Home
i'm an actor, not a reactor

Primary links

  • About
    • $upport (lol)
    • Ethics
    • FAQ
    • Glossary
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • MGoStore
    • Hail to Old Blue
  • MGoBoard
    • MGoBoard FAQ
    • Michigan bar locator
    • Moderator Action Sticky
  • Useful Stuff
    • Depth Chart By Class
    • Hoops Depth Chart by Class
    • 2017 Recruiting Board
    • Unofficial Two Deep
    • MGoFlickr
    • Diaries, Windows Live Writer, And You
    • User-Curated HOF
    • Where To Eat In Ann Arbor
  • Schedule/Tix
    • Future Schedules (wiki)
    • Ticket spreadsheet
Home Forums MGoBoard

Navigation

  • Forums
  • Recent posts

User login

  • Create new account
  • Request new password

MGoElsewhere

  • @MGoBlog (Brian)
  • @aceanbender
  • @Misopogon (Seth)
  • @Aeschnepp (Adam)
  • @BISB
  • @EUpchurchPhoto
  • @FullOfTwitt (Fuller)
  • Hail to the Victors 2016
  • MGoFacebook
  • MGoPodcast
  • WTKA
  • Instagram

Michigan Blogs

  • Big House Blog
  • Burgeoning Wolverine Star
  • Genuinely Sarcastic
  • Go Blue Michigan Wolverine
  • Holdin' The Rope
  • MVictors
  • Maize 'n' Blue Nation
  • Maize 'n' Brew
  • Maize And Go Blue
  • Michigan Hockey Net
  • MMMGoBlueBBQ
  • The Blog That Yost Built
  • The Hoover Street Rag
  • The M Zone
  • Touch The Banner
  • UMGoBlog
  • UMHoops
  • UMTailgate
  • Wolverine Liberation Army

M On The Net

  • mgovideo
  • MGoBlue.com
  • Mike DeSimone
  • Recruiting Planet
  • The Wolverine
  • Go Blue Wolverine
  • Winged Helmet
  • UMGoBlue.com
  • MaizeRage.org
  • Puckhead
  • The M Den
  • True Blue Fan Forum

Big Ten Blogs

  • Illinois
    • Illinois Loyalty
    • Illinois Baseball Report
  • Indiana
    • Inside The Hall
    • The Crimson Quarry
  • Iowa
    • Black Heart, Gold Pants
    • Fight For Iowa
  • Michigan State
    • The Only Colors
  • Minnesota
    • GopherHole.com
    • The Daily Gopher
  • Nebraska
    • Corn Nation
    • Husker Max
    • Husker Mike's Blasphemy
    • Husker Gameday
  • Northwestern
    • Sippin' On Purple
    • Lake The Posts
  • Notre Dame
    • The House Rock Built
    • One Foot Down
  • Ohio State
    • Eleven Warriors
    • Buckeye Commentary
    • Men of the Scarlet and Gray
    • Our Honor Defend
    • The Buckeye Nine
  • Penn State
    • Slow States
    • Black Shoe Diaries
    • Happy Valley Hardball
    • Penn State Clips
    • Linebacker U
    • Nittany White Out
  • Purdue
    • Boiled Sports
    • Hammer and Rails
  • Wisconsin
    • Bruce Ciskie

Links of Note

  • Baseball
    • College Baseball Today
    • The College Baseball Blog
  • Basketball
    • Ken Pomeroy
    • Hoop Math
    • John Gasaway
    • Luke Winn/Sports Illustrated
  • College Hockey
    • Chris Heisenberg (Class of 2016)
    • College Hockey Stats
    • Michigan College Hockey
    • Hockey's Future
    • Sioux Sports
    • USCHO
  • Football
    • Smart Football
    • Every Day Should Be Saturday
    • Matt Hinton/Grantland
    • Football Study Hall
    • Football Outsiders
    • Harold Stassen
    • NCAA D-I Stats Page
    • The Wizard Of Odds
    • CFB Stats
  • General
    • Sports Central
  • Local Interest
    • The Ann Arbor Chronicle
    • Arborwiki
    • Arbor Update
    • Ann Arbor Observer
    • Teeter Talk
    • Vacuum
  • Teams Of The D
    • Lions
      • Pride of Detroit
    • Pistons
      • Detroit Bad Boys
      • Need4Sheed
    • Tigers
      • Roar Of The Tigers
      • Bless You Boys
      • The Daily Fungo
      • The Detroit Tigers Weblog
    • Red Wings
      • Winging It In Motown
      • On The Wings
    • Michigan Sports Forum

Beveled Guilt

Site Search

Diaries

  • New
  • Popular
  • Hot
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - April 2008: No Spring Game at the Big House! Hockey loses to ND in the Frozen Four!
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 4 days ago
  • Thirteen unlucky minutes (TL;DNR-This is a bit of rant about the refs)
    docwhoblocked - 2 weeks ago
  • Fan Satisfaction Index End of Season Bball Survey
    OneFootIn - 3 weeks ago
  • How likely are we to revert to the mean?
    Bo Glue - 3 weeks ago
  • It's time to avenge Villanova's 1985 NCAA tourney upset over Michigan
    Communist Football - 3 weeks ago
  •  
  • 1 of 2
  • ››
more
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - April 2008: No Spring Game at the Big House! Hockey loses to ND in the Frozen Four!
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 1,338 views
  • 14 Months Ago: The Fire Beilein Threads.
    stephenrjking - 237 comments
  • This Month in MGoBlog History - April 2008: No Spring Game at the Big House! Hockey loses to ND in the Frozen Four!
    Maize.Blue Wagner - 8 comments

MGoBoard

  • New
  • Recent
  • Hot
  • More MSU takes. From USA Today
    9 replies
  • OT: National Park Week; What's Your Favorite?
    48 replies
  • New Q&A with Cam McGrone, video
    0 replies
  • Rice Commission recommendations to be released today
    38 replies
  • MBB: Wake Forest grad transfer PG Keyshawn Woods commits to OSU
    14 replies
  • Harmoniously OT: UM Men's Glee Club in AZ
    16 replies
  • Coach B w Andy Katz podcast
    3 replies
  • Michigan Alumni Club Scholarship Golf Tournament featuring Honorary Chair Glen Rice - This Saturday in Miami!
    5 replies
  • Hello? Boring Tuesday POSbang Happy Hour Thread
    114 replies
  • OT: UCL Semi-final First Legs
    14 replies
  • More evidence of awful culture at MSU, volleyball this time
    61 replies
  • OT: Rick Pitino Rumored to be Candidate for Detroit Mercy Job
    79 replies
  • New Jersey DE Aeneas DiCosmo: Prospect we should all want at UM
    55 replies
  • In-state recruiting rankings update
    125 replies
  • A piece of U-M broadcast history ends tonight.
    28 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››
  • OT: National Park Week; What's Your Favorite?
    48 replies
  • Rice Commission recommendations to be released today
    38 replies
  • More MSU takes. From USA Today
    9 replies
  • MBB: Wake Forest grad transfer PG Keyshawn Woods commits to OSU
    14 replies
  • Harmoniously OT: UM Men's Glee Club in AZ
    16 replies
  • Coach B w Andy Katz podcast
    3 replies
  • New Q&A with Cam McGrone, video
    0 replies
  • Hello? Boring Tuesday POSbang Happy Hour Thread
    114 replies
  • More evidence of awful culture at MSU, volleyball this time
    61 replies
  • In-state recruiting rankings update
    125 replies
  • Michigan Alumni Club Scholarship Golf Tournament featuring Honorary Chair Glen Rice - This Saturday in Miami!
    5 replies
  • OT: Rick Pitino Rumored to be Candidate for Detroit Mercy Job
    79 replies
  • New Jersey DE Aeneas DiCosmo: Prospect we should all want at UM
    55 replies
  • A piece of U-M broadcast history ends tonight.
    28 replies
  • Pep and Partridge Pressers
    11 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››
  • Belleville coach Jermain Crowell mad at UM again
    244 replies
  • "Being Not-Rich at UM" Guide
    168 replies
  • The Evolution of Commerce - What Industries are Dying, What's Thriving?
    148 replies
  • Pep Hamilton on Shea: Can extend the play, make all the throws, plus other QB's
    129 replies
  • In-state recruiting rankings update
    125 replies
  • OT - Jalen Hurts possibly looking to transfer
    121 replies
  • Notre Dame Spring Game: analysis from M n B, video
    119 replies
  • Hello? Boring Tuesday POSbang Happy Hour Thread
    114 replies
  • No additional protest of Shea Patterson appeal by Ole Miss
    113 replies
  • OT: MSU digs hole deeper, Engler adviser: Nassar survivor's claims of payout 'fake news'
    106 replies
  • Nebraska football
    105 replies
  • OT: Map of college stadiums that sell alcohol
    96 replies
  • Karsen Barnhart - did we cool on him?
    92 replies
  • OT: College Football video games coming back
    90 replies
  • UCF Knights unveil 2017 championship banner
    89 replies
  •  
  • 1 of 6
  • ››

Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon

Grit Pantheon/MGoBlog Hall of Fame, Part Deux

20 posts / 0 new
Login or register to post comments
Last post
March 29th, 2012 at 12:19 PM
#1
Ezeh-E
Ezeh-E's picture
Joined: 07/22/2009
MGoPoints: 1365
Grit Pantheon/MGoBlog Hall of Fame, Part Deux

DISCLAIMER:  I didn't read all the discussion at the end of the original MGoBlog HoF article, so someone may have already proposed this.

 

So there was talk awhile back about having an MGoBlog Hall of Fame that was spawned by the little talked about Grit Pantheon.  It seemed like there wasn't too much agreement about what should constitute the rules of admission for the MGoBlog Hall of Fame, which is fine.  We're a rowdy bunch.  I wanted to propose a radical solution:  we do it like the Catholics do sainthood (i.e., requiring two "miracles").  Don't worry, I hate Notre Dame, and this is not about them.

 

Before you start burning your couches and tweeting me with advice to FOLLOW MY HEART, hear me out.  Instead of making admission to the HoF weighted heavily statisical element (# of sacks, tackles, yards, two-time All-BIG -- things that are ultimately not awe-inspiring), I'd prefer to hit on the emotional aspect of certain players' contributions, since that is why I watch sports.  I don't watch to find out if Denard gets 120 yards rushing or 140 yards rushing.  Plus, statistics are often taken out of context, like using a comparison of the passing yards of pro QBs now vs. 1970s.  Would you rather have Roger Staubach or Fran Tarkenton as your QB or Matthew Stafford?

 

To give the criteria for these "miracles" some context:  I think that any play/game/act of heart, selflessness, or pure grit that appears to divinely (don't hate me Atheists) inspired counts as a "miracle".  Actually, I'd prefer to call this a "grit point", but I'm partial to grit as well as shrimp and grits.

 

Examples of obvious grit points/miracles:  Charles Woodson's one handed interception against MSU, Molk playing the Sugar Bowl with a shredded tendon, Desmond's Catch, Denard's 1st play from scrimage, that play in hockey back in the 90s where our guy lifted the puck up on his stick and wrapped around to the top corner (sorry, I don't know my hockey history well), Hoke's reaction to Hagerup dropping the snap against Ohio, the Kork Coupons MGoMeme, etc.

 

Other, more debatable acts of grit/miracles:  Van Bergen going beast on Indiana after letting in a touchdown in 2009, Denard patting Gholston on the ass after Gholston tried to break his neck, Vincent Smith handguns, Bloody Novak, Kovacs 4th down stop on the option against Northwestern, Dennis Norfleet's bouncing back up and cactching the winning touchdown after slamming face-first full speed onto the concrete at the Florida Max Preps, Taylor Lewan's playing hurt against MSU, Martavious Odom's block against Minnesota in 2008, Gibbons' redemption, All of Notre Dame game 2011.

 

The players who would've made it on stats will still likely make it because you don't accumulate stats like that without some defining moments.  But this way, we don't get caught up on the details.  Players like Charles Woodson, Desmond Howard, and Denard Robinson have at least three obvious miracle plays already.  Kovacs probably makes it.  Players like Van Bergen, who I personally believe should be in the Grit Pantheon may or may not make it based on fan-base perception of their "great works", which is fine.  Ultimately, though, I think this refocuses the discussion on the true impact and legacy of a player rather than details taken out of context (which feels like comparing the passing yards of pro-QBs now to ones in the 1970s).

 

Sorry this article is football heavy.  It's just the sport I follow.  I think the Grit Panteon/MGoBlog HoF/Mount Schembechler should be graced by athletes of any sport who meet the criteria.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
Tags:
  • MGoBoard
  • down with statistics for HoF
  • One man's grit is another man's gripe
  • other
  • pantheon/HoF fusion cuisine

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
March 29th, 2012 at 12:23 PM
#2
singler makes b...
Joined: 10/08/2011
MGoPoints: 204
I think the word miracle is

I think the word miracle is used a bit too loosely these days...

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 12:41 PM
(Reply to #2) #3
GoBlueInNYC
GoBlueInNYC's picture
Joined: 03/23/2010
MGoPoints: 9529
Miracle!

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 1:27 PM
(Reply to #2) #4
Ezeh-E
Ezeh-E's picture
Joined: 07/22/2009
MGoPoints: 1365
Except

Except for that Woodson interception.  Miracle doesn't really do it justice.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 12:30 PM
#5
Rusty Shackleford
Joined: 04/03/2010
MGoPoints: 5981
The hockey one

That was Mike Legg in 1996, which may have been one of the most important moments in modern Michigan hockey.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 1:02 PM
(Reply to #3) #6
Lionsfan
Lionsfan's picture
Joined: 06/03/2011
MGoPoints: 1962
I might be wrong here, but

I might be wrong here, but didn't that tie up the game, which we won to go to the NC? Or am I all out of place with my hockey history

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
(Reply to #7) #7
lilpenny1316
lilpenny1316's picture
Joined: 11/19/2009
MGoPoints: 28736
It tied up the game...

...and completely changed the momentum for that final period.  But it sent us to the Frozen Four, not the championship game.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 1:32 PM
(Reply to #7) #8
Rusty Shackleford
Joined: 04/03/2010
MGoPoints: 5981
Yep

That was the defining moment for Red and our program.

Until that point he had a stigma around the program for having the most talented teams every season, stocked full of NHL talent but they always collapsed in the tourney.

Legg tied it up against Minnesota in the quarterfinal, and we went on the smoke BU before taking down CC in the title game.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 12:39 PM
#9
Blue in Yarmouth
Blue in Yarmouth's picture
Joined: 02/18/2009
MGoPoints: 5720
I'm not going to get too bent about it....

but that just seems too loose for me when thinking about a HOF. I mean...2 plays? It has to be more than that. With the athletes that have played here over the years the HOF would be endless. I know they were talking about only going back so far, but still, two plays seems way too little IMHE.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 1:12 PM
(Reply to #4) #10
profitgoblue
profitgoblue's picture
Joined: 09/01/2009
MGoPoints: 19557
Agreed

I agree, but he's onto something.  There has to be an "x-factor" to the HoF induction:

Like Woodson's giving to Motts (not that he wouldn't be in regardless). 

On the other hand, Webber wouldn't make it because of his negative contribution (when he would definitely be an inductee had all that mess not occurred). 

Denard's in because of his smile and general disposition (and play on the field, obviously).

How about a guy like Tyrone Wheatley?  Does he get in?  He was a big part of my college experience and I say yes but what is his x-factor?  Maybe winning a B1G championship in track?

Just some thoughts.

 

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 2:18 PM
(Reply to #10) #11
MaizeAndBlueWahoo
MaizeAndBlueWahoo's picture
Joined: 07/02/2008
MGoPoints: 32944
I thought the point of the

I thought the point of the MGoBlog HOF was to include only (or mostly) players who'd actually been followed by MGoBlog, making '90s era guys ineligible.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 2:40 PM
(Reply to #15) #12
profitgoblue
profitgoblue's picture
Joined: 09/01/2009
MGoPoints: 19557
That's true

That's true, I was just using those names as examples for my generation.  Is Chris Perry the Tyrone Wheatley of this era?

 

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 3:01 PM
(Reply to #16) #13
Vote_Crisler_1937
Joined: 11/08/2011
MGoPoints: 4018
Not Perry

Good thought Profit, as Perry def had stats, but I remember Perry as a guy who ran way too upright and didn't learn how to cut until his final season. My recollection of Wheatley is that he ran lower and harder but also had the breakaway speed. Perry didn't do much of any of that by comparison. M really hasn't had an athlete like Wheatley at running back that I can think of, although A-Train and maybe Biakabutuka come closer athletically.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 2:52 PM
(Reply to #10) #14
Vote_Crisler_1937
Joined: 11/08/2011
MGoPoints: 4018
Tyrone's X Factor

Setting the Rose Bowl rushing record while intermittently missing plays with full on back spasms would definitely be a "miracle" upon which Wheatley should/could get in.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 1:25 PM
(Reply to #4) #15
Ezeh-E
Ezeh-E's picture
Joined: 07/22/2009
MGoPoints: 1365
I can agree with this

It's in how high you set the bar for a grit point/"miracle" -- if a decent catch counts as one, then this would fall apart.

 

Three may be a better number, though.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 12:47 PM
#16
Six Zero
Six Zero's picture
Joined: 09/05/2008
MGoPoints: 10549
Brandon Graham

vs. Iowa, circa 2008?

And yes, by that I mean not the football team, but the entire state of Iowa.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 1:09 PM
(Reply to #6) #17
profitgoblue
profitgoblue's picture
Joined: 09/01/2009
MGoPoints: 19557
Blockhams

Great avatar!  I like it.

 

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 1:04 PM
#18
singler makes b...
Joined: 10/08/2011
MGoPoints: 204
I nominate Frank Clark for

I nominate Frank Clark for his miracle interception in the sugar bowl. Plus he was only 18, so its a double miracle.

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 5:44 PM
#19
ChopBlock
ChopBlock's picture
Joined: 12/11/2011
MGoPoints: 2434
Miracles

No discussion of grit is complete without mention of this tough little guy. Breaking tackles to pick up the first running the draw on 3rd and 18 (3:24).

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
March 29th, 2012 at 5:46 PM
(Reply to #19) #20
ChopBlock
ChopBlock's picture
Joined: 12/11/2011
MGoPoints: 2434
woops

Won't let me edit, so let's try this again:

Top
  • Login or register to post comments
Powered by Drupal, an open source content management system
Theme provided by Roopletheme; sidebars adapted from Chris Murphy.