Recorded at Fraser's Pub in Ann Arbor, an interview with Brian McDonald, a co-founder and co-owner of Rivalry Trophy - the maker of Big Ten replica trophies. In Part I we discussed the origins of the company, his research on the Paul Bunyan Trophy, how they solved the licensing question. In Part II we get into more of their trophies, and discuss the nature of B1G fandom in general:
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Unsolved Questions | Little Brown Jug Lore
I started this project with a list of questions about the jug and the answers I found formed most of the posts in this series. Here are a few questions that remain unsolved: 1. What happened to the cap and ribbons that used to be atop the jug? In older photos of the jug there clearly is a more pronounced cap, which apparently held in place some decorative ribbons: They are missing from the real trophy today (but you can see them on the replica in Schembechler Hall). I asked Jon Falk about this. He told me he remembered there being a cap on the jug but doesn’t recall what happened to it or when it disappeared. I took a variety of photos of the jug and from the looks of it, someone ripped the top off but we just don’t know when. Note the inner circle of the jug, which looks to be torn (maybe Leach did it): 2. Where did the Jug’s carrying case come from? It was a surprise to learn that the jug has a customized carrying case. It’s basically a chest with a padded, velvety interior. Jon Falk showed it to me and here’s a compilation of it from different angles: What I haven’t figured out is who had this built, and when it came…
