Michigan vs. Minnesota Football Rivalry Bobblehead Unveiled Ahead of Saturday’s Game

This morning, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a limited-edition Michigan Wolverines vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Rivalry Bobblehead ahead of Saturday’s game between the two rivals in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The limited-edition bobblehead features vintage football players decked out in Michigan and Minnesota football uniforms with a replica of the Little Brown Jug between them. The bobblehead commemorates the rivalry, which goes back to 1892.

The special edition bobblehead, which is being released in conjunction with the 106th meeting between the Wolverines and Golden Gophers on Saturday, September 28th at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is available exclusively from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the University of Michigan and University of Minnesota.

All the details are below, and you can find pictures and graphics of the bobblehead that you can use at this Dropbox link. The bobbleheads are now available exclusively in our online store at the following link.

• The bobbleheads are now available in the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store at this link.
• The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in January, are $50 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.
• Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,024.
• The bobblehead is being released in conjunction with the 106th meeting between the teams on Saturday, September 28th at Michigan Stadium (aka the “Big House”) in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
• Standing side-by-side on a football field base that reads “WOLVERINES” in one end zone and “GOLDEN GOPHERS” in the other end zone, the Michigan Wolverines and Minnesota Golden Gophers Vintage Bobble Boys are wearing their respective uniforms while giving the No. 1 signal and holding a football adorned with their school logo. Positioned in between them is a replica of the Little Brown Jug Trophy, which is reversible so either side can be visible from the front. The front of the base features the logos for each team.
• Michigan-Minnesota is one of the oldest and most played rivalries in college football, dating to 1892. Michigan holds a commanding 77-25-3 in the all-time series. After a 52-10 victory in last year’s matchup, the Wolverines have won the last four meetings, 10 of 11 and 26 of the last 28. Both universities are founding members of the Big Ten Conference. As a result of the Big Ten not playing a complete round-robin schedule, Michigan and Minnesota occasionally did not play. When the conference expanded in 2014, the teams were placed into opposite divisions (Michigan in the East, Minnesota in the West), meaning the rivalry will not be contested every year. With the addition of UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington to the conference in 2024, the fate of the rivalry is up in the air as Michigan and Minnesota were not classified as Protected Opponents.
• The Little Brown Jug is the most regularly exchanged rivalry trophy in college football, the oldest trophy game in FBS college football, and the second oldest rivalry trophy overall. The earthenware jug is emblazoned with the block “Ms” for both Michigan and Minnesota, as well as the scores of games in the series. In 1903, third-year Michigan coach Fielding Yost grew paranoid that 10-0 Minnesota would attempt to sabotage 7-0 Michigan as it rode a 29-game win streak into Minneapolis to face the Gophers. As such, he instructed student manager Thomas B. Roberts to purchase a water jug. He obliged, buying a five-gallon Red Wing Pottery jug for 30 cents at a local store. After Minnesota tied the game at 6-6 with two minutes to play, the home fans stormed the field, forcing officials to call the game. In the ensuing pandemonium, the jug was left behind and recovered by Minnesota equipment manager Oscar Munson, who decorated it with the score of the game. The next time the two teams met in 1909, Minnesota athletic director L.J. Cooke suggested the winner of the game take home the jug. Yost agreed, with Michigan winning the game and the jug. With that, a new tradition was born.
• “We’re excited to unveil this limited-edition Michigan vs. Minnesota Rivalry Bobblehead ahead of tomorrow’s game in Ann Arbor,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “This bobblehead will be the perfect way for Michigan and Minnesota fans, alumni, students, faculty, and staff to show off their school and state pride!”
• The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st. St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country.