Ok that was fun, now: who was the best M RB?
UMdad started the QB thing, which is still going. It was kinda fun so here's one that should not be nearly so debate prone, but interesting nonetheless for June. Who was the best M RB? I will twist it a bit though: I'm defining "best" as the most impressive M running back you've seen play. As in, "holy shit that guy's good." As in talent. As in impressive either in speed, moves, toughness or all three and more. So stats are legit, but stats won't be definitive on this topic under this definition.
The most impressive M RB that I've seen play: Tyrone Wheatley Second: Timmy B. Flame away.
Are we doing this again? Can you just dig up the old thread and read that one?
that? Seriously though, i don't remember a most impressive RB thread, if so whoops.
come on WolvinLA, let it go, if you want to police the threads, be reasonable about it. that said, though none of us ever saw him play (which disqualifies him from this discussion), tom harmon is the best running back in wolverine history, and maybe the best all-around player.
Tim Biakabutuka!!! the name alone puts him at the top! Then in 95 he ran circles around OSU!!!
http://mgoblog.com/content/greatest-michigan-running-back-ever
That took me 2 seconds. Maybe it tricked you with the vague title.
That was before I and many people joined. Just because it was discussed 4 months ago doesn't mean we can't discuss it again. I personally wouldn't mind sharing my opinion on this subject.
you already did.
Just because a thread was started before you got here, doesn't mean it can't be commented on, which will then put it back at the top of the list. For the record, the OP did join before the post.
There is a reason for the search function. Use the thread that was already started for that topic, and anyone new can throw in their 2 cents. That way, if someone wants to re-read the "best UM RB ever" topic, there aren't 6 that they need to look through to find what they are looking for.
EDIT: There are 2 exceptions. Threads about why RR can't recruit anything but 3 stars and threads about why it's not bad that RR only recruits 3 stars are OK to be restarted on a daily basis.
...threads discussing Maize jerseys, ROCK music, and odes to McFarlin and not only welcomed, but actively sought.
Ahhhhh McFarlin. What a poster he was. Could take any thread and make it about him like no one's business. All it took was a few well thought out posts and the thread was his. One of the best banned in quite some time! On another note, wasn't there a thread about McFarlin rockin' out to Winger in a Maize jersey?
NIGHT GAMES ROOLZ!
Nice picture.
I didn't start the topic! I rarely search previous threads but after the QB one was such a hit I was going to start this thread. I just got beat to the punch.
You're giving me January? It's June, and I'm in the office until 12 tonight waiting on work, no topic is off limits to me as I sit here
Slightly more seriously, the not vague at all wording from my post, which clearly chose the word "impressive", and defined it, clearly listing it as not "best," should have indicated a difference from the January post you kindly provided (best since 1949). And it is a difference, though admittedly, not a large one. But I think you have the wit to distinguish the difference.
Then do whatever the fuck you want. I think Brian probably made a search function for aesthetics, right? Not for anyone to actually use?
that "the best since 1949": which by definition includes those RB's that none of us have ever seen, requires those participating to look at stats, second hand reviews, history and other factors to discuss, The most "impressive that you have seen" defined the issue differently, to encompass talent, not necessarily stats, and more recent history, given the average age of most of the blog.
Further, it was disclaimed upfront, both in the OP and in the first response to your snarky post, with a lack of pretense as to its unique nature. It pointed out the difference between the two posts, and admitted that it was small but worthy of discussion in the poster's opinion.
So WTF? Are you too stupid to comprehend the difference, or too intent on sticking to your lame fuck opinion? -50 on IQ points and that time of the month as well.
EDIT: I'll take it down a notch. You often show humor and perspective, and the fact that you are showing none of that, being incredibly anal, and throwing f-bombs where none are required, probably shouldn't have gotten to me. I retract the comments.
Next time i have a slightly different take on a previous thread I'll search and then ask people to read through it to decide whether my comment is different enough or not. That way no one will be annoyed and i won't have to get pissed off.
did this really require this much text to get through a nearly pointless argument? I judge this to be too much!
of Biakabatuka as well. How can you not be a big fan of a guy who ran for over 300 on osu. I'm only 23 though so I haven't personally seen any rb's before about '93.
...we're going to be through debating the offense tonight, and on to "best pooch punter" by 10:12EST.
Griese.
Next?
...African American Michigan Quarterback from the 1980s....
so I'm also going to say Griese.
did you get that through a complex set of formulas and algorithms? I think we should discuss the ugliest football players of the 1990s as our next topic.
I agree. Wheatley for sure. I always had faith that he would score the big touchdown and he seemingly always did. One game we were down to Minnesota at half and I knew Tyrone would break one and sure enough first series he broke down the sideline and changed the game. He was one impressive RB. I also have the feeling Ron English with Wheatley's help will do a good job at Eastern.
Everyone complains that we talk to much about recruiting, then they complain that we are talking about history. Maybe we should just wait patiently for these guys to tell us what we should talk about. For the record, Timmy Biakabatuka had the best game I have ever seen, but he always seemed to be gimpy. I liked the bowling ball toughness of Mike Hart and Jamie Morris more. It has been nice to see us throw the ball more, and I am going to try to be open to the spread, but I did love to see us line up and run over someone.
...have watched the Penn State game onward last year, because the team "lined up" and "ran over" quite a few teams, at least in terms of rushing yards. This year's strength will probably be our O-line and good stable of running backs.
At no point did anyone say that this topic shouldn't be discussed. Nor did anyone say recruiting shouldn't be discussed, actually. But why do we need to start a new topic when someone wants to discuss a topic that already has a thread started? Isn't that why we have threads, so that all comments about one topic can be kept together? Brian did a great job organizing this forum, shouldn't we take advantage of it?
Dude, chill. You are coming off here as kind of a dick. It's June for crying out loud! Let the people speak! Or, let Brian take out what he considers to be the trash. If new folks want to re-hash a favorite topic to football fans, and I mean actually take part in the debate, how can you blame them? Let them have their chance (and no, adding to a very old thread is not anywhere near the same). There does not seem to be much left around here other than pretty cheerleaders and, according to closeted mgoposters, ugly recruits.
when healthy I would take Mike Hart over any other M running back. I can't comment on anything before the early 90s because I hadn't seen anyone before then play in person.
Mike Hart had it all. Well, besides breakaway speed. Tough, dependable (GO AWAY CAP 1 BOWL!) great balance, leadership, vision. Only knock you can have on Hart is size/speed. You put all the intangibles from Hart into someone 6' 200 with 4.5 speed and you'd have yourself one hell of a RB. I always felt comfortable that we could give it to Hart and he'd run left and pick up 5 yards minimum. It was almost automatic.
Tyrone Wheatley>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Mike Hart
I always felt comfortable that we could give it to Hart and he'd run left and pick up 5 yards minimum. It was almost automatic.
Are you really going to completely discount the fact that Hart was running left behind a tackle who went first overall in the NFL Draft and just chalk it all up to Hart's "intangibles"?
Jake is one of the greatest Michigan lineman of all time. Ignoring his contribution to Hart's success is borderline insane.
Wheatley could run you over and also run away from you after hitting the hole. I can remember many frustrating moments when Mike Hawk got caught from behind. It hurt.
I'm not about to argue that Hart was better than Wheatley, but let's not suggest that Wheatley didn't have some studs up front helping him out, too. We had some amazing lines in the Moeller years: Runyan, Skrepenak, Denson, Milia, Cocozzo, Payne, Guynes, et al. IIRC, all five OL starters from '92 (Wheatley's best season) went on to play in the pros.
Long might have been better individually than any of those (although it's debatable; Runyan was a beast), but overall, our OLs when Wheatley played were better.
going to claim that RBs dont have to have a line to get yards? I know JL was a big part of Harts success, but so was every lineman that ever blocked for their running backs.
But I still do think that Hart was one of the most gifted runners I have ever watched. All he lacked was speed.
Jimmy Potempa. Kids a beast.
Jessie "House Cat" Johnson. Lock the thread.
Timmy B by far for me. Plus, he dominated OSU. Can't beat that.
I mean, as long as we're repeating old threads...Seriously, I double dog dare you to start a new thread asking about night games.
Whats in it for me? I would get tormented beyond belief!
According to BO, Tony Boles was the most talented PLAYER he ever coached. He blew is knee out and was still a first round pick. It's a shame he's now a crackhead.
Holy crap, I forgot all about him, and he was really good in the short pre-knee injury period. A crackhead? If true, that's really sad.
Sadly quite true
it is true. Although my bad, he was an 11th rd pick, not first. But, Bo was openly campaigning for the Heisman before he blew his knee out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Boles
Gordie Bell
Wheatley
McGuffie. Anyone want to bet how long it will take until we see a WR one of these?
That one would be one sided. Anyone wanna argue against Anthony Carter?
Dudley
Mike Hart was who I grew up with. He'll always be my number 1. I was also a big A-Train and Chris Perry fan, but this is just who I personally saw play.
I want to put in a vote for Tacopants as best UM WR. Sorry Braylon.
I saw Wheatley play, but my ignorance at the time prevented me from truly appreciating how great he was. I saw Tshimanga Biakabutuka play, but all I can seem to remember was his game against OSU (I know did a lot more than that). I saw Chris Perry and Mike Hart play, and I will always appreciate what they did.
But I'm going to go with Anthony Thomas. Not that he was the flashiest or had the best stats, but after enduring the running game wasteland blazed by the tailback-by-committee triad of Chris Floyd, Clarence Williams and Chris Howard, Thomas was a welcome relief. He provided a strong, tough running game that scored some TDs. Simply by comparison to his immediate predecessors, Thomas was a Godsend, and fits the definition in the OP, in my mind.
Flame away.