The Old Brass Spittoon has been around since 1950, yet it is rarely recognized in the realm of rivalry trophies. While Michigan State and Indiana have been playing each other ever since 1922 they did not begin their rivalry until The Old Brass Spittoon was brought in. Before that these two teams had four meetings, Indiana won three of them and the other ended in a 7-7 tie in East Lansing.
The tradition itself was first introduced by Michigan State Class President Eugene McDermott. The Year McDermott went out and bought the Spittoon it was supposedly for even more motivation for the Spartan players that year.