Oosterbaan's #47 and Kramer's #87 also being issued this fall

I guarantee you the majority of people who call themselves Michigan fans could not even name ONE of the previously retired numbers. How is that an honor exactly?

I actually think this is a pretty good idea. This way, there'll be a debate every year over who gets the numbers, whether they deserve it, etc... That brings far more honor to the Great Michigan Men of Olde than what we had going previously.

I really like the idea. Its unique and I think it does a better job of honoring legends than retired numbers could ever do. If you retire a number you never see it. Out of sight, out of mind. I'll bet over 90% of the students at the games couldn't name the retired numbers or who wore them. However if you put a patch on the jersey then people see that number as special. Nowadays with people having smartphones they can google exactly why #21, #47, #48, and #87 have a patch and learn some history.

All of that and now we can honor legends like Woodson, Desmond, maybe even some other guys like Long without worrying about running out of numbers.

I just really hope we see a running back in #98 some day.

Does anyone else wonder if they are going to have a player wear these numbers for just one game, as opposed to an entire season?  I can understand changing one star player's number for a season, like it seems they will do for Roundtree, but not 4 (or possibly 5 or 6).  I can definitely see them honoring the jersey as a one game thing on the day of the tribute, though, and do it one player at a time. 

Would any of these guys even care? I mean really, I would be shocked to hear Gerald Ford throw a hissy fit over someone wearing the same number he wore when he played. The patch is more recognition then they would have ever gotten before. And really, let's get the #1 jersey back in circulation while we're at it too. Who cares how many bundles of Berkley Edwards highlight tapes get trebuchet'd at The Big House gates. The guys playing today are football players at Michigan just like everyone who came before them, they're not "dumping on tradition" by wearing a number that someone who was pretty good at football while at Michigan wore before them. They're suiting up to play football.

In the locker room, the locker for 21 is WAY different and sticks out.  It's pretty cool.. 

I think this is an awesome idea... Retired numbers, for the most part, means forgotten numbers....

A lot of Michigan fans, sadly, dont even know who these players were (besides Ford, hopefully)... Putting their numbers on the field, with their name on the patch, is a visible, tangible representation of their legacy...

Players have the honor to strive for, and they will feel like they have to play up to the expectation of the jersey, which is an added benefit...

I think it is a unique idea that will pay dividends in many ways.

What if a player is wearing a legends number and they become a legend themselves.  For example, lets say we have a WR named John Smith that is great and gets to wear the #87 and wins a Heisman or two and a bunch of school records.  Will the #87 jersey be known as the Kramer jersey, the Smith jersey, or the Kramer/Smith jersey?  I would guess that it would be known as the #87 jersey with a combined legacy of Kramer and Smith  

I guess the point i am making is that the legend jerseys could overshadow the player wearing the jersey.  We may feel that #87 belongs to Kramer and Smith is just filling in and is a level below Kramer.  I may be over thinking this a bit.

I will say i love the idea, as i like the idea that we will see the numbers rather than only in out programs and history.  What an honor it will be for a player to wear old 98 at some point.

If we run out of numbers, can't we start using fractions?

I think Brandon is going to take this even further.  I feel the Legends designations are great.  I'm 32, been a fan since middle school, but I still don't know much about the history of Mchigan football.  This is a great way for me to learn about these past players.  Not only that, it will be a point of distinction for the players that get these numbers.  It will be a big deal to wear Ford's number, or Howard's, etc.  If you're a freshman or sophomore and were given one of these numbers, either on merit or as a recruiting pitch (i personally don't mind either), it has to be a great sense of pride instilled in that player.  Maybe it'll be given to "leaders," which would only enhance the pride in leadership.

But, I believe Brandon will eventually set aside some space in the Crisler Center adjacent to Michigan Stadium for an area devoted to the Legends.  Kind of like a little museum or shrine, where people passing by can read about each Legend and their contributions to Michigan and society.  It truly could be something special, and I'm not being sarcastic.

Also, I agree the patches should be much smaller.  Really just thin lettering with the Legends name would be enough.  TV will capture it regardless, but it will make the jersey much less busy.

Patches, special uniforms, marketing, bowls, logos...

Sounds fine on paper.  (To mix my metaphors like so many patches on a bowl game jersey.)

And what you end up is this mess:

I think people are overestimating what the families want.  They may be ok with doing it, but that doesn't necessarily mean they understand the full implications of the moves or truly want the decision.  If the AD comes and asks about doing something like this, most families will probably say ok regardless.

I'm fine with pulling some of these numbers out of retirement, since things like #47 certainly aren't as sacred as #1, #21, or #2, but Gerald Ford's number should be off limits.  He was the President of the United States.  I think people underestimate how rare and impactful that accomplishment was for Michigan.  He's the only Big Ten President, ever.  That's statistically more impressive than winning the Heisman, but people seem to forget that.

Leave Ford's number retired.  Anybody who gets it will pale in comparison to Ford's accomplishments, it's unfair to Ford, Michigan, and the player who wears the jersey

I'm all for honoring former players in this way, but I really think this is happening way too quickly. How are they going to decide who gets what jersey? Do the traits of a current player have to reflect the traits of the person who wore the jersey? Or do they at least have to play the same position, anyway?

I just hope Hoke gives some thought into this. Giving out these jerseys should not only highly selective, but should also be a privilege that has to be earned, and can be also be taken away for failure to live up to expectations. Not every jersey has to be "un-retired."

And if there's one jersey I hope stays retired permanantly, its ol' 98. I know we've had some great running backs since Harmon, but I don't know how one could ever live up to the expectations of a man who single-handedly defeated Ohio State so badly that he got a standing ovation, in the Horseshoe, for it.

I guess I don't understand why Ford's ceremony is not against Air Force.  He was commander and chief after all.

I think it is a great idea. I have no clue why everyone is whining. I guess we are not happy unless we are bitching about something. 

"We have yet to have any discussions with the Wistert or Harmon families" really means "The Wistert and Harmon families showed initial reluctance".

When Michigan Stadium was built in the mid-20s, Fielding H. Yost made sure it was a memorial stadium so that no one could name it after him. 

I point this out because part of Michigan's culture includes not promoting any one individual over the team.  We've seen this before when UM would refuse to market potential Heisman candidates in the preseason and, of course, it's epitomized by "The Team, The Team, The Team".

That's why there should be no statues or other commerations at Michigan Stadium to any indvidual.  By the latter, I mean painting their names on the luxury boxes or constructing some sort of ring of honor/halo. 

That said, if Michigan is going to honor individual players and bring numbers out of retirement, I think placing patches on the uniforms in rememberance of those individuals is actually a pretty innovative and relatively unobtrusive move.  It also gives a nod to the past and to the tradition that that UM football represents as well.

I'm glad that the families of the players mentioned have been consulted on this issue prior to giving their consent.  It shows the proper respect for their wishes and concerns, and quite frankly, I think it'll be fund to see all those retired numbers back on the field.

I also imagine that people won't have too much difficulty processing the idea that three numbers that weren't on the roster before will be returning in one year's time.  I can't imagine people finding it too hard to wrap around what's happening.  I suppose the next two numbers to possibly come out of retirement are 11 and 98.  If they were going to do Harmon's number, then best to wait a year and do it for the next home game against Ohio State.

If done within reason, I think it could be a great tool to put a spotlight on the program's history and as a recruiting and motivation tool.  I don't think anyone here will be surprised when number 2 is given its own Charles Woodson patch.   By the time this is done, I expect there will be a dozen or so jerseys that will have the patches on them.

Now I know what Brandon was talking about.  This fan base is too rigid to accept change even when it's a great idea.  

A tradition doesn't mean anything when every other college team in the nation does the same thing.  This is a really cool, innovative way to create awareness with the great players who wore these numbers.  This is a start of a new Michigan tradition and sets us apart from the rest of the universities.

I agree with some of the other comments, however.  Maybe they should have introduced one number each year.  They should have used the Air Force game to bring back Ford's number (Commander-in-Chief).  Arrange a game with Tennessee so we can create a legend jersey for Woodson and rub it in their faces one more time.  You get the idea.

Excite.

is what do you do if a future legend is issued a past legend uniform.  Take this example:  Denard is given Bennie Oosterbaan's legendary number and then goes out and wins the Heisman.  Ten years from now -- if not before -- he would be an option for recognition as a legend.  However, is his number 16 or the legendary number.  If the latter, recognition becomes more difficult.  One possibility:  honor the legends for one game.  So, for example, Kovacs wears 48 for the Air Force game with Ford as the name on the jersey and then reverts to 32 for succeeding games.