JeepinBen

April 14th, 2011 at 10:44 AM ^

As a Bears fan (chicago native) 13 year old me was THRILLED when we drafted Terrell and the A-Train the same year. Thomas did well but his production fell off and Terrell did not do well at all. 

As an aside, my sophomore year at my high school there was a meet-and-greet with Bears Players sponsored by the Walter Payton Foundation (promotes organ donation, they talk to 16 year olds who are just getting their license). Terrell was injured and the only player who's name I knew. When I shook his hand I mentioned that my dad and I had been following him since his Michigan days and he brightened up immediately. It was weird to think that I had helped make an athlete's day, but he was all of a sudden animated and happy. Just proof to me that he really enjoyed his time in AA

/random story from high school

jtmc33

April 14th, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^

And that may be the answer.

I remember watching that Orange Bowl win over 'Bama and being amazed at Terrell and his touchdown receptions; mostly because he was the flashy-focal-point of the offense all season and there was so much attention on, and expectation for, his success.

But watching that game on ESPN Classic about 4 years ago I was ashamed at myself (as were 31 other NFL teams 6 times over and the Patriots 5 times over) for not realizing how Terrell's success was due to Brady  (obviously, hindsight is 20/20 - but this one seems to be proven on 2 fronts)

jmblue

April 14th, 2011 at 12:44 PM ^

Terrell didn't have Brady in 2000, either, but still had his best season as a Wolverine.  Brady didn't make him anymore than Drew Henson did.  Terrell was a great, great college player.   If he had stayed four years, he (not Braylon) might have all the school receiving records.  That he failed in the pros doesn't change that.

bronxblue

April 14th, 2011 at 10:56 AM ^

Was in the stands for that catch against Wiscy in the endzone, and the place went bananas when he caught it.  Just a great player, and with Braylon two of the best WRs UM has produced in recent memory, at least from a talent standpoint.  Surprised he struggled so much in the pros, but still a great college player.

pinkfloyd2000

April 14th, 2011 at 11:08 AM ^

Yeah...he was a man among boys. Very nice compilation there; I had forgotten just how good this guy was. And I forgot he played (although sparingly) on defense, too!

Jeffy Fresh

April 14th, 2011 at 3:01 PM ^

I had heard this story from my friend who was in his dorm, and I told it on a thread once.  Was I the one that started it?  I mean, I was one person removed from the bomb ass dick story and thought I was the only one who knew it.  As my friend re-enacted DT yelling it was priceless, I will never forget it.

Keeeeurt

April 14th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^

Man, Terrell was the player that made me fall in love with Michigan football.  I was probably 4th grade and my brother actually knew him and for Christmas I got an autographed football from Terrell.  A couple of year later, I got his rookie card and things didn't go so well for him after that.

HAIL 2 VICTORS

April 14th, 2011 at 2:20 PM ^

I have been to every Michigan Vs. NW played in Evanston since 1970.  This was worse then hearing the Wildcat band play Hello Dolly while being beat by 45 points in the 70's.  When Michigan went up 28-10 in the 2Q I thought that M would take over and I let ever NW fan in my section know it.

If A-Train just did not let  that ball get punched out as he broke into the open field-arrrrgh!

I met Bo that day in the concourse before the game and asked him to shake my Father's hand-otherwise by far the worst game in the history of the series.

leftrare

April 14th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^

I too am a Bears fan.  My take on Terrell not succeeding in the league is that he went from playing within himself in college to trying too hard to be a superstar and being caught up in the glare.  He also seemed to put a lot of work into whatever his next silly endzone dance was going to be, which he would perform even if the Bears were down three touchdowns.  It just seemed like he got distracted by the limelight and didn't focus on playing football.

Umich4Life

April 14th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^

Yeah, no doubt his ego got to him a bit, but people forget the instability in the QB position with the Bears during Terrell's years.  I can't remember the exact number but he played with WAY too many QBs.  That doesn't bear well ( no pun intended) for any young receiver.  

Jasper

April 14th, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^

I've always felt that Terrell's issue in the NFL was that he didn't do any one thing at a high NFL level.  In college he was just big enough, just fast enough, and just explosive enough (to give examples of a few categories) to stand out and "separate."

Compare him to Mario Manningham (again, for example).  In college, I'd definitely take Terrell's size and jump-ball ability.  Mario would, of course, win the "getting open" / IT factor contest.  But, they were both very effective.

At the next level, Mario (so far, anyway) has done "his thing" well enough to stick.  I don't think Terrell had an extra/NFL gear in any category.

ken725

April 14th, 2011 at 4:41 PM ^

I just realized that there are lots of players that I catagorize as being "one of my favorites."  Growing up I have many memories of watching him on tv.  Thanks Wolverine Historian for bringing back some memories. 

Bombadil

April 15th, 2011 at 11:19 AM ^

Well done Wolverinehistorian. That 1999 Notre Dame game was my first game as a freshman, good memories.

Terrell filled the role of the number 1 jersey well. What are the chances Roundtree wears it?