Sigmund Harris
Encyclopedia
Sigmund "Sig" Harris 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.
, Harris and his family moved to Minneapolis when he was young, where:
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.
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 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.
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 1905 and continued to head until his death in 1964.
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
’s All-American quarterback in 1902–04, for powerful teams under Dr. Henry L. Williams
Henry L. Williams
Dr. Henry Lane Williams was an American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at the United States Military Academy in 1891 and the University of Minnesota from 1900 to 1921, compiling a career college football record of 141–34–12...
. 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, IowaDubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
, Harris and his family moved to Minneapolis when he was young, where:
I went to ChederChederA Cheder is a traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language.-History:...
. 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
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
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 at the Minnesota College of Engineering and Mechanical Arts, 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
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
’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
Walter Camp
Walter Chauncey Camp was an American football player, coach, and sports writer known as the "Father of American Football". With John Heisman, Amos Alonzo Stagg, Pop Warner, Fielding H. Yost, and George Halas, Camp was one of the most accomplished persons in the early history of American football...
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.
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 BiermanBernie Bierman
Bernard W. "Bernie" Bierman was an American football player and coach. He coached from 1919 to 1950 except for a span during World War II when he served in the U.S. armed forces...
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 1905 and continued to head until his death in 1964.