PJ Fleck Chugged From the Little Brown Jug and Stage Dived, And His Previous Blood-Wiping Stunt Was Even Crazier

PJ Fleck is at it again, folks. After Minnesota secured an upset victory over hated rival Michigan on Saturday, the Gophers’ coach dove into the locker room celebration with a performance that included chugging from the storied Little Brown Jug and hitting an epic stage dive. This latest display follows a week after he already grabbed headlines for a wild, albeit unhygienic, interaction with a player after beating Washington.

Fleck’s Locker Room Acrobatics After Beating Michigan

Fleck finished Saturday’s upset in undeniable style. He joined his team in the locker room and draped his gullet in water, straight from the Little Brown Jug. This heirloom hasn’t tended to land in Gophers’ hands much in recent years, making the moment even more significant. The veteran coach then took things up a notch, completing an epic stage dive. He looked less like a tactician and more like a musical artist, surrounded by his players, absolutely soaking in the moment. When you consider the significance of Minnesota’s win, that kind of response is totally understandable.

What’s the Deal with the Little Brown Jug Anyway?

For those wondering, the Little Brown Jug is the apparatus contested every time the Wolverines take on the Gophers. This earthenware jug was first introduced way back when Michigan bested Minnesota in the early 1900s. The story goes that former Wolverines boss Fielding H. Yost wielded the goblet in 1903. Yost, reportedly concerned the Gophers would contaminate the water supply to gain an advantage, told a student manager to purchase a jug.

The Wolverines tied Minnesota in the game that followed, with stormy weather and a field-storming by the Gophers’ faithful meaning the game just couldn’t be continued. Yost left the jug in the locker room, and that’s when Minnesota personnel painted it brown, covering what was traditionally a blue shade on half of the jug. The Gophers then wrote the game’s final score right there on the apparatus. More than 120 years later, that tradition still continues, with the victor adding their name to the surface of the flask.

Last Week: The Blood-Wiping Incident

Saturday’s heroics weren’t Fleck’s first dalliance with pomp and circumstance this season. Just one week earlier, the Minnesota coach garnered headlines for another intense show of emotion after the Gophers pulled off a dramatic win. After Minnesota’s victory over Washington was confirmed, Fleck made a beeline for defensive captain Maverick Baranowski, who had cut open his chin earlier in the contest. After embracing Baranowski with a hug, Fleck did something that definitely raised some eyebrows: he wiped Baranowski’s blood onto his own face. Yeah, that’s admittedly not the most sanitary move, but it sure showed his intensity.

Whether it’s chugging from an ancient jug, diving into a sea of players, or getting a little *too* close with a player’s battle wounds, PJ Fleck clearly knows how to celebrate a win. This guy isn’t just coaching; he’s putting on a show, and you can’t say it’s not entertaining.

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Originally reported by The Sporting News.