Sigmund Harris Sigmund " Sig " Harris ( July 2 , 1883 – November 8 , 1964 ) was University of Minnesota ’ s All - American quarterback in 1902 – 04 , for powerful teams under Dr . Henry L . Williams . He was also a plucky , 5 ' 5 " 1 / 2 145 - pound blocking back , punter , punt returner , and defensive safety , and played a critical role in the Little Brown Jug game between Minnesota and Michigan in 1903 . Early life . Born in Dubuque , Iowa , Harris and his family moved to Minneapolis when he was young , where : I went to Cheder . There was no other organization for Jewish education in those days . I lived some distance from the Jewish population in town . I always felt that I considerably missed Jewish life in not being in closer touch with our people . Interested in football from a young age , he played for the Minneapolis Central High School team and distinguished himself in 1900 against the University of Minnesota football team ( the Gophers began each season with games against local high school teams ) when his Central team held the powerful Gophers to a scoreless tie . College . The following year , Harris enrolled in the College of Engineering and Mechanical Arts at the University of Minnesota , and that season was the second - string quarterback behind " Gloomy " Gil Dobie , who later became a famous coach . During the 1902 season , his first year as the starting quarterback , Minnesota finished with a 9 – 2 – 1 record . He called every play during the 1903 season , as the sideline coach was restricted from calling plays during college football ’ s early years , when the Gophers won a share of the Western Conference title ( 14 – 0 – 1 ; Minnesota out - scored its opponents 656 – 12 ) . Harris was named first team Fielding H . Yost All - American , third team Walter Camp All - American , and first team Camp All - Western . The Minnesota - Michigan game ended 6 – 6 when Minnesota fans rushed onto the field and the game was called soon after because of darkness , even though minutes remained on the clock . The next day , a Minnesota custodian found a drinking jug left near the Michigan bench . Minnesota officials wired their rivals that Michigan could have the jug back by beating the Gophers on the football field , and the " Little Brown Jug " rivalry was born . He also called every play in 1904 when the team went undefeated ( 13 – 0 – 0 ) , to capture a second consecutive co - Western Conference championship . During the season , the team out - scored its opponents 725 – 12 , with Nebraska notching the only opponent points on the season in a 16 – 12 contest . He was named third team Camp All - American . Coaching . Following graduation , Harris signed on as the sole assistant coach , and held that position until 1920 . He even served as a substitute head coach for a game in 1922 when Williams suddenly took ill . Harris also was called upon by Head Coach Bernie Bierman to give locker room pep talks to the Golden Gophers before Michigan games during the 1930s , reminding the team of the Little Brown Jug . He would return to coaching for a brief time , but he was devoted full - time to the machinery business that he founded in 1903 and continued to head until his death in 1964 . Hall of Fame . Harris is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame .