Desmond Howard to be Honored at U-M/ND Game, ESPN College GameDay Present

Submitted by MGoShoe on

Disclaimer: The excellent Michigan's First Night Game! thread prompted the following. While this topic is highly related to the previous post, I believe it deserves its own thread.


A highly respected Michigan blogger and MGoUser passed to me an email exchange he had with Dave Brandon regarding this year’s Michigan – Notre Dame game and authorized me to create this thread.  Back in January, this MGoUser sent an email to DB recommending that Michigan should:

  1. Work with ESPN to have ESPN College GameDay in Ann Arbor for the game
  2. Recognize Desmond Howard at halftime for his recent enshrinement in the College Football Hall of Fame
  3. Potentially “retire” Desmond’s “21” jersey

An excerpt of Brandon’s response (the return email was sent within three hours at 12:56 am, BTW):

“This was all arranged last Fall when Desmond was announced. You will get your wish….we are all over it!  It is going to be a special night for Desmond and for Michigan!”

Since Brandon did not specifically address each of the email’s recommendations, I think it’s safe to say that recommendations one and two are a go.  I evaluate that recommendation three is merely a possibility.  The bottom line is that the entire day and game will certainly be one of the most special occasions in Michigan athletics history (no hyperbole).

griesecheeks

April 7th, 2011 at 10:49 PM ^

Boggles the mind that he's now a Bojangles franchise owner in SC (or something like that). I kinda see your point on the numbers thing. I could go either way with it.

Michigania

April 7th, 2011 at 10:58 PM ^

It's a travesty to retire Howard's number and not Anthony Carter's. If you do one you gotta do the other, along with Woodson's and Brady's and so on. And so you know I knew Howard well and we started school together as freshmen. So to the true losers here....neg away, as your typical reflex to the first sentence read.

fatbastard

May 12th, 2011 at 10:28 PM ^

Many of us here that are "not young" anymore know A.C.'s impact on the Michigan program.  While his number would certainly be deserving of retirement, that number has taken on greater significance over the years.  It's a tribute to A.C. for a special receiver to wear that number.  I think most posters here probably know the genesis of number 1. 

Over time, younger readers and Michigan fans will need a reminder from time to time, and the Indiana highlight which is played on the big board every year will help.  But, it would be pretty cool to have A.C. there along with a line of 1s over the years.