"Duke" Dunne, Horween's Right Hand Man, Tells Story of Minnesota and Michigan Rivalry Over "Little Brown Jug"

The following article on the Wolverine--Gopher rivalry and the high points in Michigan football history was written for the Crimson by R. G. Dunne, line coach of the Harvard football team and a former Conference star.

For many years the Michigan football team was known as the championship aggregation of the West. The men were always quick; and they always gained numerous victories during the season. But Michigan's supremacy was disputed in those days, even more than now, by Minnesota.

One of the greatest traditions of this rivalry is the annual struggle for the "little brown jug." When old Michigan teams traveled to play Minnesota, they carried their water in a number of brown jugs, painted with the Michigan colors. One year, however, it was found that one of the jugs was missing. Every place was searched, but the container could not be found anywhere in connection with the Michigan team. The incident was more or less forgotten, until the next year, when, at the game at Ann Arbor, the Minnesota supporters appeared on the field with the brown jug, repainted with Minnesota colors. As soon as the Michigan undergraduates saw this, they promptly rushed out on the field, where a fight ensued for the possession of the trophy. After a long tussle, the original owners emerged victorious; but Minnesota was irate. Finally, after discussion, it was decided that the little brown jug should go to the winner of the annual game, to stay in that college's possession for the next 12 months. Ever since them, although the Gophers do not hold their former position of natural rivals, there is always much ado about the jug, and the festivities of the Gopher-Wolverine game hold a high place in the minds of the student bodies.