Grit Pantheon

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February 11th, 2012 at 7:56 PM
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Ezeh-E
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Joined: 07/22/2009
MGoPoints: 193
Grit Pantheon

I got to thinking, we throw the term grit around a lot here, which is good.  I like my nouns to be portable just like the next man.  But what do we mean by grit?  Does it mean that you have to be a 2-3 star grinder, who is usually white?  Actually, I don't really care to define the term much.  Defining it reduces it to less than awesome. 

Instead, I thought of nominating players to join the Grit Pantheon and sit atop Mt. Schembechler and drink nectar, ambrosia, and buckeye tears. 

I can't do an all time team, since 1991 is as far back as I really remember, and I only got MGoStatus in 2009.  Here are my 2011 nominees for Grit Pantheon:

David Molk (Sugar Bowl Injury)

Van Bergen (Sugar Bowl Injury)

V. Smith (handguns, 5'6" of cut blocking cruise missle)

Odoms (injured, buried on depth chart, heart of a champion. see 2008 minnesota game)

Kovacs (you know the story)

D. Robinson (pats Gholston on the ass after Gholston tried to break his neck)

B. Mealer (you know the story)

2012 nominee:  Dennis Norfleet.  See the video from the 7on7 where he smacks concrete face first at full speed and bounces up for the next play.

Who do you nominate for grit?

 

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February 11th, 2012 at 8:00 PM | Dammit, I was hoping this was (Score:5 Normal)
turd ferguson
turd ferguson's picture
Joined: 12/09/2009
MGoPoints: 2925

Dammit, I was hoping this was the name of a 2013 recruit.

While I'm here, from the alumni group give me Jeff Backus.

February 11th, 2012 at 8:11 PM | That would have been the (Score:3 Normal)
Cville Blue
Joined: 11/24/2011
MGoPoints: 270

That would have been the greatest name ever.

February 12th, 2012 at 12:40 AM | I was hoping the exact same (Score:1)
America
America's picture
Joined: 09/19/2009
MGoPoints: 459

I was hoping the exact same thing

February 12th, 2012 at 11:24 AM | Grit Pantheon (Score:3 Normal)
clarkiefromcanada
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Joined: 11/21/2008
MGoPoints: 13009

 

Pos: S Pos Rank: #124 Pos Rating:   


Scout.com Player Evaluation:
STRENGTHS
 Anticipation
 Closing Speed
 Coverage Awareness
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT
 Size
Smart, heady, confident player who consistently puts himself in position to make plays. Has good closing speed and takes good angles in pursuit. In coverage, he shows good awareness and solid ball skills. He does not yet have ideal size and strength but is an excellent form tackler. His enthusiasm for the game is contagious and he's a true leader to his team mates. - Allen Trieu

 

If the haters don't hate you then you're doing something wrong. - David Cone

February 11th, 2012 at 8:03 PM | Obviously you have to be (Score:5 Normal)
KevbosLastingLessons
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Joined: 08/23/2010
MGoPoints: 2600

Obviously you have to be white to be a gritty gym rat. (Zack Novak)

Old black coaches are class-acts. (Tony Dungy)

And latinos are 'firecrackers' or 'spark plugs.' (Ozzie Guillen)

Final Four Thoughts!

February 11th, 2012 at 9:44 PM | The League (Score:1)
B-Nut-GoBlue
Joined: 09/30/2011
MGoPoints: 1686

Ever since this Grit term has been thrown around so much lately (& not just here), I've thought of that exact scene/episode.  (I feel like they name like Wes Welker in the actual episode.)

February 11th, 2012 at 8:11 PM | Novak (Score:5 Normal)
zguy517
zguy517's picture
Joined: 03/18/2010
MGoPoints: 2026

Always, no matter what sport

February 11th, 2012 at 8:15 PM | Sure.. (Score:2 Normal)
cozy200
cozy200's picture
Joined: 01/02/2011
MGoPoints: 874

Brandon Minor.  Kinda on the fence on that one but guy was hurt alot and stuck it out.

Mike Hart, more of an underdog but proved alot of people wrong

Im hoping Blake Bars or Ben Braden break out this year and grind to a starting role

Its called a royale with cheese

February 11th, 2012 at 11:56 PM | Brandon Minor ... (Score:1)
DonAZ
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Joined: 12/05/2011
MGoPoints: 665

+1 ... when he was healthy he was a hell of a runner.  Tough sumbitch. 

This past year ... Molk, hands down.  Not just for playing through the Sugar Bowl injury, but for just being ... hell, Molk.

Midwestern born and raised ... now living in the heat of the Arizona desert

February 12th, 2012 at 1:18 AM | Minor in Possession (Score:2 Funny)
YabbaDabbaBlue
YabbaDabbaBlue's picture
Joined: 12/11/2011
MGoPoints: 148

Back when I was on campus, we were a couple of 100-yard games from making t-shirts.

February 11th, 2012 at 8:14 PM | I'd like to nominate (Score:5 Normal)
BiSB
BiSB's picture
Joined: 08/15/2009
MGoPoints: 27921

The pride of Mio... The Jaw himself...

They no longer call me Bisbiño

February 11th, 2012 at 9:09 PM | Actually his nickname was (Score:3 Normal)
snarling wolverine
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 4712

Actually his nickname was "Hambone," which is even grittier.

February 11th, 2012 at 9:22 PM | Oh Hambone (Score:2)
BiSB
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Joined: 08/15/2009
MGoPoints: 27921

I forgot about that... Such memories.

They no longer call me Bisbiño

February 11th, 2012 at 8:24 PM | Does Mike Griffen from the (Score:1)
trueblueintexas
trueblueintexas's picture
Joined: 11/10/2008
MGoPoints: 1264

Does Mike Griffen from the '89 Championship team automatically qualify? He was the only white guy who played on the team and he hardly ever scored, yet started every game.

Edit: adding the /s for those who don't get it.

"Anyone who isn't confused, really doesn't understand the situation." - Edward R. Murrow

February 11th, 2012 at 8:38 PM | For the record, a few minor (Score:2)
Raoul
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Joined: 09/29/2009
MGoPoints: 5456

For the record, a few minor corrections: his name was spelled Griffin; Griffin didn't start every game that year (31 out of 37); and Rob Pelinka may not have played that much that year, but he did start one game.

Twitter: @Raoul_000

February 12th, 2012 at 1:00 AM | Steve Grote (Score:1)
BlueMan80
BlueMan80's picture
Joined: 01/21/2011
MGoPoints: 2376

Was that guy's role model. Crazy defensive player. Crazy. Tougher than nails.

Edited due to crappy iPad autocorrect. Not helpful!

February 11th, 2012 at 8:41 PM | Schembechler (Score:5 Normal)
acnumber1
acnumber1's picture
Joined: 10/19/2009
MGoPoints: 2657

Not usually one to comment on spelling errors, but this one is kind of important in these parts:

 

Schembechler

5 4 3 2 1 Touchdown!

Touchdown Billy Taylor!

Touchdown Billy Taylor!

February 12th, 2012 at 11:43 AM | Thanks (Score:1)
Ezeh-E
Ezeh-E's picture
Joined: 07/22/2009
MGoPoints: 193

Thanks -- fixed

February 11th, 2012 at 9:20 PM | On account of his low (Score:3 Underrated)
snarling wolverine
Joined: 12/14/2011
MGoPoints: 4712

On account of his low recruiting ranking, small stature, great performance and ability to drive rival fanbases nuts...

...I nominate Mike Hart.

Going back a decade further, the defensive captain of the '97 team is well-deserving:

To go from walking on to captaining a national champion, Eric Mayes was pretty darn gritty.

February 11th, 2012 at 9:47 PM | I nominate Tshimanga Biakabutuka. (Score:2 Normal)
BlueDragon
BlueDragon's picture
Joined: 11/14/2010
MGoPoints: 16727

313 yards is pure grit and determination.

p1_biakabutuka_all

Abort, Retry, Fail?

February 11th, 2012 at 10:22 PM | Steve "oh, I'll just use the other hand" Everitt (Score:5 Normal)
LB
LB's picture
Joined: 09/26/2009
MGoPoints: 5078

Not to mention the broken jaw.

May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift

February 12th, 2012 at 7:39 AM | Everitt (Score:2)
EGD
EGD's picture
Joined: 09/16/2009
MGoPoints: 1895

Steve Everitt was true grit.  Also from that era: Yale Van Dyne.

"You will suffer humiliation when the team from my area defeats the team from your area." -- The Onion

February 16th, 2012 at 2:57 AM | If we're gonna count Everitt, (Score:2)
Seth
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Joined: 10/14/2008
MGoPoints: 48336

If we're gonna count Everitt, why not the vikings in general? Other than the sissy sagas, they were pretty gritty right?

(Blogger alias: "Misopogon") This team is under construction. We thank you for your patience.

February 11th, 2012 at 10:38 PM | Steele (Score:2)
SchembechlerDisciple
Joined: 11/28/2011
MGoPoints: 40

Glen Steele... Grittiest DL I can remember. No offense to the great MM and RVB from 132.

The Michigan Wolverines are my favorite team.

February 11th, 2012 at 10:41 PM | i just relised "The (Score:1)
swan flu
swan flu's picture
Joined: 08/16/2010
MGoPoints: 1114

i just relised "The Watchmen's" Rorschack's real name is Walter Kovacs.

 

Anyone else think we should start calling Kovacs "Rorschack?"

 

no im not drunk and watching The Watchmen.

Tenim un nom el sap tothom. Barca, Barca, BAAARCA!

February 12th, 2012 at 11:13 AM | Steve Morrison (Score:1)
MidMichiganLaurence
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Joined: 12/25/2011
MGoPoints: 219

23 total tackles and assists in one game against Illini 

February 12th, 2012 at 11:15 AM | Zack Novak (Score:2)
My name ... is Tim
My name ... is Tim's picture
Joined: 12/20/2008
MGoPoints: 1125

Zack Novak for hustling so damn hard all while playing without the existence of legs.

"Nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours."

February 29th, 2012 at 6:24 PM | Old school (Score:1)
ST3
ST3's picture
Joined: 09/11/2010
MGoPoints: 2187

Thad Garner was the grittiest McGritterson I remember from the old days. He was caught between eras, post Mike McGee/Phil Hubbard, pre-Glen Rice days. Check out his profile here and replace "Thad Garner" with "Zack Novak". They had practically the same career stats.

http://isportsweb.com/2009/10/09/michigan-basketball-all-time-10-best-po...

 

Garner scored 1,039 points in his career and he hauled down 602 rebounds. He was also a hustling, hard working defensive player...In 1982 Michigan established the Thad Garner Leadership Award which is given each year to the Michigan player who provides outstanding leadership to his teammates.

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