Sig Harris was University of Minnesota’s All-America quarterback in 1903 and 1904. He called every play during the 1903 season, when the Gophers won a share of the Western Conference title (14–0–1), and every play in 1904 when the team went undefeated (13–0–0).

Minnesota’s 6–6 tie with Michigan in 1903 was the only game neither team won that season, and it was the contest that inaugurated “The Little Brown Jug” rivalry that continues to this day.

The 5'51/2" 140-pound Harris called all his team’s plays, because sideline coaching was penalized during college football’s early years. He was also the team’s punter, punt returner, and defensive
safety. In 1902, his first year as starting quarterback, Minnesota finished with a 10–2–1 record. During the following undefeated season, the Gophers scored 656 points to their opponents’
12! And six of those opposition points were registered in the Michigan tie game. In Minnesota’s undefeateduntied season of 1904, the Gophers registered 725 points to 12 for its opponents
(Nebraska was the only team to score).

It is significant to note that during this era college football was played on a 110-yard field. First downs were five yards in three downs, and there was no forward passing. A touchdown counted
for five points.

Following graduation, Harris signed on as the sole assistant coach at Minnesota under Dr. Henry Williams and held that position until 1920. He returned for other coaching stints— 1926 to 1927 and 1930 to 1941—all the while devoting full time to the machinery
business he founded in 1905, and continued to head until his death.