The 2009 football season marked the 100th anniversary of when Michigan and Minnesota first played for the Little Brown Jug. Early that year I started on a quest to find out everything about the old trophy. I reviewed the legends, interviewed writers, equipment managers, coaches and pored through newspapers, pottery experts, photos and other accounts on the history. I even held the 5 gallon crock in my hands on a couple different occasions to get a good look. Here are a collection of posts that sum up that research:
Chapter 1: What Really Happened in the 1930s
Chapter 2: Spinning Myths
Chapter 3: Getting it Right
Chapter 4: 2013: A Space Quandary
Chapter 5: Red Wing Roots
Chapter 6: Is the Greatest Trophy in College Sports a Fake?
Chapter 7: Open Questions
Chapter 8: Doc Cooke and the Real Origins of the Rivalry
Chapter 9: Gophers Here, Gophers There – When Michigan played Minnesota Twice
Chapter 10: How It Started: Minnesota Madmen 6, Michigan Machine 6
Chapter 11: A Righteous Sip, and Why Michigan Bought the Jug
Chapter 12: Making It Official—Jil Gordon & Painting the Little Brown Jug
Chapter 13: 40,000 Jugs—Financial Analysis from 1903
And Radio: And don’t miss these radio segments from WTKA 1050AM Ann Arbor from October 27, 2009 when Ryan Forrey of The Henry Ford Museum discussed several aspects of jug history, many of which were covered in these Lore posts:


Pingback: Little Brown Jug Lore IV: 2013 – - A Space Quandary
Pingback: Little Brown Jug Lore V: Red Wing Roots
Pingback: Jug Radio (WTKA audio)
Pingback: Little Brown Jug Lore VII: Open Questions
Pingback: eBay Watch: Jesse Owens, Gerald Ford and 1934
Pingback: 100 Years Ago Today: The First Battle for the Little Brown Jug
Pingback: Pioneering Play-by-Play (1903)
Pingback: Not Available in Stores
Pingback: Signing Day
Pingback: The Distinguished Digit
Pingback: Michigan battles Minnesota for the Little Brown Jug. Today?
Pingback: Jon Falk Killing it (WTKA audio)
Pingback: The Dark Side…of Sports Memorabilia
Pingback: Adam, What about My Jug?
Pingback: eBay Watch: The U.S.S. Michigan and Penn (1909) | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: eBay Watch: Tom Harmon’s Ping Putter (1990) | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Alabama-Michigan details emerging | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Less Frequent Brown Jug | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: The Shake Out | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Did Irving K. Pond Score First? | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Official Michigan Release on Divisions, Schedule | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Jug-ists Rejoice | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: I think it was the Fourth of July | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: This Week in Michigan Football History: October 9, 1909 | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Denard’s headed to The League and other Gator Snark | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: His Own Little Brown Jug (v2) | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Louis “Doc” Cooke and The Little Brown Jug rivalry | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Season Ticket Renewals: Ohio & Permanent Seat Cushions | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Plans Sunday? Support Mott, and Golf the U-M Course | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Husking History | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: 40,000 Jugs | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Gophers Here, Gophers There | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Little Brown Jug Club +1 | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Jug Radio (WTKA audio – 08-10) | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: The Jug Brotherhood +++ | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Ending Early | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Dr. Sap’s Decals – San Diego State | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: How It Started: Minnesota Madmen 6, Michigan Machine 6 | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: How It Started: Minnesota Madmen 6, Michigan Machine 6 | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: A Righteous Sip, and Why Michigan Bought the Jug | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Poll: Resolving the Space Quandary | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Little Brown Jug Radio (WTKA audio) | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: My Jug Runneth Over (Michigan 58, Minnesota 0) | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog
Pingback: Making It Official—Jil Gordon & Painting the Little Brown Jug | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog