1903 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team

Schedule

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Game summaries

Michigan

The eighth game of the season matched Minnesota against Michigan in a game played at Northrop Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The New York Times reported that the match, "one of the most desperate football games seen in the West in years," was witnessed by "fully 30,000 spectators." The game ended in a 6–6 tie, the first time in the Yost era that Michigan had not achieved a victory. During the first half, Minnesota outgained Michigan 155 yards to 60 yards. The Michigan defense held, and the first half ended in a scoreless tie.

With 15 minutes remaining in the game, Michigan sustained a 65-yard drive culminating with a touchdown by right tackle Joe Maddock. On the drive that followed, the Michigan line was "unable to sustain Schacht's fierce line smashes," and Minnesota tied the game with a touchdown run by its fullback, Boeckmann, and Rogers kicked the point after touchdown. Although approximately two minutes remained in the game, Minnesota fans surged onto the field, and the game had to be ended early.

When the Michigan team returned to Ann Arbor on November 1, the players were greeted by a crowd of 5,000 singing and yelling at the depot. The crowd attached ropes to a bus and towed the team to campus while continuing with organized songs and yells. At a rally near the law building, Willie Heston told the crowd that the Minnesota players were "the roughest lot of sluggers I ever went up against." Heston's right eye was nearly swollen shut, and his nose bore "marks of terrific smashes." The Detroit Free Press condemned "the muckerish tactics of the crowd and the pugilistic efforts of the Gophers." Several in attendance reported that Minnesota assistant coach Pudge Heffelfinger had been heard yelling from the sidelines, "Kill off Heston in the first ten minutes, or you'll lose." The crowd reportedly picked up the comment and responded with the yell, "Kill off Heston." The game's umpire, Henry Clark, was selected by Minnesota, and he came under heavy criticism from Michigan loyalists for failing to call Minnesota for its rough play.

The Minnesota game generated gross gate receipts of $30,933.50. After deducting expenses, Michigan's share was $13,000. Yost defended his team's performance upon his return to Ann Arbor. Pulling a criss-crossed chart from his pocket, Yost walked through the progress of the game with reporters. Even though Minnesota outgained Michigan in the first half, Yost said:"Why, they never had the ball inside our 30-yard line but once during the first half, and it was just inside at that time. The goal was never in danger because our boys played a scientific defensive game and kept the ball in the air part of the time, where it belonged. We had good headwork as well as beef, and I do not think it is fair to Michigan to say that she was outplayed in the first half. The touchdown the Minnesota boys made was made after dark, when nobody could see the ball, and of course that prevented us from stopping them. Also, the field was crowned. I am confident, however, that we have the better team. That man Gooding and Heston played a wonderful game, and all the boys did, for that matter. I have no fault to find with anyone."

Little Brown Jug

The 1903 game against Minnesota also gave rise to the tradition of the two teams playing for the Little Brown Jug. When the Michigan team arrived in Minneapolis, Yost reportedly instructed student manager Thomas B. Roberts to purchase a water jug. Roberts purchased a five-gallon jug for 30¢ from a local variety store. In the chaos that ensued when the Minnesota crowd rushed onto the field, the Wolverines left the jug behind. Thomas Roberts, writing in 1956, stated that the jug had served its purpose, so he intentionally left it sitting on the field. The next day, custodian Oscar Munson brought the jug to L. J. Cooke, head of the Minnesota athletics department. Cooke and Munson painted the jug brown and wrote on it, "Michigan Jug – Captured by Oscar, October 31, 1903." According to legend, Yost sent a letter asking for the jug to be returned, and Cooke wrote in response: "We have your little brown jug; if you want it, you'll have to win it." Yost returned with his team in 1909 to reclaim the jug, and the two teams have awarded the jug to the winner of their annual rivalry game.

References

References

1. "1903 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
2. "The Little Brown Jug - Minnesota vs. Michigan". University of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletics.
3. Papas Jr., Al. (1990). "Gopher Sketchbook". Nodin Press.
4. (1903-12-10). "Walter Camp Names All American Team". The Trenton Times.
5. Caspar Whitney. (January 1904). "The Sportsman's View Point". Outing.
6. (1903-12-03). "Picked Football Teams". Grand Traverse Herald.
7. Billy Mac. (December 1, 1903). "All-Western Team Picked By Critics". The St. Paul Globe.
8. Billy Mac. (November 29, 1903). "Five Gophers On All-Western Team". The St. Paul Globe.
9. (November 30, 1903). "Schacht Picked By All Chicago Papers". The Saint Paul Globe.
10. (November 29, 1903). "Lowenthal Picks An All-Western Eleven". The St. Paul Globe.
11. (November 28, 1903). "All-Western Team". The Minneapolis Journal.
12. (1904). "Spalding's Official Foot Ball Guide 1904". American Sports Publishing Company.
13. (October 18, 1903). "Hawkeyes Meet a Most Decisive and Crushing Defeate: Minnesota, 75; Iowa, Nothing". The Sunday Tribune.
14. . (November 3, 1903). ["Minnesota Second Wins"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115104756/star-tribune/). *[[Star Tribune*.
15. Mac, Billy. (November 27, 1903). "Gophers Land Championship". The St. Paul Globe.
16. (November 1, 1903). "Michigan 6; Minnesota 6". The New York Times.
17. (November 1, 1903). "Score Was 6 to 6, and There Were Two Minutes Left to Play". Detroit Free Press.
18. (November 2, 1903). "Big Reception at Ann Arbor: Returning Michigan Football Team Met By Crowd; Players Tell of the Slugging Done by Gophers; Chances Are That Minnesota May Be Dropped". Detroit Free Press.
19. (November 1903). "The Minnesota Game". The Michigan Alumnus.
20. (November 3, 1903). "No Doubt of Rough Usage: More Stories of Minnesota's Fighting Tactics; Gopher Players Instructed to 'Kill Off' Heston". Detroit Free Press.
21. (November 4, 1903). "Gopher Game Nets $13,000: Michigan Share of Minnesota Gate Money; Yost Partially Excuses the Minnesota Roughing". Detroit Free Press.
22. (November 3, 1903). ["Not Outplayed: Yost Says Gophers Had Nothing on Michigan"](https://secure.pqarchiver.com/freep/access/1764370172.html?FMT=AI&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+3%2C+1903&author=&pub=Detroit+Free+Press+(1858-1922)&desc=NOT+OUTPLAYED.}}{{Dead link). Detroit Free Press.
23. "The Little Brown Jug – Minnesota vs. Michigan". Golden Gopher Gridiron.