Little Brown Jug (football)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Little Brown Jug
Michigan players celebrate with the Little Brown Jug after a 2008 victory in the 91st edition of the rivalry
Teams	Minnesota Golden Gophers Michigan Wolverines
Originated	1903
Trophy Series	Michigan leads, 66-22-3
Current Holder	Michigan
Minnesota (22) 1919 1927 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1953 1956 1960 1961 1962 1963 1965 1967 1977 1986 2005	Michigan (66) 1909 1910 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1926 1929 1930 1931 1932 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1951 1952 1954 1955 1957 1958 1959 1964 1966 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2001 2002 2003 2004 2006 2007 2008
Ties (3) 1903 1933 1950

The Little Brown Jug is a piece of crockery used as a trophy that is awarded to the winner of each college football game between Minnesota and Michigan. It is the oldest rivalry trophy, and one of the oldest rivalry games, in college football.^[1] While some historians and the NCAA state that the oldest rivalry with a trophy is between what is now Arizona and Arizona State, the Territorial Cup did not start changing hands until 2001, as it was a one-time award after their first series in 1899.^[2]

[edit] History

[edit] 1903 game

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.^[3]

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.

The 2003 edition of the battle for the Little Brown Jug. This particular game was famous for being the biggest comeback in Michigan football history[1]

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.

[edit] Other notable games

"The Battle of Giants" occurred in 1940, with undefeated Minnesota facing undefeated Michigan on November 9, 1940. Minnesota won 7-6.^[4] Minnesota went on to go 8-0 and win the National Championship.

Minnesota was regarded as an easy victory for Michigan in 1986 as a 25-point underdog.^[5] They had not defeated the Wolverines since 1977. The Gophers were fired up for Michigan. With two minutes to go, and Michigan just having scored a touchdown to bring the Wolverines at 16 to the Gophers 17, Bo Schembechler called for the extra point to be kicked for the tie. Against number two ranked Michigan, Minnesota quarterback Rickey Foggie scrambled to put Chip Lohmiller in position to get the winning field goal.^[5] The Gophers took home the Little Brown Jug from Michigan for the first time since 1962. It was Michigan's only loss in the regular season on the way to the 1987 Rose Bowl.

The 2003 game was one of the most highly anticipated Michigan-Minnesota matchups in years.^[6] Minnesota was ranked #17 and Michigan was ranked #20 and the game was at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Down by 21, Michigan put together its greatest all-time comeback in the fourth quarter, 21 points, to win 38-35.^[7] Michigan advanced to the 2004 Rose Bowl.

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.

[edit] Game results

[edit] See 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)

[edit] References