What a Trophy Can Mean
This past Saturday, October 23rd, the Michigan Wolverines defeated the Northwestern Wildcats in a college football battle for the George Jewett Trophy. Even though the teams have already played 75 times in the past, Saturday’s game was the first in which the winner took home this trophy.
In college football, trophy games represent historical rivalries and add a heightened flair to regular-season matchups. As of 2019, there were 156 trophy games contested between colleges and universities in NCAA Division I football. However, the George Jewett trophy bears a unique significance.
The Jewett Trophy is the first Division I FBS trophy to be named for an African-American player. This fact may appear shocking, given that 48 percent of college football players are African American, constituting the largest racial group in college football. The Jewett trophy serves as an important piece of college football history and establishes a precedent that other schools should follow.
Jewett’s Legacy: Breaking Societal Barriers
George Jewett was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and enrolled at the University of Michigan (U-M) in 1890 after finishing at the top of his Ann Arbor High School graduating class. Jewett was extremely talented, both mentally and physically, even before college: he was quadrilingual, captain of the high school debate team, and a three-sport athlete. Upon enrollment at U-M, Jewett joined the football team, becoming the first African American player to suit up for U-M. Jewett was immediately an impact player for the Wolverines all over the field. The young star saw time at halfback, fullback, and kicker during Michigan’s 1890 and 1892 seasons. Not only did Jewett play all of these positions, but he led the team in scoring, rushing, and kicking.
Jewett’s accomplishments on the field are even more impressive considering the racial discrimination he faced from other teams. In discussing Jewett’s life with the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library, former teammate Roger Sherman noted a memory from a game against Albion College. Albion players and fans vehemently opposed the idea of Jewett playing on the same field as them given his race. Jewett played, resulting in chants of racial slurs, and eventually a riot broke out in which fans stormed the field. Despite all of the hatred, Jewett played that game and helped the team leave Albion with a victory.
After the 1892 season, Jewett enrolled at Northwestern University to play football while pursuing a medical degree. In joining the Northwestern Purple football team (their mascot prior to the Wildcats), Jewett made history again. Just as at Michigan, Jewett was the first African American player to represent Northwestern University on the football field.
Upon graduation from Northwestern, Dr. Jewett practiced medicine in Chicago for a number of years. Eventually, he returned to his home city of Ann Arbor before unexpectedly passing at the age of 38. At Michigan, Jewett’s athletic career was an anomaly, as it would be another forty years before an African American player would earn a varsity letter from the football program.
An amazingly talented scholar and athlete, Jewett overcame the racial hardships of a time characterized by Jim Crow laws to thrive on and off the field. It is only right that both the University of Michigan and Northwestern University celebrate Jewett. He represented everything the two universities strive to be: excellence both in the classroom and on the field.
Prior to the inaugural George Jewett Trophy game, Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh said the Wolverines are “proud and excited” to play for the trophy. The word “proud” is important. U-M plays in two other trophy games each year, one against Michigan State and one against Minnesota. These games are certainly exciting, but the pride that is tied to playing for the nation's only trophy named for an African American player carries a deeper significance. Not only is the trophy unique, but it is an important step in recognizing and celebrating the contributions made to the sport by African American players.
Progress, But Not Enough
At the same time, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) ought to do more. With 156 Division I trophy games played each year, there is no reason why some games cannot be altered or added to celebrate minority contributions to the sport. Perhaps the University of Iowa and The Ohio State University could honor alumni Cal Jones and Jim Parker during their matchups. Jones and Parker were the first African American players to win the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best lineman in the country, in 1955 and 1956 respectively.
Iowa and OSU are not alone: since 1970, the majority of Heisman Trophies, the premier award in college football voted on annually and given to the best player in college football, have been won by African-American players. Every school’s program has been touched in some way by African American athletes, and these contributions should be made known.
Given that African American individuals represent almost half of the players in college football and consistently perform at the top of the game, it is a wonder that the Jewett Trophy is the first of its kind. Michigan and Northwestern have taken the first steps to celebrate the many contributions of African American players to the history of the sport. Other universities would do well to follow suit.