Guys you wish had stuck around longer
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.
Darius Morris, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr., Mitch McGary, Nik Stauskas, Glenn Robinson III....
to the punch by a few seconds. I second your emotion.
would have really helped our secondary.
Would his Senior year have been Hoke's 1st?? Or the last Rich Rod?? I think if it were the former, he'd have had a better draft position
Drew Henson. And I'd imagine that at least part of him feels the same.
I second this
Also Trevor Pryce back in the mid 90s.
Justin Fargas is another
That darn George Steinbrenner...
I was so pissed off for almost a year.
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.
Earnest Shazor. Declared after his Jr. year and went undrafted.
His hit vs Purdue that forced the fumble was beautiful.
I about lost my mind when that happened. We surely would have lost that game had he not done that.
Would have been nice to see him help the team go for a repeat National Championship and him win the Heisman twice
I wish he could've stuck around forever.
only as a RB/WR/KR!
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.
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.
Mallett and Manningham wouldnt have hurt the transition as bad
Here are two people I forgot to mention and yes, you're exactly right.
I think Alex Mitchell's work-ethic can be added to this list
He was a big boy
Will never get enough of that image!!!
Shazor was awesome. hit on Purdue was the best!
D Warren, eff this!$^^%$#@#$%^&*&^%$# Should have stayed!
George Campbell
Damien Harris
wow...way too soon.
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.
couldn't leave the Chronic alone.
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.
Don't know how Red can stand it.
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.
I always wanted more shantee Orr.
Also, Jamal Crawford.
80% of the 2010 football class? How diffferent would the last 2 years have been?
before he blew his knee out he was a tremendous RB. For his own sake, it might have changed his life, too.
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.
Great mention.
Not a knock against Lloyd, but Moeller's teams were a lot of fun to watch.
They really were, weren't they?
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....
I mean, teams with Alexander AND Desmond Howard? And then Mercury Hayes and Amani Toomer? And a world where Tyrone MF Wheatley had to split time? Those offenses were out of control.
was a great time to be a Wolverine fan going to high school in Ohio, I can tell you that much.
And my vote is for Henson, because that team in 2001 was stacked. Just needed more than a realtively inexperienced Navarre could give.
Udoh
Forgot about him
Desmond Howard
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.
Ernest Shazier
Shazier played for OSU, bro.
but I'm guessing you knew that, and just wanted to take the opprortunity to use a douchey "bro" tag.