Favorite Michigan Quarterbacks
There have been a couple Forum topics discussing whether Tate is better than T. Pryor which made me think about the Tate's merits vs. Michigan QBs of the past. Having grown up during Schembechler's years my personal favorites have always been Rick Leach and Jim Harbaugh. Both had great passion for playing football and an incredible will to win. Statistically there have been better passing QBs than both, however, those two guys were willing to do/say whatever it took to make the team win. Didn't Harbaugh guarantee victory against Ohio State? His douchy comments over the last few years have put him a distant second to Leach who remains passionate in his love for Michigan. Based on Tate's start to his career he has the chance to rival Rick Leach. Thoughts?
September 14th, 2009 at 8:56 AM ^
Shakey Jake? You're my era. And my QB is Dennis Franklin. That was back in the Bo and Woody option days. And Woody's QB was a Franklin clone, Cornelius (yes, with an R) Greene.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:03 AM ^
If Drew Henson hadn't screwed over Michigan, he might have been my favorite, partly because I played against him in high school. But Chad Henne is currently my favorite for the way he played when he was hurt in 2007. I know he didn't have a great OSU game, but he was probably numb from all the painkillers at that point. His game against Illinois that year was AWESOME.
Forcier has a chance to move past him, though...
September 14th, 2009 at 9:51 AM ^
I loved Henson until he screwed us and played baseball full time. I wanted him to stay so bad it hurt! Since he left I will also agree that Henne is my favorite QB, but I have only followed the Wolverines for the last 20 years so beyond that I know little about.
I have a question about the Henson thing: Since he went pro and left college, didn't he still have some eligibility left a la Chris Weinke? Couldn't he have come back to UM and then went on to the NFL? Might have been a better alternative to what he chose.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:13 AM ^
Yes, I think he could have come back and played football if he wanted. There's the story of that old man who started playing college basketball and then got kicked off the team. Then he rejoined the team last year at the age of 73 or something like that. Somebody else could probably give more details or you could Google it, but that's the vague gist of the story. So anyway, I think you can keep your eligibility for your entire lifetime if you don't use it up or go pro.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:03 AM ^
Can you imagine Tate playing for Bo and running the option the way Leach did? While there are similar plays in the current play book they probably don't include "two tight ends and a balanced line". Could he have beaten the Selmon brothers and Oklahoma (Orange Bowl?)?
September 14th, 2009 at 9:30 AM ^
john wangler would have been awesome with this offense.
while brady may seem like some easy after thought pick if you go back and review his games he was spot on even then- yet you never heard complaints about splitting time with drew "baseball" henson.
worst would be demetrius brown- i will never forget 6 intercetions in nd game- we may have given as many last year but that was not totally unimaginable- demetrius was an experienced 1st string qb
September 14th, 2009 at 9:49 AM ^
But Forcier has so far proven to be more accurate a passer.
The thing is, Tate is only a freshman.
If he manages to stay healthy, there's likely going to be a massive year jump in productivity from year 1 to year 2, which should put more smiles in the aisles of Michigan Stadium.
September 14th, 2009 at 9:52 AM ^
I too was an undergrad in the later 70s and I have always had Rick Leach at the top of the list. Something that struck me about Forcier at both the Western and ND games is how on occassion, while in the midst of being tackled he looks for the open man and will try to get the ball to him. I haven't seen it done quite that way since Leach would pitch the ball while in the grasp of a defensive player. The sky's the limit for this guy.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:06 AM ^
Tate looks a lot like Harbaugh - he was slippery and elusive in the pocket - not fast from a straight line perspective but created a lot of extra time for receivers to get open w/ his scrambling ability - Harbaugh combined that w/ an accurate arm and a great ability to read defenses - he made very few mistakes in his last 2 years. The difference is Harbaugh was not ready to play as a freshman - maybe as a soph but he was hurt early in the year.
Leach was a great option QB but a terrible passer - strong arm but little accuracy. In his defense, M really had no passing game at that point.
Wangler may have been the best passing QB ever to play at Michigan (I know, Brady is great, but Wangler had great touch and accuracy in an era where Michigan had a very primitive passing game otherwise). However, Wangler's knee was so bad after he blew it out in the Gator Bowl that he has highly immobile - Tate's mobility makes him a different animal.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:08 AM ^
Jim Harbaugh running around in a winged helmet (not to mention those beautiful white away jerseys) is a contributing reason why I'm a Michigan fan today. He's always been one of my favorites and I REALLY enjoyed watching Lou Holtz' Irish lose at his hands last week on BTN.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:13 AM ^
For everyone's info, there was a loooooong thread about this a while back, though it was titled "best M qb" not "fave M qb."
Right now it's hard for me to feel more appreciation and man love for Tate than someone who doesn't play anymore, so I guess Tate would be my favorite.
But if you look at some of the old Wolverinehistorian vids on youtube when Harbaugh was qb he was really pretty amazing. So versatile. If fact, when Tate gets three years older and 20 lbs. of muscle heavier, he likely will be most comparable to Harbaugh.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:42 AM ^
Blue 8198 - agree about Tate's potential to still make plays while in the grasp of a tackler. Leach was a master of it - pitching to a trailing back just before hitting the ground. It is a dangerous way to play but Millen commented during the broadcast about how good Forcier is at keeping his head up and his eyes down field for an open receiver. The kid must have strong hands because he hasn't lost grip of the ball during all the scrambles and chaos. BTW, anyone remember Harbaugh scrambling away from a blitz against Ohio State and flipping an end over end forward pitch for a touch down? Those kind of plays demoralize an opponent.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:51 AM ^
At this point, Chad Hanne.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:00 AM ^
How can you not love the name?
September 14th, 2009 at 11:01 AM ^
My username compels me to second (third? fourth? seventh?) Leach as my all-time fave, but I'd like to see some proper respect to the guy who helped win us a national championship, Mr. Brian Griese.
September 14th, 2009 at 1:47 PM ^
until someone else can deliver an undefeated season.
September 14th, 2009 at 4:40 PM ^
He is the first QB I remember playing for Michigan and just like in the pros, the guy just wins.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:13 PM ^
How about Benny Friedman? Does Tom Harmon count?
Post silent film/leather helmet days, mine would be Chad Henne.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:43 PM ^
Tate has played two games. After everything he does in the next 3 10/12 years he'll be gettin all the love
September 14th, 2009 at 11:45 PM ^
Rick Leach went to Flint (EFF ELL EYE ENN TEE) Southwestern. He was All-State in Baseball, Football and Basketball. He played for a Legend Flint SW Head Coach Dar Christenson, and Assistant Coach Freddie Jackson, now Running Backs Coach, and father of Jeremy Jackson. Rick's Dad was an All-American Baseball Player at UM. Rick beat ND's Joe Montana at South Bend, 28-14. He was MVP of the Hula Bowl, and finished 4th in the Heisman Senior Year. He was/is an intense competitor. He was a Teammate of Les Miles, and likely initially supported Mile's desire to be Head Coach. Leach has been really close to UM and its tradition. Leach seemingly became close to RICH ROD and has been one of the programs biggest supporters and assets. Leach stopped by my tailgate after the Wisconsin Comeback last year. You woulda swore he won the game, he was that excited and proud of the comeback, the team, and the New Coach. (It was then he told me UM secretly secured Quinton Washington, an SC Lineman the staff thought was one of the best OL in the Nation) Leach's family Mother and Father attend every game, including at least one away game per year. Rick, Gene Johnson, Rodney Feaster come back to Flint Area Alumni functions including Pep Rallies and Golf Outings.
MY second favorite QB that attended UM, never played a down at UM....Baseball Player Jim Abbott, Flint Central. To watch him take snaps, and lead the Flint Central Indians into the 1985 High School State Playoffs was awesome.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:29 PM ^
John Navarre. Not the best, but over achiever for sure (IMHE). 10 win seasons as Junior and Senior. Seemed like Lloyd's favorite player during his HC tenure.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
because I respect your opinion, but I hated John Navarre.
September 14th, 2009 at 11:31 PM ^
My favorite QB happens to be Michigan's best QB ever.
Rick Leach.
Seriously, some of you guys need to study up on your history.
PSALM 23 just scratched the surface of Leach's career at Michigan; there has never been a competitor on the field quite like him. He was the first Michigan quarterback I ever watched play live, and probably the reason I'm on this board now.
And yes, Tate reminds me of him.