MINNEAPOLIS - The image is burned in the minds of the Michigan Wolverines.

The Minnesota Gophers rushing across the field at the storied Big House and grabbing the coveted Little Brown Jug, the oldest rivalry trophy in the nation.

It was an embarrassment of epic proportions for those Wolverines, who hadn't relinquished the trophy in 20 years.

Now they want it back. Sixth-ranked Michigan comes into the Metrodome on Saturday night with a score to settle and a reputation to restore.

"Unfortunately, I was unable to show our team what it looks like," coach Lloyd Carr said. "I love the Little Brown Jug. I think looking back at it, the history, the tradition of that trophy, it's the oldest in college football history, which you all know. And you probably don't care. If you're a Michigan football player, if you're a Minnesota football player, I guarantee you care."

For most of the trophy's 103 years, it has belonged to the Wolverines. They've played the Gophers for the five-gallon jug 88 times and are 63-22-3 in those games, dating back to 1903.

That Michigan lost the trophy on its home turf, and the stunning fashion in which it happened, makes it that much more bitter.

Last year's game was tied with just more than 1 minute to play. The Gophers had the ball deep in their own terri-tory and seemed content to run out the clock and go into overtime. But running back Gary Russell broke loose for a 61-yard run that set up Jason Giannini's game-winning field goal with 1 second to play.

"At the Big Ten media day this year, a lot of their guys were saying they couldn't believe they lost to us," Minne-sota quarterback Bryan Cupito said. "That kind of surprised me how focused they were on beating us. They were fired up."

That can't be good news for the Gophers (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten). They lost nearly all of their playmakers from last year's team that won in the Big House, including NFL players Laurence Maroney, Greg Eslinger and Mark Setterstrom, and Russell, who didn't qualify academically.

Minnesota has been unimpressive this season, with victories against Kent State and Temple -two of the worst pro-grams in Division I -and losses at Cal and Purdue.

The Wolverines (4-0, 1-0) roll into Minneapolis with impressive victories over Notre Dame and Wisconsin and a defense that has been outstanding.

"They've always got more talent than us. That's not a question," Cupito said. "That's fine. We found a way to beat them last year. And hopefully we can do it again."

Long known for stingy defense, the Wolverines had recently slipped in that department before regaining form this season in allowing just more than 18 yards rushing a game.

"This is a dominant defense," Minnesota coach Glen Mason said.

In recent seasons, the Gophers would be more than equipped to go toe-to-toe with such a defense. With stars on the offensive line and in the backfield, they have emerged as one of the best rushing teams in the nation this century.

They are averaging 227 rushing yards a game, statistics padded in a 44-0 win over Kent State and a 62-0 victory over Temple.

Of course, none of the numbers will matter Saturday night.

Winning the jug was a benchmark moment for Mason and the Gophers. It rests in a glass case in the lounge of Minnesota's football building and has been visited by fans, alumni and former players.

"I like how it looks in our lounge there," Gophers tackle Joe Ainslie said. "Hopefully we can hold on to it. … A lot of people talk about it and Michigan guys talk about it, too. They're going to want to take it back this week."

Carr said he's not interested in revenge, but his players hint otherwise.

"Watching them come get the trophy was tough, but that was last year and we're not living in the past," tackle Jake Long said. "We just want to go out this year, work hard and try to come out with a win."

And a jug.