Earlier this year, Northwestern University and the University of Michigan announced the creation of a new rivalry game between the two institutions. This Saturday, the Wildcats and Wolverines will battle for possession of the George Jewett Trophy, the first rivalry game trophy named for a Black player in the history of college football. But who exactly is George Jewett, and why have we never heard of him before?
Jewett was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI and enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1890 after being named valedictorian at Ann Arbor High, where he was a standout in track, football and baseball.