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 10:26 AM ^
Think it is a great idea to have an annual night game at the Big House. Also I like the idea of having the Michigan Legends on the retired Mi jerseys. I like that better then actually retiring the number.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:29 AM ^
Still wish the numbers themselves would be displayed somewhere inside the stadium.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
I like the legends patch and the team discussing/reporting on them. Wonderful tribute!
September 12th, 2011 at 11:41 AM ^
I was very skeptical about how they were going to treat the #21 at first (I worried about it being "cheesy") but the decision to use the decals on the uniforms was outstanding. What a great way to tribute the player! So much more than just putting a number on the stadium or retiring the number itself. And it MUST instill some pride in the wearer - how can it not? Hemingway must feel even more pride wearing the #21. So cool.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:36 AM ^
till next year for the next night game. It truly was one of the greatest sights/events/nights i have ever been a part of and witnessed. Truly majestic and surreal. It was so unique to walk into the stadium for the game and the sun is setting, what a great feeling. GO BLUE
..oh, also love the ida of the patch, however i would like to see it a lil smaller.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
Agreed on all counts... Love the idea, though that patch takes up a lot of space
September 12th, 2011 at 10:37 AM ^
One thing i wouldnt like is if
Example:
Jake Long was a beast in #77, first overall pick. Legend, Maybe. What if Lewon is taken high in the draft. Will there be 2 #77 patches on a Jersey one day?
September 12th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
I was thinking abut that too...in the instance of Anthony Carter and Braylon. My guess is that they'll edit the patch at some point to honor both guys. It would be pretty easy to put both names on the same patch.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:46 AM ^
September 12th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
Isn't it possible that some that come later will be even more legendary. So why should the original get the most honor? BTW, I doubt/hope we don't end up with too many of these. The previously retired numbers are obviously candidates, Desmond, Woodson and maybe a few very select others.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
Agree. Depending on what Lewan and Gardner do, 77 and 7 might be 2/3 of the way there. Other than that, just the retired numbers would make the cut so far, IMO.
Though 16 makes a strong case, depending on what he can do between now and January 1, 2013.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
I think you guys are overrating how often someone truly great comes along.
Gardner and Lewan are not going to be legends. They may be really great players (Henne Hutchinson level, even) but they're not Woodson or Long. It's too late for them to be.
The ONLY person who has a chance to compete for a future honored number is Denard. And in years past Mike Hart. Those are the only two (in addition to current retired numbers and Charles) that I can picture.
But your point is valid, and is the reason I don't like this idea. Basically, Desmond strong-armed them into retiring his number. Since that wasn't going to happen, they had to come up with something else.
I'd much rather have statues than number patches.
September 12th, 2011 at 12:05 PM ^
I'm not a big fan of the patches themselves, but I do love the idea. As far as 77 and 7 go, maybe I'm not getting it (one ridiculous player compared to sustained excellence over a number of players) but I do think there could be a case made for either after the guys following Lewan and Gardner.
If you were to have three All-America, first round draft picks wear number 77 at LT, wouldn't that be good enough to reserve 77? Same with Gardner (and this is even assuming he'll never be in the thick of a Heisman race or MNC team); after Henne, if Gardner helps rewrite the record books, and so does the next QB #7, wouldn't it be time to make 7 special in some way? Maybe I'm too gung ho for this stuff, but I do think those criteria at least deserve some thought.
September 12th, 2011 at 2:12 PM ^
Special, maybe, in the way number 1 is special now. Reserved, no. I think to reserve the number as a legacy jersey, you need one superstar in whose name you reserve it (initially, at least).
September 12th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Please don't ever put Braylon Edwards in the same sentence as Anthony Carter. The reason Braylon switched from #80 to #1 was A.C. A.C. was a class act who finished fourth in the Heisman voting when Michigan didn't throw the ball. He was a teriffic return man. Braylon's never been anything but a prima donna (4 high schools in 4 years?) with criminal tendencies. Braylon would have dropped John Wangler's pass against I.U.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:22 AM ^
While AC is no doubt a very classy and dominant player, let's not forget how dominant Braylon was either. True, he is not a model citizen in the NFL but he mostly kept his mouth shut during his UM career and was a great player. I don't think it's any disrespect to AC to say that Braylon was a great player also.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^
September 12th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
not really that huge a threat.
The guys whose numbers have been claimed were National Champions or Heisman Winners, basically. If the criteria was "high draft pick" or even "All American", we'd have very few left.
In other words, I'm not sure Long warrants a retired #, as good as he was.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:38 AM ^
I love the book report idea. Its one of those things that reminds you how college athletics are so different from the pros.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:41 AM ^
Carol Hutchins has been doing this with Michigan Softball for years. Their freshman year, each player has to do a report on all former softball players to wear their number. Not a new idea in the least.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:39 AM ^
Can you imagine being the first player to rock Ol' 98!?! Holy Fuck.
This is Brandon's best idea yet. I am fired up. They should make #1 a legendary number... and it should be dedicated to A.C. please
This is going to be a neat tradition. I love Michigan football. I wish Kovacs was wearing president Ford's 48!!!
The stadium, the scoreboards, night games, un retiring jerseys. This is very exciting.
P.S. Adidas absolutely nailed it with the throwbacks. We should rock them for Ohio
September 12th, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^
Replace the big M on the front with numbers you can actually see from the stands when the players are coming toward you and I'm on board with future use of the alternative jerseys.
September 12th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
If you do that, you may as well just wear the regular uniform. The huge M has a clear historic link to our earliest uniforms, as displayed by William Cunningham (our first All-American) in 1898:
September 12th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
I'd like to stay away from dozens of statues and giant signs (esp in the stadium) preclaiming our best coaches, players, championships, etc. like the Tim Tebow worship in Florida.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
I'd still love to see the numbers up in the stadium though. Nothing too garish. No names are necessary. Just the numbers themselves, maybe displayed on flags or something.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
One thing that's unclear to me about the legends jersey/patch. Will only one person get to wear that number, or is it that only one person gets to wear that number with the patch? I ask this because Raymon Taylor is also listed on the roster as wearing 21 this year.
September 12th, 2011 at 3:20 PM ^
I guess Hoke and I have something in common--we're unclear on the issue I raised above:
Brady Hoke: Said "legends" patch will influence who gets No. 21 jersey from now on. Asked if other No. 21 on team, Raymon Taylor, has patch on his jersey. "No. ... wait, I don't know. I'll have to ask."
September 12th, 2011 at 10:42 AM ^
However, it still doesn't solve, who gets #1? Do you put a patch for AC and Braylon?
September 12th, 2011 at 10:50 AM ^
I don't see why you couldn't put two names on one patch.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:43 AM ^
1 night game per year sounds good. You don't want to water down the product. Limiting it to one per year will put more hype on that game. Also, making a kid read a book about a former Legend is not a bad idea either. This will hopefully help that athlete know even more what it's like to be a Michigan Man.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:46 AM ^
but he has had some great ideas so far. The night game, stadium expansion, BH etc. This idea about the legends patches is a win as well in my book. Retiring numbers in college football just isn't practical, especially at a program like UM with so many legends.
As far as multiple patches...I would rather see one patch with multiple names than multiple patches on a jersey.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^
He has great ideas. May be the best AD in the country, but IMO we have it on very hard terms. He is a unrepentant narcissist who won't shut up. He has to comment on evertything! He thinks he's Jerry Jones. Watching film. On the sideline. Oh for the days of Don Canham.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:47 AM ^
It's just looks bad on the jersey. If they were to simply add the former player's name/ initials somewhere on the jersey in small print, around the collar or under the block M on the upper back, I would think that a great idea. The patch is just too much as it stand right now.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:24 AM ^
The UTL jerseys and the huge block M with numbers in the right hand corner so they had to squeeze it on the jersey in the left hand corner. But on the regular jerseys it should sit better.
September 12th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
I hope it's Michigan State at night next year. One a year is good though, wouldn't mind seeing a Thursday night opener sometime too
September 12th, 2011 at 10:49 AM ^
I hope it's Michigan State at night next year. One a year is good though, wouldn't mind seeing a Thursday night opener sometime too
September 12th, 2011 at 10:52 AM ^
That way everyone gets to play in 1 night game. It doesn't cheapen the event. And it should only be for MSU and ND.
Play MSU at night in 2014, then ND at night in 2017, MSU in 2020, ND in 2023 and so forth...
September 12th, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^
So who's the next non-retired number to get honored with a patch? I'll lay wager on Woodson.
September 12th, 2011 at 12:03 PM ^
Anthony Carter, shouldn't even be a debate!
September 12th, 2011 at 11:02 AM ^
A bit offtopic because I do want to hear his thoughts on more night games, but does anyone else agree that Brandon is getting way too out in front for an AD?
After WMU he used his spot with the media to talk not just about the weather decision but to share his thoughts on the actual game, something that should be saved for the head coach. After the ND game, he runs onto the field and embraces Hoke before even Kelly had a chance to shake hands. Why was he even on the field and why couldn't he just wait until the cameras are off to congratulate the coach?
He really oversteps the boundaries an AD should put on themselves in my opinion. Just not a humble guy at all and the act is already wearing thin for some.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:04 AM ^
I've got no problem with how he does his job. Of course doesn't have to be an either/or situation, but given a choice, I'll take a Dave Brandon-type leader any day over a Bill Martin-type.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:06 AM ^
I was surprised to see him out on the sidelines during the game, too. (Maybe we all thought he was hyper-monitoring RichRod, and the reality is, he's hyper-monitoring the football program, afterall? Does he still monitor film sessions on Sundays, too?)
If he's going to hang out down there, who's hosting up in the Athletic Directors double-suite? I'll take that spot!
September 12th, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
It also may just be that, since he's AD, he can be anywhere he wants, and so, he (like, I surmise, most of us) when given the choice, prefers to be on the sideline. He is a former football letter winner, etc. I mean, if it were me, I feel like I'd probably be on the sideline (as opposed to up in the AD's box) if I had the choice. He's just livin' the dream, man. . . livin' the dream.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^
My problem with him isn't so much that he is on the field, but how much the guys appears to love the sound of his own voice and loves being in the spotlight in situations that don't really call for it (ex: He was the one bestowing the honor on Desmond last weekend because the legends thing was his idea and he seems to want credit for it. A more humble person probably would have asked Coach Moeller to do it.)
He may be livin' the dream, but his conduct borders on unprofessional in my view and is undeniably egotistical.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
This article from the Detroit Free Press basically lays out everything Brandon did on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, including meeting with donors, recruits, etc. after the game.
It makes for a busy day--no wonder he didn't fall asleep until 4 AM on Sunday.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
YES!!!!!!!!
September 12th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
I agree with the 1 night game a year. If you have too many games then you'll just cheapen the awesomeness of what happened last saturday. Obviously nothing is going to top the first one, but we can have more epic clashes under the lights. Also, we should only keep it to our Rivals for now, so just ND MSU Minn (if they become semi-good again). An OSU night game would be interesting, I mean it's so late in the year that I don't know if it could work out. I guess only time will tell whats happening next
September 12th, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
I think the Big Ten has a rule for no night games in November.
September 12th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^
September 12th, 2011 at 11:00 AM ^