Hoke: Peppers has to earn #2 jersey

Submitted by Ghost of BCook… on

Although he will likely wear the #2 before he leaves Ann Arbor, it doesnt' appear that it will be this season as was widely speculated yesterday. 

Woodson wore No. 2 at Michigan, and while it has not been given special designation, Hoke believes it is a number that should be earned.

What number will the 6-foot-1, 205-pound Peppers wear this fall?

“We’re not sure yet,” Hoke said after speaking to the Sound Mind Sound Body football campers about the value of education Friday at Chandler Park Academy. “He may be wearing (No.) 5.”

LordGrantham

June 14th, 2014 at 2:26 AM ^

I realize this is not a big deal, but is it really that hard for Hoke to give a straightforward answer to such a simple and unimportant question?  Seriously, you're not sure?  You and the defensive staff are still laboring over the decision?  No, you're not.  Just answer the question and be done with it.

Wolfman

June 14th, 2014 at 2:56 AM ^

When reading the article I found myself becoming irritated simply because he does this so often, and I'm not certain he's even aware of it. But very often, far too often now, I've noticed the same damn thing. He will immediately start answering the question asked of him and just when you think you're getting close to an answer, he'll leave the subject matter entirely and begin speaking of something that has nothing whatsoever to do with the topic at hand.  This is definitely a fault and he should really recognize it for that and begin work on overcoming it. Often times staying on topic for as little as one damn statement will suffice. 

ThadMattasagoblin

June 14th, 2014 at 3:52 AM ^

Maybe he doesn't actually know yet if he's going to wear that number? Yesterday, people we're bashing Hoke for giving Peppers the same number as Woodson and now that he says he has to work for that number the same people are up in arms about it. Really, I don't see what the down side to what Hoke said is. It motivates Peppers to work hard if nothing else. Everything around here seems to turn into a Hoke bashing thread.

denardogasm

June 14th, 2014 at 3:21 AM ^

What question did he not answer?  According to the article he wasn't even asked if Peppers will wear the #2.  He was asked what number he'll wear and Hoke said he didn't know.  Why should he know in June?  This is really not a reason to be pissed at a coach.

Wolfman

June 14th, 2014 at 3:46 AM ^

was the case for any receiver so honored to wear no. 1 after A.C. should probably be done before talking about having to earn it. As many posters already have stated, it was given to other players who, in no universe, were ever capable of achieving number recognition as is the case with A.C., Desmond and Charles.  Gallon did wear no. 21 and if it's considered "an honor" he actually earned it, albeit after he already had been issued the jersey.  If memory serves me correctly this whole No.1 tradition began on a Saturday afternoon when a T.V. announcer, looking for something to add to what was probably a lopsided Michigan victory, erroneously stated, "They must think he_______________ will be the next great Michigan receiver because it's only given to those who the staff believes is worthy of wearning the great one's number."  He failed to mention it was casually given to others long before his statement. So, in effect, this Michigan tradition(?) was probably started by a man who never set foot inside a UM classroom.  Nice story, but total fabrication. 

IMO, wearing the number of past greats should not be used as an enticement to a hotly pursued recruit.  I think retired numbers should remain just that and probably be treated the way the Cowboys do theirs by hanging them in their Ring of Honor or whatever the official title is for honoring their past greats. In this manner they would be honored properly because the fans would look at them every Saturday and realize those so honored must have been truly outstanding considering the many greats who have donned the maize and blue. Times change, and so does football. I would much rather look at no. 98 as part of a very exclusive club rather than the incongruous manner it is now by placing it on the back of a QB.  Instead of listening to remarks from the uniformed such as "98 seems an odd number for a qb," those so inclined could look through their program and gain a better understanding of some of the traditions.

I would much rather have our coach tell one of the nation's best h.s. players he could join a very small but great group of players and point at the numbers of those retired jerseys that should be hanging below the pressbox as they are walking through the stadium. That's all that needs to be said about numbers and I think a player possessing the skills and performing in a manner similar to our Heisman winners and all the other greats would find joining such an elite group and being remembered as the last Michigan player to ever wear that number a much greater enticement than possibly becoming a member of a  group to whom certain numbers have been assigned and never even coming close to accomplishing the feats that were responsible for etching that number into the minds of all Michigan fans forever.

Danwillhor

June 14th, 2014 at 4:37 AM ^

There may be no single program more in need of a complete reboot than Michigan right now. Enough of the numbers B.S. Enough of the "lineage". Michigan Football needs counseling. Like psychotherapy. I love me some us (!) but I'm so done with traditions> winning. Just win and guess what happens? NEW traditions form! Ones that aren't two decades old (at the youngest end).

Victor Hale II

June 14th, 2014 at 5:00 AM ^

I like the idea of the legends patch and activating those numbers to be worn again. But deciding when and to whom said number will be assigned is confusing a bit, at least to me. So far it's been mostly based on merit, from what I can tell (Kovacs, JMFR, etc). I'd assume the player could refuse it, but it seems a pretty nice honor, and a cool opportunity to get to know famous alums or their families (at UNC it'd probably be worth 3-4 credits). Hard to think any 20-ish year old kid would refuse it.

However, does it ever become a point of contention among players? Or do they even really care? I'd be curious to know what criteria the staff sets forth in offering a number to a given player. Until these things are known, it's hard for me to criticize too much.

However, I do agree with those who like one guy to have one number his whole time at UM. I mean, that in itself is enough to spark those great memories for me. For example, some anonymous 4th string walk-on who's only visible on the sideline could be wearing #20, and I'll flash back to Mike Hart breaking tackles and dragging guys along for a ride on his way to another 200 yard game. Or I'll see Ian Gold flying in on a blitz or running sideline to sideline pursuing RB's. The list of numbers I can do that with is a long one. I don't need any patch for that.

Hey, maybe that'd be a fun, positive thread regarding numbers. Which player to you associate with a given number and what do you recall most?

Caesar

June 14th, 2014 at 6:50 AM ^

Definition: noun-- a series of events considered favorable for Michigan football

I'm open to other definitions, but I feel like this has potential.

Mattavious

June 14th, 2014 at 7:23 AM ^

I swore a while back, sorry I don't have a link, I read that Jabrill did not want to wear a legends Jersey because he wanted to make a name for himself with his number 5 and possibly have a legends Jersey of his own one day.  I don't think number 2 is a legends Jersey but it's only a matter of time I would think.  Can anyone corroborate?

icefins26

June 14th, 2014 at 7:37 AM ^

At first I loved the legacy numbers. Now, I hate it. Why doesn't Brandon keep them but instead make a patch with that number on it that they can wear.



Example: Gardner goes back to #12 but has a legacy patch with #98 on it.



Simple enough?

JayMo4

June 14th, 2014 at 7:46 AM ^

I'm fine with a patch.  But enough of the earning numbers.  Let guys establish themselves in their own right, make their own numbers legendary.  I don't have any problem with someone showing up as a freshman wearing #2 or #21 or whatever.  I also don't have a problem with some guy wearing, say, #26 having an All-American career without switching to a "legends" jersey.

The patch is enough.  Everything else is needless distraction.

markusr2007

June 14th, 2014 at 7:51 AM ^

The same motivation technique. We r going to treat every player ever like its a Braylon Edwards redux? Ok, but Not everyone is the same. Bryan Virgil and Rich Hewlett didn't have to earn it.

Princetonwolverine

June 14th, 2014 at 8:25 AM ^

I have  no problem with the program honoring a past player whose number has been "retired". Let a deserving current player wear the number for ONE game. They then go back to their own number so they have the chance to make that number deserving of being retired. 

Having Gardner, or any other player, continue to wear a "retired" number dilutes the significance of what the previous player accomplished. 

MGoStrength

June 14th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^

Or wasn't the #2 supposedly promised to Peppers duing the recruiting process?  Maybe that was speculation, but I do recall it being said.

Mgo-Bo

June 14th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^

He doesn't expect #2 but, wouldn't turn it down if they offered it.



I really do miss guys making their own #'s a # to remember.

#1 being the exception.

2Blue4You

June 14th, 2014 at 10:42 AM ^

This is dumb. Give him #2 and don't make a circus out of it.



The legends numbers are laughable from the outside and becoming so for us as well. Just win and stop the circus show around the rest of it.

UPMichigan

June 14th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^

The team, the team, the team... Why is this a Woodson jersey instead of a Michigan jersey? These player numbers contradict everything Hoke and Brandon emphasize.

alum96

June 14th, 2014 at 12:03 PM ^

Like many I dont like the legends jersey because it doesnt let guys build their own legacy, etc.  I think if you want to make the #2 like the #1 and be an elite number given to ONE player at ONE specific position (WR v CB) that is fine but that should be earned if that is how they want to do it.  Give it out their junior year. 

But Devin did nothing to "earn" the 98 at the time it was given, and either did Avery or Funchess at the time.  Funchess proceeded to probably earn it with game play entering his junior year. 

Aside from #1 and #2 I'd maybe give out a few of these legends jerseys for maybe the OSU game to make it special but otherwise they have their own # most of their careers and then the truly elite players have this honor for 1 game a year.

Mr. Yost

June 14th, 2014 at 12:40 PM ^

Legends jerseys only worn during rivalry games.

It would create some buzz and also it would allow people to be known as THEIR number even if they wore a legends jersey for a few games in their career.

I want to get rid of them altogether, but this is better than the current method.

SteelBrad

June 14th, 2014 at 1:00 PM ^

I'll echo what others have said. I don't like the Legends jerseys being worn for the whole year.



My suggestion would be to only bring them out for one game a year. I would be a fan of it being Homecoming.

KC Wolve

June 15th, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^

This is so stupid. Retire the damn jersey or let the kid wear it if he wants. How about Hoke "earns" a decent win or two this year.