Next Seasons Legend Jerseys

Submitted by Tate on

With all this talk about whether or not Peppers would take #2 if he were offered the number, it got me thinking...

Next year, who do you think gets the other legends jerseys (if anyone)?

Would it be too much to see Funchess go from 19 - 87 - 21?

Just would like to see a discussion on who you believe deserves what.

EDIT: And this is not me saying that I believe that Peppers will get #2 next year.

mgobaran

December 5th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^

Whoa whoa whoa. I don't want to rip it off of his back. I think it is awesome that our QB wears 98. And if anyone deserves it, it is Devin Gardner after getting his ribs ground into a fine paste over the past month. And even furthermore after that OSU game.

People on this site didn't want him to wear it for more than 1 game. I was just bringing up the possibility that it could be just a 1 year thing.

I personally wouldn't be shocked if DG wanted to hang up 98, and go back to 12, out of respect to Tom Harmon. But it is his call to make. 

jsa

December 5th, 2013 at 12:06 PM ^

Did anyone else check Devin's season-end stats and do a double take?

60%

2960 yds

21-11 TD-INT (+11 Rush Tds)

Who was the last 3000 yard passer at M? Navarre? and before him?

 

Caveat, of course, is "The Three Good Games"

1248 YDS, 10-1 TD-Int (+5 Rush Tds) against ND, IU, OSU

1712 YDS, 11-10 TD-Int (+6 Rush Tds) against the other 9

 

Still, he has the potential for a Vince Young 5th year senior season.

xxxxNateDaGreat

December 5th, 2013 at 12:35 PM ^

I know that this is a completely unrealistic extrapolation, but:



If you were to stretch those three games into a full year, Gardner would have

          - 4992 yards, 40-4 TD:INT (+20 Rush TDs) over 12 games. ABSURD.

Now, for the sake of not losing our minds, let's just cut that in half and then extrapolate the remainder:

          - 3744 yards, 30-12 TD:INT (+14 Rush TDs) over 12 games. ALSO ABSURD.



Bottom line: this is why I don't math.

jmblue

December 5th, 2013 at 3:15 PM ^

Who was the last 3000 yard passer at M? Navarre? and before him?

Navarre in 2003 posted the only 3,000-yard season in school history. Gardner's 2013 season is already #2 all-time.

BostonWolverine

December 5th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^

Absolutely. First of all, he'll be a 5th year senior, his team's starting QB, and someone who's toughness and determination was obvious through a difficult season.

Second of all, why would you give your QB an honor and then take it away from him? "We thought you'd earned it, but we just think you'd better go back to being #12." You don't do that to your QB.

Tuebor

December 5th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^

I assume the current numbers won't change.

47 - Ryan

48 - Morgan

87 - Funchess

98 - Gardner

 

It is possible that the coaching staff won't give out 11 or 21 next year because I can't think of anyone deserving.  Maybe Countess to 11 since Hoke seems to like DBs in that number, but no WR deserves 21 right now.

LB

December 5th, 2013 at 10:45 AM ^

to wear any Michigan jersey number when they commit a portion of their lives to the university. I believe that Legends Jerseys present something toward which they might aspire. Let the people that see the players on a daily basis decide who deserves to wear a given number, it should never be subject to a decision by fans.

mgobaran

December 5th, 2013 at 10:30 AM ^

And please for the love of god, let anyone who wants a certain number to wear that number*.

Said player doesn't need to live up to a legend. Just represent them through hard work, and keeping your chin clean. The reminder of who that legend was can be seen no matter if it was Gallon wearing #21, or Joe Reynolds who wore it. 

 

*Except #1 which is for the elite WR's, #2 for the elite DB's, and IMO, 98 should be unofficially retired out of respect from our players to M's biggest hero.

MI Expat NY

December 5th, 2013 at 11:36 AM ^

Full agreement with this.  Give the numbers to freshman next year (or any returning player that specifically wants it).  If they become contributors, great, if not, so be it.  

The patches will get seen and occasionally a TV guy will take note.  Pretty much the same thing that happens today.  When was the last time a TV guy mentioned Funchess wearing 87, Morgan wearing 48 or Avery 11?  I don't recall it once this season, but it's probably happened.  In any event, aside from Harmon's 98 and 21 because of the Desmond connection being fresh, the rest of the world has moved on from caring.  

Allowing players to have the numbers early in the career allows the player and the fans to identify with that number.  I think that's more worthwhile than trying to swap in 4-5 new numbers every year.  

pescadero

December 5th, 2013 at 1:39 PM ^

"Except #1 which is for the elite WR's,"

 

Like Greg McMurty in 1986? Oh wait... he was 4th on the team in receptions, 2nd in yards receiving.

 

Like Derrick Alexander in 1990? The distant second best receiver on the team behind Desmond Howard...

 

Like Tyrone Butterfield in 1994? When he never even saw the field... Or 1995 and 1996 where he caught all 4 receptions he had for his career...

 

Like David Terrell in 1998 - where he was the 6th receiver on the team.

 

Generally it wasn't given to the best receiver on the team in the past - just A receiver.

blueblueblue

December 5th, 2013 at 3:00 PM ^

My only comment on the Braylon thing is that RR committed a boneheaded act, and Braylon reacted boneheaddedly. In my opinion, both are equally to blame for all the hype around that event. 

As for whether things are better or worse now - I would agree that they are worse now since the #1 has not seen the light of day for years. I think it should be given to the best WR on the team when the previous recipient graduates. Thus, compeitition begins when other WRs know that guy is leaving. It then acts as a motivating tool. Just like the Heisman is given out every year, even though there is not a Harmon or Woodson every year, the #1 should always be in play.

JeepinBen

December 5th, 2013 at 10:27 AM ^

If anyone gets #21 it should be Norfleet. I don't think that the "criteria" for the legend jerseys have been established as of yet besides nominal positions and some seniority.

IMO #21 should go to a tiny receiver/returner, so Norfleet is perfect.

#11 is also available as Avery is graduating, and I'd love to see it on a DL. Willy Henry perhaps?

JeepinBen

December 5th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^

and he returns kicks, and probably punts next year, both of which Desmond did. Avery wasn't playing when he was awarded a legends jersey, same with Brandon Moore, but they were seniors, and saw the field.

If you don't think a little guy returning kicks should wear 21... who should? If the standards are ridiculously high who is ever going to wear one of these? Does Morgan really "Deserve" to wear a president's number?

aratman

December 5th, 2013 at 11:17 AM ^

The thing that is missing from this board is prospective.  Someone offers an opinion and ten people fight to make themselves look stupid by slamming them.  Did none of your mothers teach you that if you don' have something nice to say don't say anything?  Dennis Norfleet is a warrior no doubt about it.  I most like his coverage on kickoffs.  If you watched at all this year you would have noticed that he is the first one down the field on coverage and he always seemed to be in on the tackle.  A stretch to call him a receiver maybe, but he packs a lot of football player into that frame.

blueblueblue

December 5th, 2013 at 11:23 AM ^

Actually, I find your comment more stunning than JeepinBen's. So, because I think it's rediculous to think Norfleet deserves the #21, I am accused of not watching a game this season? I am implicitly accused of thinking Norfleet is not a warrior or a good special teams guy? Having watched all but one game, I think he is both. But he is still far, far from deserving the #21. 

blueblueblue

December 5th, 2013 at 11:40 AM ^

There is no clear choice as to who deserves it - our best WR is graduating, and our second best is a TE/WR hybrid. But, the next best true WR is Chesson with 13 catches for 213 yards. However, I can say that Norfleet, in my opinion, is not deserving at this point. Perhaps he will be soon - but he has to show more being a decent special teams play. Being short and tough is not a qualifier. 

GoWings2008

December 5th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^

I don't disagree.  Allowing a player to establish their own legacy is important, however with the potential for lots and lots of talented players that could attend Michgan over time, you start running the risk of retiring too many numbers. 

"Starting WR, #87....Joe Smith...

Starting DE, #87....Steve Jones....

Starting kicker, #87...."

When we typically field over 100 kids and we're already doubling up numbers, this could be problematic in a number of years.

EastUGoBlue

December 5th, 2013 at 10:30 AM ^

Is there any turning back from the Legends jerseys? I understand what there thinking was but it just isn't pleasing the fan base, IMO. I'd be fine with the special jerseys/patches being worn for one game (maybe homecoming or The Game, even) but I think for the rest of a players career causes too much chaos.

Sllepy81

December 5th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^

you know coaches refuse to notice freshmen greatness right away. they wait them out, no jerseys until you make a play. I don't anyone getting one. I wouldn't be against countess getting one. I could maybe see Raymon Taylor getting 11 if countess gets 2 but I bet countess gets 11 and that's all.

mgobaran

December 5th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^

This is the issue I have. Freshman are just as capable as anyone to be able to wear a legends jersey if they would want that number and no upperclassmen wanted to change to it. These things shouldn't be forced on to anyone. Just offered to everyone. Seniority should be the pecking order though.

The #1 was given out to true freshman until Lloyd wanted Braylon to "earn it." And now no one wears the number.

Why can't we go back to that?