I was reading through the University of Michigan football program last Saturday, and came upon the story of the Little Brown Jug.
That’s the trophy for the Michigan-Minnesota game, born in 1903. The trophy, that is.
That year, the game was played in Minneapolis. Michigan, coached by Fielding Yost, went into the game undefeated in its last 29 games. Yost, somehow convinced that Minnesota would not provide the Wolverines with clean drinking water, ordered a manager, Tommy Roberts, to buy a receptacle for drinking during the game. Roberts went to a store in Minneapolis before the game.
We assume it wasn’t a Target.
Roberts ended up buying a five-gallon jug. Right. A brown jug.
Michigan led 6-0 until the Gophers tied it with two minutes left. The crowd stormed the field and in the chaos, the game was called. And the little brown jug left behind.
Minnesota equipment manager Oscar Munson found the jug the next morning and turned it into the Minnesota athletic director L.J. Cooke, who inscribed “Michigan Jug — Captured by Oscar, October 31, 1903″ on one side. On the other, the score of the game was inscribed, with Minnesota’s “6″ written larger than Michigan’s.
The story goes that Yost wrote Cook and demanded the return of the five-gallon jug. Cook replied, “If you want it, you’ll have to come back and win it.”
And so a trophy, and tradition, began. Pretty cool, huh?
Sometime this week, perhaps on Wednesday, Nebraska and Iowa marketing officials — along with sponsor Hy-Vee — will unveil the trophy for the new Hawkeyes and Huskers series. There’s already a trophy, a Corn Bowl, supported by some students.
You may like the new trophy. You may hate it. Hopefully, it’s better than the Iowa-Iowa State trophy that was recalled within weeks of being released last summer.
Chances are, it won’t be nearly as cool as the Little Brown Jug, which was born by accident, through happenstance of rivalry.
Chances are, too, that the best sort of trophy, perhaps a cousin to Floyd of Rosedale, will emerge as the Huskers and Hawkeyes grow their rivalry and emotions toward each other, in the Legends Division races to follow.
Ironically, Hy-Vee sells shirts and other souvenirs that promote the “Heroes Game.” Way back when, a manager went to the store and unknowingly found a trophy in the jug aisle.
Maybe Hy-Vee should just have the two team managers go through the store and look for a suitable trophy. I’d start in the dairy aisle.
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i don’t get why people keep making up these trophies. I don’t particularly care for them, I prefer my trophies to have a crystal ball on the top. But, they do mean a lot to some fan bases and they have to think its a little insulting that people just make up our trophies at will to add ‘intrigue’ to a game. The brown jug story is neat, that would be the type of trophy I would care about—not a bowl full of corn.
Tom: please drop this trophy bit. nobody cares and you can’t contrive some BS trophy just to do it.
I think the Loser or the Nebraska vs. Iowa game should have to claim Council Bluffs. That would make it a bit more interesting.
If Iowa won the IQ level of Nebraska would go up exponentially. Another classy comment from an Omaha resident no doubt.
Just another example of why Iowan’s dislike Nebraska. It’s not because of the NU football team, it’s beacuse of ignorant comments like Brian’s.
Troll: 1
Bret: 0
Now that’s funny.
And all the sioux cities!
How about assuming Kirk Ferentz bought a big bottle of Jack Daniels at a Hy-Vee store in Omaha, but somehow it never made it to his car? Arriving back in Iowa City he called the store manager who just happened to be a B1G RED alum. Ferentz had no receipt so the manager told him to pick it up free of charge the next time the Hawkeyes beat the B1G RED in football. “Jack Daniels, Celebrating the Best Corn!”
Here’s a new idea, we need a song to celebrate the rivalry. How about “The Beer Barrel Polka?” It was the most requested song on the Lawrence Welk Show.
Hawkeyes already lay claim to “In heaven there is no beer” and use to be played by the band after every home field victory until some P.C. do-gooder said it was provoking a spirt of alcoholism. How bout that sport fans?
In heaven there is no beer that’s why we drink it here.
Nebraska needs to get over this “we must have traditions and trophies now that we are in the B1G Ten” fetish. Most of these things go back 100+ years, involve the charter members of the conference, and yes they mean a lot to the schools involved. Heck, Nebrasksa couldn’t even establish such traditions with Oklahoma which was their longest and most intense rivalry. These things take decades of competition to mean something and if history is any indicator Nebraska will jump to another conference by the time any B1G Ten tradition could possibly evolve.
.. hey there, Johnny.. how’s that tradition of yours going.. you know, the one where you lose to Ohio State every year? I’m guessing the trophy for that is where they hand out razor blades to all the Michigan fans..
If you think that switching conferences every 104 years is conference jumping, then you are probably right.
Better take a knee there Johnny, and slow the game down, because you apparently cannot read or something! The Big 10 recurited Neb it was not Neb recruiting the Big 10. Therefore, it seems Neb helps the Big 10, or at least you all like the money. Do your homework Neb has a larger following Nationwide than any team in the Big 10, fan following equals higher revenues. TV networks recruits Neb games at a much higher level than any other team in the Big 10, again about money. The article was however about how the “little brown jug” trophy began, its roots and beginnings, nothing more, it was a nice story. It was about Hy-Vee’s (an Iowa based company) sponorship developing a trophy that wants to cash in on their percieved rivalary. No more no less!
As far as jumping conferences Neb join the Big 8 in 1907 (which became the Big 12 in ’96″), before OU, KSU, OSU, ISU, or CU was in it, 102 years for Neb in the Big 12 conference if you take out 1919 &1920 being independent. Mich joined the Big 10 in 1896 but was inactive from 1907-1916 (ten years) making them active in the Big 10 for 104 years. You got us Johnny by 2 years, great catch and claim! Bone-head! With the arrogance that seems to permeates from all of the other Big 10 teams and that has been shown all season towrds Neb and their fan base, with all their dirty laundry (illegal recruiting, sex scandals, big mouth arrogant coaches and so on) I for one hope Neb jumps soon as well; because if that is “Big 10 tradition” I agree you can keep it!
I have a sneaky suspicion that Iowa is going to be about as big a rivalry as… oh… Colorado. Michigan is looking like the real rivalvy so far – with NU and MU probably able to knock each other off any given eyar regardless of ranking, much like the old NU/OU series. That won’t stop marketing people from trying to contrive something with Iowa.
All these other trophies have something in common – history. They weren’t cooked up by some marketing bozo with a corporate logo on the side. That’s a FAIL, and will likely remain so. Nobody will care about this trophy – and it will probably be retired permanently within 5 years.
The problem is Michigan, much like Texas, could care less about Nebraska.
I thought the best trophy would be the “Silver Sow Award” ala WKRP in Cinncinatti. I also feel that the B!G blew the best rivalry we could have with their choice to not go with an east-west split and a Wisconsin – Nebraska blood letting every year. They wanted it and we need it.
I have an idea:
Since Nebraska has always been so innovative, let’s design a trophy for a game that is so UGLY, that each team tries to win the game in order to GET RID OF IT by giving it back to the losing team. Lee Corso would be all over this..
Growing up in central NE, I never gave a thought to Iowa. Now, I only do because I occasionally see someone wearing an Iowa shirt. No one around here really cares about Iowa, I don’t know why this rivalry is getting shoved down our throat just because of geography. Michigan will be the game our fan base gets most excited for every year. Wisconsin would probably garner more attention over time but we won’t play them every year. Penn State is intriguing because we already have a lot of history with them even after just a few meetings. Iowa? Meh. I want to win, but no more than I wanted us to beat Northwestern.
Jeff you live in central, NE so I see why you dont care but all of us that live on the border do care. I could’t wait for this game. I have been hearing crap from Iowa fans for years. Now they are sort of silent. I hope we beat Iowa every year and there is no rivalry. Till next year when we beat them again. Go Big Red.
The history of the Little Brown Jug sounds a lot like the history of the blackshirts. When was the last time a coach sent an assistant to the store instead of ordering what they neede on the Internet?
I thought perhaps we use Carter Lake as a trophy. We wouldn’t have to go into the legalities of actually changing ownership. If we win, Iowa has to take down the “Welcome to Iowa” signs on the street between Epply and downtown Omaha. If they win the signs stay up.
or maybe if the Huskers win Iowa gives back the gambling tax collected from Nebraskans in the Bluffs casinos
I love the story of the Little Brown Jug.
I think it’s a wonderful tradition.
Thank you, Tom, for telling this story.
How about a ” NU I’M GOING TO LOSE TO A UNRANKED TEAM ” trophy, maybe even a ” CONGRATS: WE HAVE A QB THAT CAN’T PASS ” trophy. Wait, wait wait, I got it… ” THE PEARL HARBOR ” trophy (to those getting blasted in a game like.. hmmm NU maybe? ). BUT in NU’s case, how about a ” LET’S MAKE NU LOOK RIDICULOUS ” trophy. I think Northwestern CLEARLY deserves that trophy. Beings they were UNRANKED, and beat them on their OWN FIELD!!!!
I’m sorry how could I forget…AND THEY HAD A LOSING RECORD TO MATCH!!!!!
How about the “William Jennings Bryan/Herbert Hoover Trophy?” Two of the most beloved men in U.S. history.
LOUD NOISES!!!! Joey, quit shouting at me with your ALL CAPS. It is kind of like the over use of swearing. It does not make you more witty or interesting, just makes you sound dumb.
wow, you must think this is Facebook and were all 12, how cute! do your parents know you are posting online?
YOU MEAN LIKE THE COMMENT YOU JUST MADE IDIOT???
9-3 is a losing record? Please post your plaing and coaching expierence so we can consider you as the next AD/Coach/Hero of the Husker Nation!!!!
So, are you a mechicken home boy? mechicken has only been relevant once in the last, what, 50 some years? They didn’t even beat tOSU in the previous 7 or 8 years.
Oh Joey you make me laugh. No other big ten teams lose to unranked teams ever. Give me a break northwestern every year beats someone they shouldnt and then loses to crappy teams. Nu lost to Northwestern the world is ending. You make me laugh oh I said that already.
Ah Joey. You must be a Wisconsin fan, er, I guess they lost two games even though they had the obviously most talented team in the conference. No, then you must be an Ohio State fan, but then they had such a forgetable season except for helping Nebraska set a record for biggest comeback. Michigan fan? Yes we did make them look good but not too many other teams made them look good. I guess their great coach finally got his head out after trying to fit a square peg in a round hole all season with Dennard Robinson and a pro offense. Michigan State fan? When was the last time you beat Nebraska? Penn State fan? You must be so proud. Iowa fan? Hahaha! Northwestern fan? Well, congrats to them for playing their hearts out while catching Nebraska flat after a big win. But they obviously have too much class to have a troll like you as a fan.
You need to get rid of that golfers hat. I don’t understand were your coming from. Target was not around in 1903. Michigan Football is Tradition just like the Lions on Thangsgiving. I’m just saying, do not expect to rule the BIG 10 in the coming years!!
You’re right! So take a knee and slow it down, have the officials in your pocket or what ever it takes, bone heads! Michigan = Texas in their perspective conf.
Mich claim 11 national championships; 10 of those are before 1950 and the national consensus was in place, one since then in “97″ (shared with Neb with six votes).
Neb claim 5 national championships all after the 1950 consensus; (70,71,94,95, and 97″) ’97′ was shared with Mish (Neb had 15 votes to Mich 6 votes).
Greatest team ever:
ESPN claims 1st Neb 71 team vs 6 for Mich ’47′ team
Bleacher Report claims 1st 95 Neb team vs 10 Mich “1902″ team
Sporting News best ever 71 Neb team
Hub pages claims 1st 95 Neb team
College Football Rankings 2011: Which Team Has the Best Fan Base in the Big Ten? http://bleacherreport.com/articles/627795-college-football-rankings-2011-which-team-has-the-best-fan-base-in-the-big-ten#
The 12 Most Valuable Teams in NCAA Football; Revenue wise: http://www.businesspundit.com/the-12-most-valuable-teams-in-ncaa-football/
PSU (#3), Neb (#4), OSU (9th) and Mich (11th)
Tradition you say? I say whatever….
Why shouldn’t he? I see no reason not to think so.
What I am saying is if Mr. Shatel is going to tell a Michigan football story, he better get his facts straight. Last I heard Michigan is going to a BCS game! Just think, this is Brady Hoke’s first year at Michigan. I say Big Ten coach of the Year!!