ST. CLOUD -- Gopher football fans had a chance of a lifetime getting to see the traveling trophy known as the "Little Brown Jug"

Fans of the maroon and gold piled into TCF Bank in St. Cloud today (Tuesday) for a chance to see the famous trophy.

The Jug has been making it's way on a small tour through Minnesota stopping at TCF branches and Cub Food locations.

Peg Haws is a lifetime Gopher fan. She says it's exciting to see the trophy in person.

"I've spent 25 years living in Michigan and followed their sports but never lost my love of the Gophers and Minnesota in general," says Haws.

Fans had a chance to take photos, touch the jug and relive old memories.

Tom Belfiori's father played for the Gophers from 1936-1939. He tells a story of a little jug passed down in his family after the 1938 homecoming game.

"This little jug is from the homecoming in 1938. It says 'Jug Michigan' on it and the Gophers beat Michigan here 7-6 and these were passed out," says Belfiori.

The annual battle for the Little Brown Jug is the oldest trophy game in college football, dating back to 1909. The Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, September 27 to bring the Jug home to Minnesota for the first time since 2005.

"It's great, when I had my picture taken I had them turn it to the side where the 1930s football scores were on there to see the scores from when my father played," says Belfiori.

"You touch history, and how many lives have been affected by this jug," says Haws.

The trophy is carefully guarded by the football equipment manager at the winning school and is painted with the victories from each team.

 

Gopher fans take a picture next to the Little Brown Jug. (Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON News)
Gopher fans take a picture next to the Little Brown Jug. (Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON News)
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