Little Brown Jug (college football trophy)

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The Little Brown Jug is a trophy contested 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.<ref name="MageeStevens2014">Template:Cite book</ref> 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).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

With the addition of UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten Conference in 2024, the fate of this continued rivalry is up in the air, as Michigan and Minnesota were not classified as Protected Opponents, and are currently scheduled for both a home and away game against each other in 2024 and 2025.

Michigan is the current holder of the jug with a 27–24 victory on September 28, 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Through the end of the 2024 season, Michigan leads the series, 78–25–3.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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

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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,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the team went on to win 28 straight games.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the meantime, Minnesota had been assembling teams themselves, and 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.<ref name="mwwwpojs">Template:Cite news</ref> Roberts purchased a five-gallon jug for 30¢ from a local variety store in Dinkytown.<ref>MCCOLLOUGH, J. BRADY – 1903 Team Manager Tells Tale of the 'Jug'. Michigan Daily, October 9, 2003</ref><ref>Account from Michigan Football Student Manager Tommy Roberts. The Grand Rapids Press October 18, 1959</ref> The jug itself is known as a Red Wing Pottery "five gallon beehive jug", and was made in Red Wing, Minnesota.<ref name="DePasqualePeterson2009">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name="MageeStevens2014" />

Twenty thousand fans watched the matchup between the two teams in an overflowing Northrop Field. Minnesota held the "point-a-minute" squad to just one touchdown, but hadn't yet managed to score themselves. 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, Minnesota fans stormed the field in celebration. Order could not be restored and 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.<ref>"History and Philosophy of Reserver Officer Training." University of Minnesota ROTC Alumni Society. {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The next day custodian Oscar Munson brought the jug to L. J. Cooke, head of the Minnesota athletics department,<ref name=mwwwpojs/> and declared in a thick Scandinavian accent:Template:Citation needed "Yost left his jug."Template:Citation needed Exactly how Munson came to possess the jug is a mystery. Some accounts say that Munson purposely stole the jug in the chaos that ended the game, although mostTemplate:Who 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 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".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 has been a travelling trophy since.<ref name=mwwwpojs/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Both teams leave 2003 game in past">Hunt, Bob – Both teams leave 2003 game in past Michigan Daily, October 7, 2004</ref>

"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;<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 27-20.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1986, Minnesota was regarded as an easy victory for #2 Michigan as a 25-point underdog.<ref name="SI112486">Neff, Craig – Bo Tries On A Tie, Gets A Boot. Sports Illustrated, November 24, 1986</ref> 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.<ref name="SI112486" /> 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.<ref>Angel, Brett – Large crowd witnesses large Michigan comebackTemplate:Dead link. Minnesota Daily, October 13, 2003</ref> This was the 100th Anniversary of the 1903 game. The Little Brown Jug was featured on the cover of the Michigan Football Media Guide.<ref>Michigan Football Media Guide, 2003 season</ref> 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.<ref name="Both teams leave 2003 game in past" /><ref>Hunt, Bob – Both teams leave 2003 game in past Template:Webarchive. Michigan Daily, October 8, 2004</ref><ref>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."</ref> 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.<ref>Fuller, Marcus R. – Gophers football: 10 years ago, Michigan changed everything Pioneer Press, October 4, 2013</ref><ref>Reusse, Patrick – Patrick Reusse from Oct. 10, 2003: For a while, we actually believed. Star Tribune, October 2, 2013</ref><ref>Scoggins, Chip – Reliving one fateful night in Gophers football Star Tribune, October 3, 2013</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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. To date, Michigan has not lost a road game against the Gophers since 1977 and have won the last 17 games between the teams in Minnesota.Template:Citation needed The Gophers last defeated Michigan 30–14 in 2014, ending a six-game win streak by Michigan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Accomplishments by the two rivals

Oscar Munson with the Little Brown Jug (1928)

Team	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
National titles<ref name="NCAA Football Championship History">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Minnesota Championships List">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|12	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|7
CFP appearances	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|3	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|0
Bowl appearances<ref name="Michigan bowl record">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Minnesota Bowl History">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|51	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|20
Postseason bowl record	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|21–28	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|8–12
Rose Bowl Game appearances	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|20	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|2
Rose Bowl Game wins	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|9	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|1
Big Ten divisional titles<ref name="Divisional Rankings">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|3	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|0
Big Ten titles	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|45	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|18
Consensus All-Americans<ref name="Michigan All-Americans">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Minnesota All-America Selections">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|87	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|33
Heisman Trophies<ref name="Past Heisman Trophy Winners">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|3	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|1
All-time program record	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|1004–353–36	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|710–533–44
All-time win percentage	style="Template:NCAA secondary color cell"|.729	style="Template:NCAA color cell"|.569

Game results

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.

See also

• List of NCAA college football rivalry games
• List of most-played college football series in NCAA Division I
• Lions–Vikings rivalry

References

Additional sources

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Bibliography

• Gruver, Edward (2002), Nitschke. Lanham:Taylor Trade Publishing. Template:ISBN

External links

• Little Brown Jug Lore