number 1 jersey to denard?
October 7th, 2010 at 11:42 AM ^
a WR maybe.... roundtree?
October 7th, 2010 at 11:44 AM ^
I would have absolutely no problem with Roundtree getting #1 next season. He is my favorite WR / Slot player to watch on this team, and we have plenty to choose from.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:09 PM ^
Do you believe that there should always be someone wearing the #1 jersey? Or should it sit for someone to truly earn it? For example, Roundtree is definitely spectacular, but his feats pal in comparison to Braylon, don't you think?
October 7th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
But really, Braylon is not the standard. Carter is the standard. And Carter is universally considered one of the very best wideouts ever, not just at Michigan, but in college football history. Braylon was close enough to that standard to earn the #1. Roundtree, at this point, is not close.
October 7th, 2010 at 1:57 PM ^
Braylon's Sophomore Year:
67 catches, 1035 yards, 10 TD's
Roundtree's Sophomore Projected:
60 catches, 809 yards, 5 TD's
Close, but he'll have to step it up IMHE.
Edit: Additionally, there may never be another reciever at UM that will be as dynamic as Braylon was. Braylon starting this scholarship should not serve as his way of retiring his own number.
October 7th, 2010 at 2:07 PM ^
IMHE =/= IMHO
October 7th, 2010 at 2:24 PM ^
I believe IMHE stands for 'In My Humble E-pinion.'
October 7th, 2010 at 2:29 PM ^
In that case I stand corrected. A quick google search shows that IMHE usually stands for In My Humble Experience... which doesn't make much sense in this context.
Then again it's just internet slang so it's not really a big deal.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^
Making Braylon or AC the level of production you'd need to reach to get the #1 jersey I think would make it a little ridiculous. I think you should be able to earn the #1 jersey by establishing yourself as a reliable, potentially deadly weapon at WR. I think Roy Roundtree has done that.
To be honest, I think Junior Hemingway, had he stayed healthy could've pulled it off better. I think Hemingway's more capable of pulling off deadly plays, but obviously, his reliability (though no fault of his own) prevents him from receiving such an honor.
October 7th, 2010 at 1:16 PM ^
No I am not one of those that thinks every year we should have a WR with the #1 jersey. And I agree, Roundtree is no where near what Braylon was able to do at UM, yet. But you also have to take into consideration what Roundtree has done while being in this type of offense. This is not the same type of offense that Braylon flourished in. While Braylon was in a more pro-style offense, Roundtree is not; therefore, Roundtree's accomplishments so far are pretty good. Now, I will agree with waiting a year or two to see if someone comes out and proves to be a worthy WR to wear #1, but it also can't stay in storage forever, IMO.
Either way, time will tell as to who and when the #1 jersey goes to.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^
#1 is for the best WR on the team, end of story.
Plus, I agree #16 is owned by DRob, no one will ever come close to it again.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
ohh wait...
October 7th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^
Steve Smith was also #16. He is still one of my favorite Michigan players of all time.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:15 PM ^
Because I think Shoelaces is the next Harmon. Or, rather, that Harmon is the old Denard Robinson.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:18 PM ^
98 is retired
October 8th, 2010 at 5:15 AM ^
Calm down killer.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
We can't give up the fact that it's the most polar opposite number in Michigan history - John Navarre and Denard Robinson!
October 7th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^
"#1 is for the best WR on the team, end of story."
I think that's only part of it. If we had a bunch of chumps in our receiving corps (which we obviously don't), would the best of that group get the #1 jersey? No.
#1 is reserved not only for the best of the receivers, but for someone who can really break a game open (a la Carter, Edwards, etc.). Being the best on the roster isn't necessarily enough.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:43 AM ^
NO! The #1 jersey is for wide receivers - there is even a scholarship that Braylon Edwards started just for that. If the #1 jersey was for running backs I could see how that could work but it is for wide receivers.
End of discussion!
October 7th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
yeah but Denard is moving to WR so Tate can play
/s
Also, it seems silly that this was a good idea in retrospect.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
The only possible way for Denard to keep improving his stats by his senior year are to play every position at one time. He'll catch balls he throws to himself, while protecting himself by blocking defensive linemen.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
However, if I was RRod, I would tell Braylon that once he can conduct himself appropriately and not act like an ass clown every time he scores, only then can he again dictate who gets the jersey. Additionally, if anyone should have a say in who gets the jersey it should be Anthony Carter, he made #1 recognizable, not Edwards.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:39 PM ^
How about they do it committee-style, a la the Heisman? Get AC, McMurtry, Alexander, Braylon, etc. together and everyone votes. Once you're selected, you're part of the club and also get a vote.
(Not really, I just wanted an excuse to bring up Greg McMurtry and Derrick Alexander.)
October 7th, 2010 at 3:23 PM ^
David Terrell (1998-2000), Tyrone Butterfield (1994-1996), and the iconic Dave Whiteford (1973-1974(egads a DB))
October 7th, 2010 at 5:17 PM ^
When Whiteford wore it, it had no signification. The guy who wore it from 1979-82 gave it its current meaning.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:46 AM ^
to himself, #1 should only be worn by WR's at Michigan. Period.
I vote for Roundtree to get the #1 jersey this year, before the OSU game.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
"passes...to himself"
Admiti it...when you first read this there was a part of your brain that said "hey, could he actually do that? I think maybe he could"
Dilithium, baby
October 7th, 2010 at 12:36 PM ^
This is a possible new wrinkle to the offense no one would expect.
Overload, trips right, empty left, Denard 5 step drops, pumps right, throws high and left and takes off down the sideline to himself. TD. Passing and receiving.
October 7th, 2010 at 2:49 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 2:23 PM ^
Why Roundtree? I know this has been discussed, but I don't think he's earned it yet. We have a handful of receivers who are very talented, and Roundtree is beginning to separate himself from the pack, but I would not say he's reached elite status. We've had a lot of very good receivers come through who never wore #1 (Walker, Knight, Avant, Manningham, etc.). Let's not be too hasty to see someone wear the #1 again.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 11:55 AM ^
and this is just a thought, but maybe when we start 75 yards from the end zone, and one guy gets us 73 yards, and then someone ELSE goofs and we don't get those next 2 yards, we shouldn't blame the guy who got us the first 73 yards.
October 7th, 2010 at 1:28 PM ^
I would +1 you but that's like giving Bill Gates $1
excellent comedic timing, brilliant!
October 7th, 2010 at 11:48 AM ^
the bigger deal it becomes. Not too many people are AC. Wearing the #1 is becoming that kind of expectation. To have it out of circulation so long takes away from the memory of the greats who have worn it in the past. But I agree...give it to a receiver.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:00 PM ^
I totally disagree. Having it out of circulation means that a select few get to wear it. That makes it more impressive/valuable. There is no need to give it to anyone who isn't ready/worthy just to get it out there.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:10 PM ^
I love Manningham, but no receiver has been at that level since Braylon.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:21 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 1:18 PM ^
our coaches can give the number 1 jersey to whoever they want, a former player can't dictate who gets what. We gave the number 1 jersey to just about anyone before Edwards came along and made it into a self-congratulatory ode-to-braylon. And are we really going to let someone who is stupid enough to have millions of dollars at their disposal yet still get a DUI at 5am when they could have called a cab dictate what we do with our program going forward? Give me a break.
October 7th, 2010 at 2:22 PM ^
We gave the number 1 jersey to just about anyone before Edwards came along
Huh?
October 7th, 2010 at 3:27 PM ^
oh yeah i forgot tyrone butterfield is the most storied reciever in michigan history
October 7th, 2010 at 11:49 AM ^
Let Denard keep his 16.
Retire it when he is done.
October 7th, 2010 at 6:27 PM ^
If I could create threads, I'd start one asking what the realistic odds of Denard's #16 not getting retired after his time in Ann Arbor are.
October 13th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^
if he would of been redshirted his freshman year he would of had a better shot
October 7th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
I think they should have some sort of competition in the offseason between Roundtree and Stonum for it. Both are fantastic, but Stonum is more of a downfield threat, and it'll be interesting to see what the stats say at the end of the season.
October 7th, 2010 at 1:33 PM ^
October 7th, 2010 at 12:05 PM ^
But I know that Ricardo would like to don the #1 jersey as well. With his recruiting efforts, I would not be mad at it.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:52 AM ^
No I just spent $60 on a 16 jersey, don't change his number.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
Roundtree is closer to Avant/Kolesar/Walker/Hayes than he is to Carter/Alexander/Howard/Edwards/Manningham.
I don't mean this as a dig. Those guys are great complementary WRs and some have had success in the NFL.
To me, its less important that the #1 jersey go to a WR than it is it go to an impact player - a guy the defenses focus their attention on stopping - but can't. Denard is the reason our WRs are getting open, and in that sense he's more responsible for their success than anyone.
If it has to go to a receiver I'd rather keep it on mothballs. Maybe Lord Braylon can make an exception. If not, then wait till the next great UM WR comes along.
October 7th, 2010 at 11:58 AM ^
Just curious...any reason that Desmond didn't end up in the #1 jersey at any point in his Michigan career? Obviously he was more than worthy of it.
October 7th, 2010 at 12:03 PM ^
wore it when Desmond was here. Many people thought Grbac would have won the heisman instead of Desmond if Alexander was healthy during Desmond's heisman year, because the ball would have been split between two great receivers.