Little Brown Jug (college football trophy)

The Michigan–Minnesota football rivalry is the first and oldest trophy collegiate game in college football rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines football team of the University of Michigan and the Minnesota Golden Gophers football team of the University of Minnesota. The Little Brown Jug is an earthenware jug that serves as a trophy awarded to the winner of the game.[1] It is one of the oldest and most played rivalries in American college football, dating to 1892. The Little Brown Jug is the most regularly exchanged rivalry trophy in college football, the oldest trophy game in FBS college football, and the second oldest rivalry trophy overall, next to the 1899 Territorial Cup (which did not become a travelling/exchange trophy until 2001), contested between Arizona and Arizona State (which did not become a four-year college until 1925).[2]

Not to be confused with The Brown Jug.
Michigan–Minnesota football rivalry
Michigan Wolverines
Minnesota Golden Gophers
First meetingOctober 17, 1892
Minnesota 14, Michigan 6
Latest meetingNovember 4, 2017
Michigan 33, Minnesota 10
Next meetingOctober 17, 2020
TrophyLittle Brown Jug
Statistics
Meetings total103
All-time seriesMichigan leads 75–25–3
Largest victoryMichigan, 58–0 (2011)
Longest win streakMichigan, 16 (1987–2004)
Current win streakMichigan, 2 (2015–present)
Locations of Michigan and Minnesota

Both universities are founding members of the Big Ten Conference. As a result of the Big Ten not playing a complete round-robin schedule, Michigan and Minnesota occasionally did not play. In 2011, with the conference's initiation of divisional play, Michigan and Minnesota were both placed in the Big Ten's Legends division under the new two-division alignment. However, when the conference expanded again three years later, the teams were split into opposite divisions (Michigan in the East, Minnesota in the West). The conference stated there will be only one protected crossover matchup under the new alignment (Indiana vs. Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket), meaning the rivalry will not be contested every year.[3] However, the two schools will meet at least twice in each six-year scheduling cycle.[4]

Michigan is the current holder of the jug with a 33–10 victory on November 4, 2017. Through the end of the 2017 season, Michigan leads the series, 75–25–3.

Series history

Pre-Brown Jug

The teams met for the first time in 1892 in Minneapolis, with Minnesota prevailing 14–6. Michigan and Minnesota played five more games over the next decade, Michigan winning four of those five.

1903 game
Photograph of the "Michigan Jug" (which was neither little nor brown) from the 1909 Michiganensian

The earthenware jug, originally used by Michigan coach Fielding H. 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.

When Yost and the team came into Minneapolis for the 1903 game, 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.[5] Roberts purchased a five-gallon jug for 30¢ from a local variety store in Dinkytown.[6][7] The jug itself is known as a Red Wing Pottery "five gallon beehive jug", and was made in Red Wing, Minnesota.[8][1]

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. 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.[9]

The next day custodian Oscar Munson brought the jug to L. J. Cooke, head of the Minnesota athletics department,[5] and declared in a thick Scandinavian accent: "Yost left his yug." 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.

Replica of the Little Brown Jug on display in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2007. The real jug is kept in storage.

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.

When the two schools met in football again in 1909, Cooke and the Minnesota team captain decided that playing for the jug "might be material to build up a fine tradition between the two institutions." When presented with this idea, Yost and Michigan's captain agreed, and the jug thus became the traveling trophy it is today.[5][10] Michigan took home the jug in 1909 and 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.

Other notable games
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.[11]

"The Battle of Giants" occurred in 1940, with undefeated Minnesota facing undefeated Michigan on November 9, 1940. Minnesota won 7–6. Minnesota went on to go 8–0 and win the national championship. In 1977, Minnesota stunned #1 Michigan 16–0, it was the only loss of the regular season for the Wolverines as they advanced to (and lost) the 1978 Rose Bowl to the Washington Huskies.

In 1986, Minnesota was regarded as an easy victory for #2 Michigan as a 25-point underdog.[12] With two minutes to go and the game tied at 17, Minnesota quarterback Rickey Foggie scrambled to put Chip Lohmiller in position to kick the winning field goal.[12] The Gophers took home the Little Brown Jug from Michigan for the first time since 1977. Similarly, it was Michigan's only loss in the regular season on their way to losing the 1987 Rose Bowl.

The 2003 game was one of the most highly anticipated Michigan–Minnesota matchups in years.[13] This was the 100th Anniversary of the 1903 game. The Little Brown Jug was featured on the cover of the Michigan Football Media Guide.[14] Minnesota was ranked #17 and Michigan was ranked #20 with the game at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. Down 28–7, Michigan put together a comeback in the fourth quarter to win 38–35.[11][15][16] Michigan advanced to (and lost) the 2004 Rose Bowl. The next season, in another highly anticipated game, #14 Michigan came back again in the fourth quarter to defeat #13 Minnesota 27–24. Michigan advanced to (and lost) the 2005 Rose Bowl. In 2013, the 2003 game was singled out as one of the biggest setbacks to the Gopher Football team rebuilding since their last Big Ten Championship in 1967.[17][18][19]

Michigan has dominated the series since 1968, during which Minnesota has held the jug only four times. On October 8, 2005, Minnesota claimed the jug for the first time since 1986, defeating Michigan 23–20 on a last second field goal in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Wolverines grabbed the trophy right back the next year on September 30, with a 28–14 victory in Minneapolis.

Michigan won all 12 meetings with Minnesota at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which the Gophers shared with the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings from 1982 through 2008. The Wolverines made their first visit to TCF Bank Stadium in 2012 and won convincingly, 35-13. To date, Michigan has not lost a road game against the Gophers since 1977, and have won the last 16 games between the teams in Minnesota.

Accomplishments by the two rivals

Team Michigan[20] Minnesota[21]
National titles[22][23] 11 7
Bowl appearances[24][25] 47 20
CFP appearances 0 0
Postseason bowl record 21–26 8–12
Rose Bowl Game appearances 20 2
Rose Bowl Game wins 8 1
Big Ten Division titles[26] 0 0
Big Ten titles 42 18
Consensus All-Americans[27][28] 82 33
Heisman Trophies[29] 3 1
All-time program record 953–342–36 695–522–44
All-time win percentage .730 .569

Game results
Michigan victoriesMinnesota victoriesTie games
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 17, 1892 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 14–6
2 October 28, 1893 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 34–20
3 November 23, 1895 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 20–0
4 November 7, 1896 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 6–4
5 November 13, 1897 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 14–0
6 November 27, 1902 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 23–6
7 October 31, 1903 Minneapolis, MN Tie6–6
8 November 20, 1909 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 15–6
9 November 19, 1910 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 6–0
10 November 22, 1919 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 34–7
11 November 20, 1920 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 3–0
12 November 19, 1921 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 38–0
13 November 25, 1922 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 16–7
14 November 24, 1923 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 10–0
15 November 1, 1924 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 13–0
16 November 21, 1925 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 35–0
17 October 16, 1926 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 20–0
18 November 20, 1926 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 7–6
19 November 19, 1927 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 13–7
20 November 16, 1929 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 7–6
21 November 15, 1930 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 7–0
22 November 21, 1931 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 6–0
23 November 19, 1932 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 3–0
24 November 18, 1933 Ann Arbor, MI Tie0–0
25 November 3, 1934 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 34–0
26 November 16, 1935 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 40–0
27 October 17, 1936 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 26–0
28 October 16, 1937 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 39–6
29 October 15, 1938 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 7–6
30 November 11, 1939 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 20–7
31 November 9, 1940 Minneapolis, MN #2 Minnesota 7–6
32 October 25, 1941 Ann Arbor, MI #1 Minnesota 7–0
33 October 24, 1942 Minneapolis, MN #13 Minnesota 16–14
34 October 23, 1943 Ann Arbor, MI #10 Michigan 49–6
35 October 7, 1944 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 28–13
36 November 3, 1945 Ann Arbor, MI #10 Michigan 26–0
37 November 2, 1946 Minneapolis, MN #13 Michigan 21–0
38 October 25, 1947 Ann Arbor, MI #1 Michigan 13–6
39 October 23, 1948 Minneapolis, MN #1 Michigan 27–14
40 October 22, 1949 Ann Arbor, MI #12 Michigan 14–7
41 October 28, 1950 Minneapolis, MN Tie7–7
42 October 27, 1951 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 54–27
43 October 25, 1952 Ann Arbor, MI #19 Michigan 21–0
44 October 24, 1953 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 22–0
45 October 23, 1954 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 34–0
46 October 22, 1955 Minneapolis, MN #1 Michigan 14–13
47 October 27, 1956 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 20–7
48 October 26, 1957 Minneapolis, MN #20 Michigan 24–7
49 October 25, 1958 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 20–19
50 October 24, 1959 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 14–6
51 October 22, 1960 Ann Arbor, MI #6 Minnesota 10–0
52 October 28, 1961 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 23–20
53 October 27, 1962 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 17–0
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
54 October 26, 1963 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 6–0
55 October 24, 1964 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 19–12
56 October 23, 1965 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 14–13
57 October 22, 1966 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 49–0
58 October 28, 1967 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 20–15
59 October 26, 1968 Ann Arbor, MI #12 Michigan 33–20
60 October 25, 1969 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 35–9
61 October 24, 1970 Ann Arbor, MI #5 Michigan 39–13
62 October 23, 1971 Minneapolis, MN #3 Michigan 35–7
63 October 28, 1972 Ann Arbor, MI #5 Michigan 42–0
64 October 27, 1973 Minneapolis, MN #4 Michigan 34–7
65 October 26, 1974 Ann Arbor, MI #3 Michigan 49–0
66 November 1, 1975 Minneapolis, MN #7 Michigan 28–21
67 October 30, 1976 Ann Arbor, MI #1 Michigan 45–0
68 October 22, 1977 Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 16–0
69 October 28, 1978 Ann Arbor, MI #8 Michigan 42–10
70 October 13, 1979 Ann Arbor, MI #11 Michigan 31–21
71 October 18, 1980 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 37–14
72 October 31, 1981 Minneapolis, MN #15 Michigan 34–13
73 October 30, 1982 Ann Arbor, MI #20 Michigan 52–14
74 November 12, 1983 Minneapolis, MN #9 Michigan 58–10
75 November 10, 1984 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 31–7
76 November 16, 1985 Minneapolis, MN #8 Michigan 48–7
77 November 15, 1986 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 20–17
78 November 7, 1987 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 30–20
79 November 5, 1988 Ann Arbor, MI #14 Michigan 22–7
80 November 18, 1989 Minneapolis, MN #3 Michigan 49–15
81 November 17, 1990 Ann Arbor, MI #16 Michigan 35–18
82 October 25, 1991 Minneapolis, MN #4 Michigan 52–6
83 October 24, 1992 Ann Arbor, MI #3 Michigan 63–13
84 November 13, 1993 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 58–7
85 November 12, 1994 Ann Arbor, MI #19 Michigan 38–22
86 October 28, 1995 Ann Arbor, MI #9 Michigan 52–17
87 October 26, 1996 Minneapolis, MN #10 Michigan 44–10
88 November 1, 1997 Ann Arbor, MI #4 Michigan 24–3
89 October 31, 1998 Minneapolis, MN #22 Michigan 15–10
90 November 10, 2001 Ann Arbor, MI #12 Michigan 31–10
91 November 9, 2002 Minneapolis, MN #13 Michigan 41–24
92 October 10, 2003 Minneapolis, MN #20 Michigan 38–35
93 October 9, 2004 Ann Arbor, MI #14 Michigan 27–24
94 October 8, 2005 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 23–20
95 September 30, 2006 Minneapolis, MN #6 Michigan 28–14
96 October 27, 2007 Ann Arbor, MI #19 Michigan 34–10
97 November 8, 2008 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 29–6
98 October 1, 2011 Ann Arbor, MI #19 Michigan 58–0
99 November 3, 2012 Minneapolis, MN Michigan 35–13
100 October 5, 2013 Ann Arbor, MI #19 Michigan 42–13
101 September 27, 2014 Ann Arbor, MI Minnesota 30–14
102 October 31, 2015 Minneapolis, MN #15 Michigan 29–26
103 November 4, 2017 Ann Arbor, MI Michigan 33–10
104 October 17, 2020 Minneapolis, MN
105 September 23, 2023 Minneapolis, MN
Series: Michigan leads 75–25–3

Note: Michigan and Minnesota played twice in 1926 (on October 16 in Ann Arbor and on November 20 in Minneapolis) due to conference scheduling issues for Minnesota.

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See also

References
  1. Ken Magee; Jon M. Stevens (1 September 2014). The Little Brown Jug: The Michigan-Minnesota Football Rivalry. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-4396-4701-1.
  2. Official 2007 NCAA Division I Football Records Book (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-06-25.
  3. "Report: U-M, MSU to play in Big Ten 'East'".
  4. The Big Ten’s schedule is indisputably better for fans than the SEC’s
  5. "Michigan's water worries were start of "Jug" series". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 21, 1960. p. 16.
  6. MCCOLLOUGH, J. BRADY – 1903 Team Manager Tells Tale of the 'Jug'. Michigan Daily, October 9, 2003
  7. Account from Michigan Football Student Manager Tommy Roberts. The Grand Rapids Press Oct. 18, 1959
  8. Dan DePasquale; Larry Peterson (25 September 2009). Red Wing Stoneware Encyclopedia. Collector Books. ISBN 978-1-57432-631-4.
  9. "History and Philosophy of Reserver Officer Training." University of Minnesota ROTC Alumni Society. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2005-09-11. Retrieved 2006-03-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. Dooley, Greg. "The (True) Origins of The Little Brown Jug Rivalry". MVictors.com. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
  11. Hunt, Bob – Both teams leave 2003 game in past Michigan Daily, October 7, 2004
  12. Neff, Craig – Bo Tries On A Tie, Gets A Boot. Sports Illustrated, November 24, 1986
  13. Angel, Brett – Large crowd witnesses large Michigan comeback. Minnesota Daily, October 13, 2003
  14. Michigan Football Media Guide, 2003 season
  15. Hunt, Bob – Both teams leave 2003 game in past Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine. Michigan Daily, October 8, 2004
  16. Gophers allow 28–7 lead to escape Associated Press, October 10, 2003. " John Navarre directed the biggest comeback in Michigan history and put the Wolverines back into the thick of the Big Ten race."
  17. Fuller, Marcus R. – Gophers football: 10 years ago, Michigan changed everything Pioneer Press, October 4, 2013
  18. Reusse, Patrick – Patrick Reusse from Oct. 10, 2003: For a while, we actually believed. Star Tribune, October 2, 2013
  19. Scoggins, Chip – Reliving one fateful night in Gophers football Star Tribune, October 3, 2013
  20. "Michigan Wolverines Index". Sports-References.com. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  21. "Minnesota Golden Gophers Index". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  22. "NCAA Football Championship History". NCAA.com. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  23. "Minnesota Championships". GopherSports.com. Archived from the original on 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  24. "Michigan Bowl History". CollegeFootballPoll.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  25. "Minnesota Bowl History". CollegeFootballPoll.com. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  26. "Divisional Rankings". ESPN.go.com. Retrieved 18 November 2014.
  27. "Michigan Wolverines All-America Selections". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  28. "Minnesota All-America Selections". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  29. "Past Heisman Trophy Winners". NationalChamps.net. Retrieved 18 November 2014.

Additional sources

Bibliography
  • Gruver, Edward (2002), Nitschke. Lanham:Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 1-58979-127-4
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