The Little Brown Jug

     The rivalry between the Newberry Indians and the Sault Ste Marie Blue Devils spans almost a century now.  The rivalry is made even more special by "The Little Brown Jug".  The Little Brown Jug is a traveling trophy that remains with the last team to win this rivalry.   Not until after talking with one former player who has played for the Little Brown Jug in their day as a High School athlete did I truly get an appreciation for this rivalry and what the "Jug" means.  Here is what was shared with me:  

      The Little Brown Jug stands for something that can only be truly understood by those who play for it.  It is more then just a traveling trophy, but a symbol of purity of high school football.  For almost a century young men from both schools have grown up dreaming of playing for this mystical piece of ceramic.  There is a rich history of high school football for both of these schools, but when they graduate and come back for their class reunions they are not going to talk about any other game except the Jug game.  The Jug game is indeed a rivalry and has spread into other sports.   The Newberry-Soo game is indeed an important one.  On each side its us against them.  But when the smoke clears and the jug is handed to the winning team, win or lose the players and coaches on each side know they have experienced something special.  The two schools and towns may not like each other, but they respect each other.  The experience of playing for the Jug is magical and all those involved are forever etched in it's history.

     I still don't know how or when the actual Little Brown Jug traveling trophy was introduced into this rivalry.  I also don't have a picture of it.  I would appreciate if anyone could get me a picture or give me the scoop behind the trophy.  Please email me if you can help out with either.

upfootball@chartermi.net

THE HISTORY OF THE LITTLE BROWN JUG

Sault Ste Marie leads series 52-26-5