New Tradition Idea
We all know about the history of the #1 jersey and it's significance for our wide receivers. I thought it would be interesting if we did a similar thing on the defensive side of the ball. This time instead of Anthony Carter and #1 it would be Charles Woodson and #2. We could have this given as an honor to our top defensive back assuming we have one who has earned it. I just feel that it would be a nice motivator at a position full of young guys who need to step up for us.
February 12th, 2010 at 6:34 PM ^
Call Charles and tell him to donate a milli or so for the scholarship, then yeah, tradition started.
February 12th, 2010 at 6:50 PM ^
I think Charles is good for the money.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:07 PM ^
Charles is SO money.
February 13th, 2010 at 3:54 AM ^
He makes it rain.
February 12th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
Great idea man.
February 12th, 2010 at 6:53 PM ^
I'd rather Charles give the cash to Mott than to endow a jersey scholarship, but whatever.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:01 PM ^
If you haven't been watching the press, Charles already gave to Mott. To the best of my knowledge he gave 2 million. A friend of mine was the guy who was working with Charles to make the donation. I think it would be a great gesture for RR and company ( David Brandon) to step up to the plate and recognize the gift that Charles made. Just because it didn't go to the athletic department doesn't mean that the gift doesn't benefit the University or the community-at-large.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:04 PM ^
If that comment is to me, yes, I'm aware of that. My point is that if Charles Woodson is going to look at throwing another million at the University...
But, really, how many new traditions do we need? We're Michigan. There's never been the kind of attachment to #2 on defense as there has for #1 on offense. Can you name another lights-out star on defense to wear #2 (of the level of an AC, Alexander, Braylon, etc.) other than Woodson? Crable would not be an appropriate answer, either.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
I like this idea. Kind of like reserving someone's jersey instead of retireing it (like everyone else does). There was no attachment to the #1 before Anthony Carter either. He's the one who started that whole deal, wasn't he? He was a transcendent player at his position just like Woodson. WRs at Michigan strive to don the #1 Jersey. It's a great recruiting and motivation tool. Why not have the same thing for defensive backs?
Point is, all traditions start somewhere sometime. Why not start this one right here, right now?
February 12th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
True, there may not have been a whole lot of great defensive players wearing #2 other than Woodson. But the deal with the #1 is, you have to earn it. Braylon started out wearing #80, I believe. Terrell switched to the #1 after wearing 86, IIRC.
If UM started the tradition the OP recommended, then star defensive players would be awarded the #2 after proving it on the field. Some possible post-Woodson players who might have been awarded the #2: Lamarr Woodley, Brandon Graham, possibly Larry Foote (close call there)...
I think it's a great idea.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:23 PM ^
Terrell wore #1 from the start. So did almost everyone else who's worn it (Derrick Alexander wore a different number as a true frosh, but didn't make an impact then). The only player who ever had to "earn" it was Braylon.
February 13th, 2010 at 9:24 AM ^
Foote was a monster when it came to tackles for loss. He was even 3rd in the NFL this year up until a few games left in the season.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:08 PM ^
Question: if the player with the #1 jersey gets a scholarship and he is already on scholarship, does getting that jersey scholly open up another scholly for recruiting?
February 12th, 2010 at 7:21 PM ^
Anyone on the roster who receives a scholarship of any kind (academic, basketball, pillow-fighting, etc.) is counted toward the 85 scholarship limit.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:12 PM ^
Ban the freep from campus sporting events,and functions.
February 12th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
double post, will have to stop posting from my phone.
February 12th, 2010 at 9:00 PM ^
I like the Idea. It should be an honor to wear
the number of Heisman trophy winner and more so,
a great Wolverine.
February 12th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^
I think this a great tradition to start. New coach, new scheme, new tradition. M needs something to drum up positive publicity for the program in these trying times.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:35 PM ^
It's almost as if we never had any traditions to start with!
February 13th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
What's your deal?
All traditions start somewhere.
I'm getting the feeling that if you would have been around in the 60's, you would have stomped your feet and waved your fists at the "M" Club banner. "WE HAVE ENOUGH TRADITIONS!"
February 12th, 2010 at 9:33 PM ^
Can a tradition be new? Gotta start somewhere I guess.
February 12th, 2010 at 10:05 PM ^
Aren't "new" and "tradition" contradictory words? Good idea though (and I'm not being sarcastic).
February 12th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
GREAT idea. If you want to take this seriously, write a diary about it, get everyone on board, and write a letter of some sort to Woodson, and ask him about it. We might just be lowly fans, but if he's up to it, it would be awesome. I think the football staff would be up for it as well.
How much does it take to endow a scholarship? A million?
February 13th, 2010 at 12:29 AM ^
I might actually do that. I got into a car accident last week and my eye got tagged with the airbag so I really can't look at a computer screen for too long, but once that heals up I could get the time to write a diary about it with a more in-depth explanation and then I could try to find a way to contract the great one himself about it. Though I wouldn't dare ask him to put his money on it. I'd just ask him what he would think about it and maybe if he'd mention to the connections I'm sure he has in the athletic department.
February 13th, 2010 at 1:07 PM ^
I think it'd probably be less weird to petition the athletic department to reserve #2 just like #1 then Woodson can endow if he would like to. Better yet have the scholarship already endowed and let Woodson match it if he'd like. I just think it'd be weird for Woodson to ask the athletic department to effectively retire his jersey, you know?
It'd be super easy to set up a facebook group or online petition to collect signatures then approach the athletic department once there is something significant to show.
If you're serious about this, the other thing that would add legitimacy to the petition would be to get a group together to gather physical signatures at the spring game or something. Showing a facebook page just doesn't have the same effect as dropping a ream of paper on someone's desk. I bet a couple thousand signatures could be collected at the spring game without breaking a sweat. Add basketball games and general canvassing around campus or wherever and 10,000+ signatures is an achievable goal for something like this. I'd be down for helping out with that.
I think this is a great idea and I'd like to help out. Please shoot me an email to get something going. [email protected]
February 12th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
And I think future Michigan punters should have to EARN that 41 jersey!
(But achieving the rank of Space Emperor of Space would involve something far more advanced.)
February 13th, 2010 at 2:23 AM ^
Or maybe #41 should be retired until the reincarnation of the Space Emperor comes back to Michigan. Punters can wear #40.
February 14th, 2010 at 6:51 PM ^
I think this is a great idea. All traditions were new at one point or another. Why not put the #2 out there to give the secondary something to strive for while at the same time honoring one of our greatest defensive players ever. I don't think Woodson needs to endow a scholarship to make this work. He gives a lot to more important causes, but why not have it as an incentive?