The Little Brown Jug

Michigan (62)	Minnesota (21)
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	1919 1927 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1953 1956 1960 1961 1962 1963 1965 1967 1977 1986
Ties (3)
1903 1933 1950

The Little Brown Jug is a traveling trophy passed between the football teams of the University of Minnesota’s Gophers and the University of Michigan’s Wolverines . Reportedly the oldest trophy tradition in American college football (though surpassed in age by the Canadian Yates Cup), it 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.

20,000 fans watched the matchup between the two teams in an overflowing stadium. 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 snowstorm 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.

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 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.

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 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.

See also

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

References

• John Woodford. The Little Brown Jug. Michigan Today. Accessed October 9, 2004.
• The Little Brown Jug. Gophersports.com. Accessed October 9, 2004.
• Little Brown Jug endures century. Daily Orange. Accessed October 8, 2004.