HARRIS, Sigmund

Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/81957702/person/34454957932/facts?_phsrc=cbC1182&_phstart=successSource

HARRIS, Sigmund "Sig." (Dubuque, IA, July 2, 1883 – Minneapolis, MN, Nov. 8, 1964). University of Minnesota’s All-American quarterback in 1902–04, Harris played a critical role in the Little Brown Jug game between Minnesota and Michigan in 1903.

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."

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.

In 1901 Harris enrolled at the Minnesota College of Engineering and Mechanical Arts. During the 1902 season, his first year as the starting quarterback, Minnesota finished with a 9–2–1 record.

Harris called every play during the 1903 season, as the sideline coach was restricted from calling plays during college football’s early years. He was named first team Fielding H. Yost All-American, third team Walter Camp All-American, and first team Camp All-Western.

The Minnesota 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.

Harris 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.

Harris was largely considered responsible for Minnesota recruiting Gopher football legend Bobby Marshall, the first African American football player at the University of Minnesota. Neighborhood friends and stars at Minneapolis Central High School, Harris came to the U of M in 1901, followed by Marshall in the fall of 1903.

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 the head coach 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 returned to coaching for a brief time, but he was devoted full-time to the machinery business that he founded in 1905 and continued to head until his death in 1964.

Harris is a member of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.

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Source:

"Sigmund Harris." Wikipedia

"Sigmund Harris." University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Online: http://www.gophersports.com/genrel/090607abj.html