Honk if Ufer M…

October 25th, 2015 at 12:19 PM ^

No matter what Jabrill does number 5 will always be the great Gordon Bell to me.

From wiki:

"Bell was Michigan's starting running back in the same years in which Archie Griffin won consecutive Heisman Trophies for Ohio State. In head-to-head meetings in 1974 and 1975, Bell played as well or better than Griffin. In 1974, each carried the ball 25 times, and Bell ended up with 108 yards compared with 111 yards for Griffin although Ohio State won the game 12–10.[36] In 1975, Bell outgained Griffin 124 yards to 46 yards. Bell averaged 132.9 yards per game in 1975 to lead Griffin and the Big Ten Conference in conference game rushing.[37] Even so, Griffin won the Heisman Trophy, and Bell finished eighth in the 1975 Heisman Trophy voting.[38]

 

During the 1975 season, Bell was asked how he felt about all the publicity being received by Griffin. He replied: "All of the publicity in the world doesn't help you win. I don't feel slighted because Archie is in our conference. I feel I'm just as good as he is."[13] Bell later recalled: "Those two games against Ohio State were my biggest, and I consider the second game a personal victory. I outrushed Archie, but he had a great public relations guy in Woody Hayes. . . . He wasn't the best player in the conference so how can he be the best player in the country?"[1]

 

Lee Larkins, who played for Purdue and was one of the top defensive backs in the Big Ten, said in 1976 that Bell was the best running back he ever played against. As a senior, Larkins played against Gordon Bell, Archie Griffin, and Ricky Bell of USC. Larkins said: "Gordon Bell was the best of the three. He was a super tough runner and a tough guy to make a solid tackle on. Gordon has a lot more speed and more moves than Archie does, and I thought he was a better all around player."

 

"As Archie Griffin garnered the lion's share of the media attention in 1975, Schembechler spoke out for Bell: "I think Bell's as good as any back there is anywhere. I haven't seen any who looks better. . . . He is certainly the most underpublicized great back in the country."

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Mr. Owl

October 25th, 2015 at 1:37 AM ^

Let them figure it out.  We can enjoy them playing whichever numbers they choose to wear.  (I say this of course knowing that they will read this thread and may have chosen to allow random internet people to decide for them.)

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Lie-Cheat-Steal

October 24th, 2015 at 11:36 AM ^

But if O'Korn does indeed start next year, with three years of eligibility left, would we expect some tranfers at the QB position.  

Also, per the Taysom Hill rumors, if O'Korn is what people are expecting, wouldn't he be a better fit for Harbaugh offense than Hill...would Hill become a slot reciever /situational QB in Harb-offense if indeed he transferred.  So much up in the air, but for once it seems like we will have a bit of depth.

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UMCoconut

October 24th, 2015 at 11:43 AM ^

Yes to transfers. You can't stockpile guys like Harbaugh is doing without some attrition. That's a healthy attrition bred from competition, which is what good programs do all the time.

As far as Hill, that's the benefit of a 5th year. If you have a schollie spot, you give them a shot for one year. If they win the job, great. If not, you only lost that schollie for one year, and your program is better from the competition.



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Jimmyisgod

October 24th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^

O'Kirn has a better arm than Rudock, however, he came from a single read offense in Houston. Glad he had a year to get ready because making the right reads in a pro style offense takes at least a year to learn. If like to see Morris beat him out.

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UMForLife

October 24th, 2015 at 11:37 AM ^

If O'Korn can have the poise of Rudock and his leadership skills, we are really looking at a great QB situation. He definitely demostrated that he can sling it around. Can't wait.

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umfan323

October 24th, 2015 at 11:42 AM ^

If Harbaugh is as high on this guy like most on the board are, then its safe to assume Shane is better off transferring

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Lie-Cheat-Steal

October 24th, 2015 at 11:55 AM ^

He may not be good enough to start at UM, but he has been a good soldier, ambassador and recruiter for the program.  He went through crap with the whole concussion thing and has put up with a lot, beyond not living up to his 5 star recruit billing to date.  No shame in getting a UM degree adn being a backup QB.  Harbaugh knows QBs.  If he really wants to play, though, then I understand the transfer and would wish him nothing but the best.

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julesh

October 24th, 2015 at 1:31 PM ^

There's a rumor that Shane is going to graduate after this year and have two years to play somewhere else. I'm not sure if there's really a way for him to pull that off, since he wasn't an early enrollee, but if he's able to, that would probably be best for him. He gets a Michigan degree and gets to play somewhere.

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alum96

October 24th, 2015 at 12:23 PM ^

The board is going off spring hype and "practice hype" - the same hype that had Canteen a superstar, Grant Perry an immediate Big 10 contributor, and Drake Harris ready to take over the conference and give us a consistent "over the top threat".

All that has been said is O'Korn looks the best out of this crew of QBs. What does that mean?  It means he looks better than a QB who looks mid level MAC in rudock. 

I sure hope he looks better than Jake or next year's offense is going to be unbearibly boring again and unable to threaten anyone downfield.

It will be interesting to see what product emerges - the freshman version of him showed nice potential.  He does throw the long ball decently but he also had a YPA barely above Jake at Iowa so he mostly a west coast type of offense arm it seems.  Then his sophomore year he bombed but just like everyone said last summer Jake would skyrocket under Harbaugh we now say the same for O'Korn.  Nothing is a given as the guy said above and saying he is the "best QB in camp" is a low bar at UM right now.

That said I expect 7 months of immense hyperbole and breathless practice reports beginning in Jan!

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Sten Carlson

October 24th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^

Not only did they switch to a more zone-read/option scheme, but as was reported (and discussed) elsewhere, the new QB Coach/OC wanted O'Korn to change his throwing motion.  To me, it's not hard to see why he had a sophomore slump.  By the way, Harbaugh told O'Korn he was fine with his natural motion and didn't want him to continue trying to make a mechanical change.

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JamieH

October 25th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^

Harbaugh is a staunch advocate of not f***ing with a quarterback's natural arm motion unless there is something completely screwed up with it.  Some other people are more dogmatic about trying to mold QB into guys that have perfect mechanics. 

 

Harbaugh basically says that by the time you are a college QB, if you are effective with your delivery, you probably shouldn't be screwing with it. 

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chatster

October 24th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^

If he’s red-shirting this year, so that Wilton Speight is considered the primary backup and John O’Korn has been quarterbacking the “demonstration team,” then how much work would Shane Morris have been getting in practice and simulated game situations during this season?
 
If most of the work that Shane Morris has had in practice and simulated game situations in 2015 has come during spring practice, the spring game and fall camp, then, unless he’s on track to graduate in December, by transferring to another school in January, he might be facing another red-shirt season at that new school.  If he’s not granted a release to play immediately at his new school, then he might not be guaranteed to get much work during that other school’s spring practice sessions.
 
What advantage will Shane Morris have for a new school, considering that he has not had much playing time in game situations since his junior year of high school?
 
Moreover, if, after accumulating more than 75% of his academic degree requirements from the University of Michigan, his only opportunity to play during the 2016 season would be available at some lower level school other than an Ivy League school, or a school like Georgetown, Lafayette, Lehigh or William & Mary, or a well-respected Division III school like Johns Hopkins, Amherst or Williams, then what value would a degree from that new school have compared to the value of a Michigan degree?
 
LIke Ricardo Miller before him and Michael Ferns after him, Shane Morris was the most active and passionate recruiter for his Michigan football recruiting class. If the coaches have told him that he's unlikely to become the starter at Michigan, but he still has the passion to be playing football, rather than watching from the sidelines, then maybe he'd still benefit from another year of studying with Jim Harbaugh and Jedd Fisch, and then (after receiving his Michigan degree) competing as a graduate transfer at another school.

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JamieH

October 25th, 2015 at 12:09 AM ^

Morris can graduate and IF he can find someplace to play next year, he should go.

 

Assuming he isn't going to start here of course.  The kid has two years of organized football left until he hits the harsh reality of the real world.  If he has a chance to play football somewhere, he should absolutely take it IMO. 

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yossarians tree

October 24th, 2015 at 11:47 AM ^

I see quotes here like "great physical intangibles", "really smart" and "throws a really pretty ball." I'm very excited about O'Korn. He's a guy who will be probably 22 years old, has played a lot of football already, and will have two years eligibility and a full year with Harbaugh under his belt. I remember reading about him not getting along with his coaches at Houston and that he has really felt the love and confidence return since meeting Harbaugh.

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tjohn7

October 24th, 2015 at 11:54 AM ^

Any word on if Peters is enrolling early?  I'd love to see him do that and then win the job as a freshman.  That kid has it all.

EDIT: I just searched and he is enrolling early.  Can't wait to see what he can do.

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tjohn7

October 24th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^

Valid point.  There'll be too much depth at that position for Peters to beat out O'Korn, another possible 5th year transfer, Shane and whoever else might make their way up the depth chart.  

I think Rosen just got me all excited (and what Henne did in his freshman year), but yeah not winning a national title with that inexperience.

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