The 2009 football season marked the 100th anniversary of when Michigan and Minnesota first played for The Little Brown Jug. Early in that year I started on a quest to find out everything I could 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. Here’s what I learned!
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Welcome to the Big Ten…SMASH! | Ep. #51 Professor and the Pundit
The boys get you ready for Saturday's season kickoff against Fresno State, we discuss Michigan's 2024 captains, the key position groups, and the Pundit provides his scouting report on The Bulldogs. We discuss a few playoff predictions and Dooley sympathizes with Kirk Herbstreit. We also continue the discussion of NIL and the impact of the proposed House settlement on athletic departments. The fellas close with a quick run around the country with the latest headlines and the big games to watch out for this weekend. The Prof & Pun close with things only they care about :)
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Talking Jug – Live! At the Observatory
For those who've asked about attending or watching one of my History of College Athletics lectures, here's your chance. I'll be doing a lengthy talk on the early origins of the Big Ten, college football and more. Then we'll dovetail into the history of the Little Brown Jug. (The Jug portion will be similar to what I delivered to the 2023 Michigan football team in fall camp, and you know what happened after that - coincidence?)
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Gary Moeller and Lou Holtz Breaking Down ‘The Catch’ (Notre Dame vs Michigan 1991)
Back in 2012, I sat inside the WTKA 1050AM studios with Coach Gary Moeller. We talked about a few different things but primarily we methodically stepped through the headset audio 'The Catch' (recall that the athletic department released the audio in 2011 inside the 'Under the Lights' Notre Dame game program). Here's the raw audio, over 17 minutes, with Ira Weintraub on the audio playback.
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Heckling Kirk Herbstreit | Professor and the Pundit – S4 Ep9
The boys get you ready for Saturday's season kickoff against Fresno State, we discuss Michigan's 2024 captains, the key position groups, and the Pundit provides his scouting report on The Bulldogs. We discuss a few playoff predictions and Dooley sympathizes with Kirk Herbstreit. We also continue the discussion of NIL and the impact of the proposed House settlement on athletic departments. The fellas close with a quick run around the country with the latest headlines and the big games to watch out for this weekend. The Prof & Pun close with things only they care about :)
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A Whiff of Rich Mahogany | Professor and the Pundit – S4 Ep8
Why are so many people discounting Michigan's chances to make the 12-team CFP playoff? We break down the major barriers and rank the toughest opponents. And because you, our followers, are very learned and surrounded by countless leather-bound books...the boys break down the huge House et al lawsuit settlement and its major implications on college athletics. Follow and share!
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Truth, Lies & Text Messages | Professor and the Pundit – S4 Ep7
The boys are back after a brief summer hiatus! We get into the key questions we're getting ahead of Michigan's national title defense, fall camp rumors, the Pundit cuts right to the chase with the CFP Playoff outlook the latest NCAA shot at Jim Harbaugh, and much more!
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(Another) Michigan Plaque for Jesse Owens
BUMPED, due to the unveiling of a new ‘World Athletics Heritage’ plaque honoring Jesse Owens on May 9, 2024. It was attended by Owens’ grand daughter Marlene Dortch. The original plaque was moved to the opposite side of the tribute wall, and placed below this new plaque...
