yost left his jug." Exactly how Munson came to possess the jug is a bit of a mystery. Some accounts say that Munson purposely stole the jug in the chaos that ended the game, although most believe it was accidentally left behind. Thomas Roberts, writing in 1956, stated that the jug had served its purpose, so he intentionally left it sitting on the field.

Still, Cooke and Munson were excited to have this little bit of memorabilia, proceeding to paint it brown (it had originally been putty-colored and currently is painted half blue, which is Michigan's color) and commemorate the day by writing "Michigan Jug – Captured by Oscar, October 31, 1903" on the side along with the score "Michigan 6, Minnesota 6". Of course, in the spirit of the moment, Minnesota's score was written many times larger than that of Michigan.

Later, Yost wanted the jug back, and sent a letter asking it to be returned. Cooke wrote in response: "We have your little brown jug; if you want it, you’ll have to win it." Michigan did exactly that when the teams met up again in 1909, and repeated the performance in 1910. Minnesota and Michigan met up again in 1919 after Michigan rejoined the Big Ten Conference, marking the first year that Minnesota won the Jug outright.

Michigan has mostly dominated the series, particularly in the last four decades where Minnesota has only briefly held the Jug. On October 8, 2005, Minnesota claimed the Jug for the first time since 1986, defeating Michigan 23-20 in a matchup in Ann Arbor, Michigan. However, the Wolverines grabbed the trophy right back the next year on September 30, with a 28-14 victory in Minneapolis.

Game results

CFB Yearly Record End
rivalrygame = yes
overall = Michigan leads 65-22-3
bcs = no
poll = no
polltype =

ee also

*Other Michigan traveling trophies:
**Paul Bunyan Trophy (with Michigan State)
*Other Minnesota traveling trophies:
**Floyd of Rosedale (with Iowa)
**Governor's Victory Bell (with Penn State)
**Slab of Bacon/Paul Bunyan's Axe (with Wisconsin)

References


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