Gallon (21), Avery (11), Funchess (87) get Legends Jerseys
Very deserving.
Avery, Funchess, Gallon to Don Michigan Football Legends Jerseys: http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082713aad.html … pic.twitter.com/BOvlZtjtcg
August 27th, 2013 at 11:56 AM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 11:43 AM ^
I personally think that is the key. Let the players keep their own numbers and turn them into something we always remember. Hard to create new legacies when the guys who are good are switching uniform numbers to old guys' numbers.
August 27th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 1:50 PM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 5:43 PM ^
That would be dubious, as there's no rule preventing either number at either position in the NCAA. He can wear a single digit number at wide receiver, and at qb, and can wear 12 at either position.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
I get that they are trying to start a new tradition honoring the program's history. That's cool. But changing guys numbers in their final year in the program just screws with me. I never got used to Roundtree in 21, and I imagine I will be wildly confused by Gallon in the number.
August 27th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 3:23 PM ^
Not so much confusing him for anyone. It's an immediate reaction of "who the heck is 21?" I had the same problem when JT Floyd became #8.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
in someone's career do they decide " I want to make my own legend number!"?
August 27th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
grumble grumble
its a great honor for them, makes my life a bit more confusing. at least they are not doing it mid-season like last year.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:14 AM ^
To shadow what everyone else is saying, this is getting really annoying. I hate seniors changing their numbers.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:15 AM ^
Funchess is going to have a MONSTER year. and now that hes a legend...shiiiiiet, its ova
August 27th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^
I hate the legends jerseys idea. They should go to incoming freshmen if, anything.
[Edit: there should be the #1 jersey which goes to only super stud WRs and the #2 jersey which is worn by super stud DBs. And they must want to wear it, it's not forced upon them.]
August 27th, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^
Are Legends jerseys forced? I always assumed they were offered to deserving players, and accepted by the player as an honor. I can't imagine Hoke would tell a kid he has no choice but to wear it.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
I'm not sure I could imagine a player rejecting the honor, even if they weren't thrilled about it...
August 27th, 2013 at 12:07 PM ^
Couldn't Gallon just say, "Thanks, that's a great honor, but I've become really attached to #10 and want to make it my own legacy?"
August 27th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^
And if he were to go that route, I really can't picture Coach Hoke holding it against him. BH is a reasonable man, I see no reason at all to think he would be anything short of completely understanding and respectful of any player's decision to turn down a legends jersey. In fact, I can picture a little twinkle in BH's eye if Gallon for instance wanted to keep his number... Coach Hoke is already proud of his players, I can't see that changing over something so small.
And to those of you that are frustrated with keeping track of the new numbers... deal with it? Doesn't really seem like a big deal. I'm pretty sure you'll get used to seeing Gallon wearing #21 after a game or two.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^
I assume it is like off-season conditioning. You don't have to do it, but it is highly recommended that you do.
August 27th, 2013 at 12:00 PM ^
Without a doubt. Great analogy.
August 27th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^
Yeah, I imagine at least some of the players with new numbers have taken them on begrudgingly. An athlete's number becomes incredibly personal. Some wear the same number for years, and while they may not have the autonomy to pick their number at the start of their college careers, by the time they become seniors I'm sure there's a sense of ownership over their number. Hell, in my adult rec league, some 30+ men make a big deal about getting "their" number everytime the jerseys come in.
Maybe Funchess is perfectly content to ditch #19, but I bet at least a small part of Gallon and Avery wish they could simply be honored without having to change numbers.
August 27th, 2013 at 1:27 PM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 2:00 PM ^
Hah! =)
While we're at it, I bet we could solve some of our population problems if we would just start eating children...
August 27th, 2013 at 5:45 PM ^
^^^ Plus10,000.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
That's frustrating. I've always touted my #10 jersey as my Jeremy Gallon jersey. Now that he's finally getting the acclaim that he deserves, though, he switches numbers. I guess I'll just have to go with my Denard Robinson jersey this year.
Also, I was looking forward to Funchess staying with #19 so that he could get his own patch one day. Then, every other tight end strives to get that unusual number for their jersey. 87 is just another tight end number now.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
Waiting for "Jerseys Are For Kids" Guy to chime. I hate that guy.
August 27th, 2013 at 12:01 PM ^
Jerseys should not be worn by full grown adults!
That better?
August 27th, 2013 at 12:30 PM ^
Why? They're just shirts with numbers.
August 27th, 2013 at 12:46 PM ^
Is that you?
August 27th, 2013 at 1:09 PM ^
Team Trolls-Too-Hard over here...
August 27th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^
The belly-aching here is so funny.
"Oh woe is me! A football player changed numbers! Now I'm not used to them being that number! My life is so hard, Brady Hoke should be fired!"
Look, this is a way to not only honor past greats, but also reward players who the coches think deserve it.
I'm sure no one is forcing these players to change numbers, they only do so if they want to. If they want to have their own number their entire career, I'm sure they can. Denard played in two years while Hoke implemented this, but he was still 16 the entire time. Even Kovacs who changed numbers will still thought of as 32, no one will say he's 11 now. It's a small thing, stop whining.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
Seriously. It might throw me off at first but by the 3rd of 4th offensive series of the season I'm used to it. I have a hard time sympathizing with the people making those complaints.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^
No one ever said that. Stop trying to act all high and mighty because it doesn't bother you.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 11:59 AM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
implies "over," using them both is redundant. It is like saying the sun was "brightly-bright." You don't need both.
And what he is saying is that just because your opinion is the exception to the rule does not make it insightful and eye-opening. It just makes you in the firm minority on this issue, nothing more.
August 27th, 2013 at 3:57 PM ^
I love when people start goign after grammar on this blog, because it means they can't go after the content of the post.
When did I ever say that my comment was eye-opening or insightful? I never said that, nor did I intend for it to be. I know I am firmly in the minority, that's what I wanted my comment to put forward, so I guess it succeeded.
And to take this statement;
"No one ever said that. Stop trying to act all high and mighty because it doesn't bother you. "
And turn it into;
"he is saying is that just because your opinion is the exception to the rule does not make it insightful and eye-opening."
Is a pretty damn big, and just plain dumb, leap to make. If he wanted to say what you're implying, he would have. What he meant to say, and did say, was no one ever said that, which was just wrong.
Also, I appreciate the douchey overtone to your post as well. Just because you disagree with me and can act like a dick when responding to my post doesn't make you right, it makes you an asshole.
And I know, get off your lawn.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
lolwut? Like 6 guys in this thread alone have complained about this being too confusing and not something they can easily get used to.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^
The complaints are stockpiling even higher now. Need a napkin for that egg on your face? Watch someone complain so hard the thread gets locked.
August 27th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^
Are you really arguing that liking the Legends Jersey Program is acting "all high and mighty," as opposed to the arguments being advanced against the program.
I don't think I'm high and mighty because I will get used to Gallon wearing the #21 after the 1st quarter against CMU ... I just think I'm a die-hard Michigan fan that will get giddy at seeing the #21 making big plays again.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
It raises awareness of those players. You go up to the average fan and they most likely won't know who Al Wistert or Bennie Oosterbaan was. Or what numbers were retired and who they each belong to.
I'm just not too crazy about #98 coming out. That number is sacred and should be retired forever. Basketball does pretty much the same thing.
Only one of the five jerseys hanging in Crisler are actually retired. #33 Cazzie Russell. The rest are in circulation. They just never made a big deal about it.
August 27th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^
Thank-you for saying what needed to be said. They don't give out the numbers for the benefit of the fans. It's a great honor for the players and draws attention to the great tradition at Michigan.
And for those complaining about players making their own legacy, they could always use the number from before the switch. If Gallon really does do enough to have #10 put into Legends circulation, then they can use that number. BUT, do you then honor Gallon or Tom Brady? I gurantee people wouldn't be screaming "get off my lawn" if Gallon had been awarded the #1.....
August 27th, 2013 at 12:24 PM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 1:31 PM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 11:27 AM ^
George Jewett. He was the first black college football player at Michigan.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
August 27th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
So will there ever be a #1 jersey again?
August 27th, 2013 at 11:32 AM ^
As soon as someone buys out Braylon's ownership stake. Might not be too long now that it appears his NFL career is over.
August 27th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
I don't like it right now, but I think it's possible that once this becomes normal, it's a cool thing. Always the #11 on the Michigan D is an ass-kicker or deserving team leader. Always the #87 TE and #21 WR is a player and someone that needs to be reckoned with.
In time each will carry not only the legacy of the original legend, but the accomplishments of those that wore the number immediately before. Gallon and Roundtree were friends, he's accountable (in Hoke parlance) to what Roy did in that uniform. Same with Avery and Kovacs. A TE 5 years from now is going to need to live up to Devin's (hopefully) outstanding legacy. In that way they'll carry the past with them as every Michigan player does, but this a more tangible and direct connection.
Or it will just be confusing.
August 27th, 2013 at 12:05 PM ^