George Jewett’s legacy is honored as Michigan football players face Northwestern in rivalry

ANN ARBOR, MI. – Struggle Michigan Wolverines The football program has a chance to save its season this weekend when it takes on the Northwestern Wildcats in George Jewett Trophy game of competition.

The 5-5 Wolverines, who are one game away from becoming bowl eligible, have a chance to retain another trophy as they honor Jewett, the first African-American football player to play Big Ten football.

Jewett graduated from Pioneer High School (formerly Ann Arbor High School) as valedictorian of his class in 1889. He was also an outstanding athlete, starring in baseball and football.

Jewett broke the color barrier in the Big Ten in 1890, becoming the first African-American football player to play football at the University of Michigan.

The struggling Michigan Wolverines football team has a chance to salvage its season this weekend when it takes on the Northwestern Wildcats in contention for the George Jewett Trophy. (Michigan Athletics)

The superstar athlete played cornerback and defensive back for the Maizes during his freshman season, excelling in ball defense and as a placekicker.

Army Knife Swizz helped the Wolverines have a near-perfect season, finishing with a 4-1 record.

Jewett did not attend school during the 1891 season, but the team became the first Michigan football team to lose five games in a season and finish with a 4–5 record.

He returned for the 1892 season, starting every game in the backfield to help the Men in the Corn become the first team to finish with a 7–5 record and the first team to reach the seven-win mark in program history.

During his time on Wolverine, Jewett, who had achieved success, faced much ridicule for the color of his skin as Jim Crow laws were still in effect.

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Some called Jewett Jackie Robinson football team “Wolverines”.

However, he was determined to lay the foundation for future African American athletes such as Anthony Carter, Braylon Edwards, Denard Robinson, Mike Hartnational champion Blake Corumand Heisman Trophy winners Desmond Howard And Charles Woodson.

FILE – In this Dec. 13, 1997 file photo, Michigan’s Charles Woodson poses with the Heisman Trophy after becoming the first defensive player ever to win the award at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York. . Tyrann Mathieu’s play for top-ranked LSU spawned a grassroots Heisman Trophy campaign run by LSU fans, which includes the Tyrann Mathieu Heisman Facebook page. His chances of joining Woodson as the second defensive player in the modern era of football to win the Heisman are probably pretty slim. (AP Photo/Adam Nadel, File) (AP1997)

Jewett transferred to Northwestern for two seasons after spending two seasons with the Wolverines while earning his medical degree.

This led to announcement in 2021 that the winner of the Wolverines-Wildcats game will receive the George Jewett Trophy.

Saturday’s matchup (Nov. 23) is crucial as the defending College Football Playoff champions need a win to advance to a bowl game.

They currently hold the trophies, having defeated Northwestern 33-7 in their first game of 2021, so it’s safe to say that Saturday’s game is a big deal for the 145 team.