Little Brown Jug question

Submitted by Former_DC_Buck on October 5th, 2022 at 10:45 PM

If Michigan and Minnesota were to make it to the B1G Championship game, would the Jug also be up for grabs?  Got to thinking about this today when Tony Gerdman (Michigan Monday) was wondering if Illinois and OSU made it, would it be an Illibuck game? I would think so, but not sure.  Didn't know if you folks had discussed this and I might have missed it.  

Most of the trophy games in the B1G are within the Divisions.  Sadly the Broken Bits of Chair falls into this category.

Sons of Louis Elbel

October 6th, 2022 at 7:10 AM ^

Interestingly, when Illinois' most (only?) famous fictional alum, Lt. Col. Henry Blake, tells the sad story of his screw-up as the team trainer in a tight game against tOSU, he doesn't mention the shame of losing the Illibuck as part of it. 

And I say yes: if we're playing Minny, regardless of time, place, circumstances, the Jug is up for grabs.  

LSAClassOf2000

October 6th, 2022 at 7:46 AM ^

I rather bristle at the idea of the rivalry trophies being relitigated by the conference championship game, to be honest, even if playing someone twice is obviously a definite likelihood in any given year depending on how things turn out in the divisions.

I don't have strong enough feelings on the matter to me upset at the prospect though, so if it was....well, I guess we just have to work a bit harder to keep the Little Brown Jug in its Ann Arbor flat that it has adorned nicely these past few decades (save for a couple holidays in Minnesota over the last 50 years). 

Wolverine In Exile

October 6th, 2022 at 10:02 AM ^

The best thing is that the Jug would be more important than the B1G Trophy (TM) Presented by Insure-o-matic LLC. Imagine if you will Kevin Warren standing near the end zone with the B1G trophy ready to hand to Coach Harbaugh after the final whistle and, when the time expires, the entire Michigan team goes to get the Jug and parades around with that while B1G Commissioner stands there with his sad trophy waiting for someone to acknowledge him. 

fishgoblue1

October 6th, 2022 at 9:30 AM ^

I would say no, the B1G trophy/championship is all that should be on the line IMHO.  But I'm not in charge.

Oklahoma and Texas did not put the Golden Hat on the line for the Big 12 Championship game in 2018.  Not saying that is precedent, just pointing it out.

https://www.oudaily.com/sports/ou-football-golden-hat-not-up-for-grabs-in-big/article_93cd4492-f1af-11e8-be1e-1b7359b841d4.html

Wolverine In Exile

October 6th, 2022 at 12:02 PM ^

Difference: OU & Texas already played for the hat that year. In the scenario discussed above, UMich would be playing UMinn for the first time in the season in the B1G Championship game. I say Jug is on the line (and I'm one of the guys who said that Lloyd should've came out the week before the game and said winner of the 2006 Footballmageddon between us and OSU should not get a rematch, no matter what. Burn the Boats). 

eje201

October 6th, 2022 at 9:47 AM ^

apocalyptic scenario: post CFP expansion, two undefeated teams play in the regular season for the jug, both continue to win out and play again in the conference championship. Both make the playoffs and meet a 3rd time. 

WolverineHistorian

October 6th, 2022 at 11:27 AM ^

The Little Brown Jug - A great trophy with a great backstory between two football powers who despised each other over 100 years ago.  The trophy that inspired endless copycats.

All the other trophy games - random objects or fairytale paraphernalia played for between two schools with no backstory.   The majority are flat out embarrassing.  OSU/Illinois has it backwards.  The LOSER of that game should have to keep that turtle thing, not the winner.  

saveferris

October 6th, 2022 at 11:45 AM ^

Trophy games are regular season events.  I would think that if we wind up facing Minnesota in Indianapolis, the Jug will be left behind in Ann Arbor.  We'll be playing for a more important trophy anyway.

Soulfire21

October 6th, 2022 at 1:19 PM ^

I would prefer it to be on the line, but other conferences haven’t played for trophies in the title games. Not that that should impact this decision, but providing some context from other conferences.

It might be weird from the post-game perspective when they present the conference championship trophy.

umfan83

October 6th, 2022 at 4:10 PM ^

This post just made me go down the rabbit hole trying to determine the rare times when neither Little Brown Jug or Paul Bunyan have resided in Ann Arbor.  I could definitely have missed something, but I think the only year since 1966 when neither trophy is here was between 2014 and 2015 seasons.