Guys you wish had stuck around longer

Submitted by PeteM on

I was thinking the other day about players that started at Michigan, and, for whatever reason, didn't play 4 years here.

The two that immediately came to mind were David Bowens and Antonio Bass.  I remember thinking when Bowens arrived in the mid-90s he reminded me of the speedy Florida State D linemen that we had so much trouble with in Moeller's first season.  In his freshman season against Miami (NTM) my recollection was that he was absolutely dominant.  I forget what led to his transfer (I believe academics), but would have loved for him to stick around.

I don't recall Antonio Bass playing a lot as a freshman, but do remember some crucial runs subbing in for Henne while operating out of the shotgun.  It seemed like he was good for an almost automatic 5-10 yards in those situations.  I assume that with Henne in place he would have played receiver but for his knee injury, but it felt like he also could have been a dual threat QB pre-Denard.

Finally, and this doesn't quite qualify since it involves a coach rather than a player, but I've long wondered how Michigan's football fortunes in the 1950s would have been different if Fritz Crisler had spent another 5-10 years on the sidelines (he was only 48 or 49 when he retired).  His last team won the national championship, and in his last five years he had 2 Big Ten champions and 3 2nd place finishes.  His tenure always seemed too short to me.

westwardwolverine

May 22nd, 2014 at 12:36 PM ^

Darius Morris, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mitch McGary, Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III....

maineandblue

May 22nd, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^

He expressed his regrets pretty frankly in a documentary (I believe it was "Year of the Qurarterback: The Brady 6"). I don't think I've ever watched a college quarterback play as well as him (just my opinion). I was really disappointed he left Michigan, and really surprised/disappointed he could never regain his previous skill level or come close to reaching his potential in the NFL. 

umfan323

May 22nd, 2014 at 12:43 PM ^

Would have been nice to see him help the team go for a repeat National Championship and him win the Heisman twice

LSAClassOf2000

May 22nd, 2014 at 12:47 PM ^

I believe you're right about Bowens - he ran into academic trouble and transferred to Western Illinois, I believe, to play his final two years out. It would have been nice to have the sort of production he seemed capable of (I think he more than doubled his tackle totals from 1995 to 1996) for four years. Still, that 1996 team had Bowens and Steele at DE with Carr, Huff, Copenhaver, Irons, Sword all in that defense with Hankins and Woodson at CB. David Bowens was, when he was here, trending to be a great asset to an already very talented defense. 

jmdblue

May 22nd, 2014 at 1:08 PM ^

as a Freshman weakside end and being thoroughly dominated by the left tackle despite an incredibly obvoius athletic advantage.  He was thrust into the lineup early here and then the academic problems arose.... Shame he wasn't able to develop here.

Drew Henson can kiss my ass. 

Antoinio Bass may have risen to my personal list of unquestioned M (skill) greats: Woodson, Carter, Harmon, Kramer, Oosterbaan.  

Avon Barksdale

May 22nd, 2014 at 12:51 PM ^

QB - Ryan Mallett, for obvious reasons of what he did at ARK in the spread offense.

QB - Drew Henson, would've led us to a B1G Championship and MNC berth.

CB - Donovan Warren, 5 star, CA, went undrafted after leaving early.

S - Shazor, fun to watch growing up, left early, undrafted.

S - Demar Dorsey, just because I want to believe he would've actually helped out more than Ray Vinopal.

OL - Tony Posada, had high hopes for him. As we watch our O-line fall into a fiery pit this season, I will remember that our hopes and dreams were dashed on a decision from a Plant City, FL, generic 3 star.

CB - Cullen Christian, would have been a senior last year. Surely could have knocked down a single pass (of the three) that Allen Robinson caught over true frosh Channing Stribling.

 

 

 

 

Voltron is Handsome

May 22nd, 2014 at 12:55 PM ^

Oh, where to start...

Let's see -

Trey Burke

Glenn Robinson

Nik Stauskas

Tim Hardaway

Mitch McGary (I know he bascally didn't have a choice)

Drew Henson

Donovan Warren

Ernest Shazor

Charles Woodson

 

Those are off the top of my head, but I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting.

VictorValiant

May 22nd, 2014 at 12:57 PM ^

Bo Schembechler

He lived a good life and we all are mortal beings, but the downward trend of the program started when we lost Bo.  I don't believe it's just a coincidence.

jmdblue

May 22nd, 2014 at 1:12 PM ^

Antonio Bass was poised to become on the field.  You're right, Boles had already arrived and was on the cusp of greatness for his senior season.  Then the downward spiral...alas.

Don

May 22nd, 2014 at 1:33 PM ^

Just loved watching Derrick Alexander. Dude was a lanky race horse who routinely blew past people like they were nothing.

Mo's teams just weren't quite strong enough defensively at critical times. I wonder who his DC was....

GoBLUinTX

May 22nd, 2014 at 1:27 PM ^

Taken far too early so legions of new Michigan fans were robbed of the experience of having Michigan football games painted upon tympanic membranes by an artist par excellence.