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The Daily OrangeLittle Brown Jug endures century
By Sandy Weintraub
Posted: 10/9/03, 1:21 AM EST Section: Sports
Before the battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe, The Civil War, The Egg Bowl, The Big Game and the Apple Cup, there was a Little Brown Jug.
Friday night's game between Minnesota and Michigan marks the 100th anniversary of the Little Brown Jug, the trophy awarded to the winner of games played between the Golden Gophers and the Wolverines.
The Little Brown Jug game was the first of the traditional rivalry games that have become one of the trademarks of college football.
"I'm really looking forward to play for the oldest trophy in college football," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.
According to Minnesota, using the Little Brown Jug as a trophy happened completely by accident and the trophy began simply as a water jug.
On October 31, 1903, Michigan traveled to Minneapolis carrying with it a 28-game winning streak. Led by head coach Fielding Yost, the Wolverines were absolutely dominant, outscoring opponents 644-12 during the previous season.
According to LittleBrownJug.net, a website dedicated to the history of the trophy, Michigan trainer Keene Fitzpatrick did not trust Minnesota to provide the Wolverine sideline with clean drinking water.
Fitzpatrick ordered a Michigan student-manager to purchase a container for Michigan to store its own water.
The manager, Tommy Roberts, purchased a five-gallon jug - the same one that would be used as a trophy for 100 years - at a Minneapolis variety store for 30 cents.
In the greatest upset of the season, Minnesota tied Michigan 6-6, the only points Michigan allowed that season. The tie ended the Wolverines' winning streak.
After the game, 20,000 Minnesota fans stormed the field in celebration, and during the chaos, Minnesota custodian Oscar Munson stole the jug from the Michigan sideline and brought it to Minnesota Director of Athletics L.J. Cooke to commemorate the upset.
Munson painted the jug with a Minnesota logo along with the score of the game and displayed it on campus.
Friday night's game between Minnesota and Michigan marks the 100th anniversary of the Little Brown Jug, the trophy awarded to the winner of games played between the Golden Gophers and the Wolverines.
The Little Brown Jug game was the first of the traditional rivalry games that have become one of the trademarks of college football.
"I'm really looking forward to play for the oldest trophy in college football," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.
According to Minnesota, using the Little Brown Jug as a trophy happened completely by accident and the trophy began simply as a water jug.
On October 31, 1903, Michigan traveled to Minneapolis carrying with it a 28-game winning streak. Led by head coach Fielding Yost, the Wolverines were absolutely dominant, outscoring opponents 644-12 during the previous season.
According to LittleBrownJug.net, a website dedicated to the history of the trophy, Michigan trainer Keene Fitzpatrick did not trust Minnesota to provide the Wolverine sideline with clean drinking water.
Fitzpatrick ordered a Michigan student-manager to purchase a container for Michigan to store its own water.
The manager, Tommy Roberts, purchased a five-gallon jug - the same one that would be used as a trophy for 100 years - at a Minneapolis variety store for 30 cents.
In the greatest upset of the season, Minnesota tied Michigan 6-6, the only points Michigan allowed that season. The tie ended the Wolverines' winning streak.
After the game, 20,000 Minnesota fans stormed the field in celebration, and during the chaos, Minnesota custodian Oscar Munson stole the jug from the Michigan sideline and brought it to Minnesota Director of Athletics L.J. Cooke to commemorate the upset.
Munson painted the jug with a Minnesota logo along with the score of the game and displayed it on campus.
