University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Athletics Timeline (1900-1909)
1900
Dr. Henry L. Williams becomes Minnesota’s first full-time, salaried football coach; his team wins the Big Nine (now Big Ten) title the same year.
1902
Minnesota has a 15-0 men’s basketball season and wins the Helms National Championship.
1903
Minnesota wins the first of its 21 Big Ten Conference men’s gymnastics titles.
1903
Minnesota and Michigan battle to a 6-6 tie on the gridiron and Michigan leaves their water jug behind. The jug would end up becoming one of the most famous traveling rivalry trophies in college football, the Little Brown Jug.
1903
First women’s basketball team competes extramurally, wins 10 games and is awarded letters by the Board of Athletic Control. This marks the first time such recognition had been granted to a women’s team.
1904
Bobby Marshall, a graduate of Minneapolis Central High School, becomes the first African-American to play football in what will become the Big Ten.
1909
The University of Minnesota “Rouser,” written by Floyd Hutsell wins a statewide contest for a new, spirited song for sporting events.
1909
Minnesota plays its first “Little Brown Jug” football game with Michigan.