Brandon on more Night Games, Un-Retiring Numbers, and UTL jerseys to players
The big ticket items-
- It went off great, and he's checking today, but he'd like to do 1 (and only 1) night game a year.
- The players all want their jerseys from the game, and he thinks they can have them, but he has to check with compliance to see what the NCAA would say about it first.
- He's offering the families of all the retired Michigan jerseys if they want their numbers reactivated and given the "Michigan Legends" treatment, so they're remembered. Hoke will have the person wearing the 21 jersey read Desmond's book and give a report to the team on who he was and what he did for Michigan.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
Yeah, it's too bad the kids that wore the jerseys might get to keep them instead of old, rich collector. Talk about life being unfair.
obvious /s is obvious
September 12th, 2011 at 11:01 AM ^
games, and let me first say that I was at the game and thought everything was awesome and done really well. However, I think once a year waters it down tremendously. Sure it would be great to play MSU at night next year. Maybe Nebraska the following year. But then what, Northwestern at night doesn't quite have the same appeal does it? Unless we are brining in some non conference game to go along with the novelty, I feel it should only be done every other year max. I'm sure a lot of people want to get to experience a night game, and again I'll say it was very very cool, but a yearly game IMO will be watering down that product.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
Why can't we do an MSU night game more often? They don't always have to be hyped oppoonents its about atmosphere. LSU seems to have a pretty good atmosphere most games they have. We just did a nonconference game what makes you think we won't do that again? You could make PSU or Wisconsin night games when we play them also there's a ton of different options. There's no way one game a year waters down anything.
September 12th, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^
Because we don't want to clean up Sparty's mess afterwards.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^
Whoever sits in the front row of the student section must rock the lloyd brady patch.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^
That all of these legends jerseys should be earned and can't even be worn until someone is a junior/senior.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:38 AM ^
they should be worn by bigtime prospects to give them something to work towards. Only Frosh and sophomores. Juniors and seniors need their own numbers, otherwise, what happens next time we get someone that deserves to have their number retired?
September 12th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
I agree with the poster upstream who commented on how ugly the patch is. It looks bad on the jersey, like the patch from some 3rd rate bowl game.
I love the idea, but I wish it was executed in a way that looked cooler.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:36 AM ^
It would be nice if it could be subtle, like just the signature of the legend being honored stitched with black thread.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
I loved the night game, but I'd prefer one night game every 3-4 years as opposed to every year. It needs to be special; give each student a chance to see one while at the University of Michigan.
I think it would be an amazing recruiting tool to use these freaking LEGENDARY Michigan players. Recruiting an interior offensive lineman? Oh, maybe someday you can wear the number of the President (and in the future: want to come play corner at Michigan #1 CB recruit in the country? Prove you're good enough to wear the #2. I'm sure there are plenty more scenarios...)
UTL jerseys, I'll admit, were cool. They look great on the players. I still don't like they way they look on a regular person, but I didn't buy one so no complaints. Personally, I think these should be considered "Under The Lights" Jerseys and only worn every 3-4 years when we host a night game.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
So what happens when they play in a bowl game and the bowl game wants to put a patch on the jerersy as well? Do put it on the opposite shoulder?
September 12th, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
that's excellent.
September 12th, 2011 at 12:11 PM ^
I would be totally on board with 4 statues at the Big House. They could be put at each of the four corners of the stadium. Those would be: 1) Bo; 2) Tom Harmon; 3) Charles Woodson; and 4) Desmond Howard. Our three Heisman winners in action poses and Bo looking stoic with his sunglasses on. Statues are cool as long as the people are deserving and they are well done.
September 12th, 2011 at 12:36 PM ^
Why Bo, and not Yost or Crisler? What if other players win Heismans? Would you just keep on putting in statues? I think it's too much.
September 12th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^
There's way too many deserving people at this point to do it well I think. Something smaller would have to be done but I think having Crisler Arena, Yost Fieldhouse, Schembechler Hall and these Legends patches plus retired numbers are a great way of doing it.
September 12th, 2011 at 2:05 PM ^
one needs to be made for him with a big target on it so birds have something to aim for and not the other statues
September 12th, 2011 at 7:10 PM ^
Here's a link with info on all the retired numbers / players. I assume / hope that at some point #1 and #2 will join #21 as legendary numbers along with the arleady retired numbers. I hope this is very rare.
There are NCAA rules determining what numbers are allowed for which position, right? How would that work with Tom Harmon's #98 for a RB? Or would it go to a DL player, like usual? That doesn't seem right, does it? But can a RB even wear #98 in the modern NCAA? If so, that would be too damn awesome. Mike Hart would have worn it I'm sure. Can you picture Hart running with a century-2?
But the same problem exists for most of the retired numbers. I think all #'s are not allowed at the position the legendary player played.... can you imgaine our best OL wearing #11 in honor of the legendary Wistert brothers?
How would this work? I really hope the number stays withing the position of the legendary player.
{love the idea, but my head is exploding}
September 12th, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^
I think the NCAA only requires certain numbers for interior linemen. Beyond that, I believe you can wear what you want.
September 12th, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^
As far as un-retiring numbers, the only one I might want to see back in circulation is Ron Kramer's #87. Kramer himself said that he wouldn't mind another player wearing it if he was good enough and asked for it. I think the others are too unique to bring back.
Harmon won the Heisman with #98 and was referred to as "Ol' 98." More than anyone, that is his number forever.
The Wisterts--3 brothers all wear #11, play the same position at the same school and all 3 are named All-American (one of them twice). That will likely never happen again.
Bennie Oosterbaan--Perhaps the greatest all-around athlete in Michigan history. One of only two Michigan players to be named All-American 3 times (the other being Anthony Carter) in an age when players were only eligible for three years. He played split end and DE...and was also a two-time All-American in basketball and an All-Conference baseball player (he won the Big Ten batting title as a senior in 1928). #47's athletic feats may never be equaled.
Gerald Ford--A good player who got stuck behind a two-time All-American (Chuck Bernard) at center for two of his three years of eligibility and saw the team collapse when he finally became a starter. I could see his number 48 coming out of retirement for athletic reasons (in fact, it was not taken out of circulation until 1994, 20 years after he became the President)...but I don't think theFord's number should be worn again out of respect for his tremendous post-football accomplishments.