OT: Favorite non-Michigan Big 10 football player
I know this board is ripe with off topic discussions, but I've always wondered what other Big 10 players (past or present) other Michigan fans rooted for when they weren't playing against Michigan. For me, it was definitely Antwaan Randle El, and yes, Brian's mentioning of Randle El in the Gallon post is what made me think of this.
Craig Krenzel
since he was a local-area kid from (I think) Manchester.
I high jumped against Nick Davis. Here's a funny story about him. He was the #1 seed in the 400m at our regional. My friend Jeremy was lined up next to him before they walked to the starting blocks. He said that Davis, looked to his left and right and said "It's gonna be interesting to see who comes in 2nd". Although it was cocky, I thought it was hilarious. He proceeded to win by a lot.
Dave Wilson when he QB'd the Illini, and Tony Eason. Tim Dwight was fun to watch at Iowa.
Currently, the only player I pay attention to is Juice.
Lavaar Arrington was a great player to watch.
I also liked watching Kerry Collins because I love to party and I know how hard it must have been for him while playing on a mean hangover from those Friday night benders.
PSU's first Big ten schedule.
Larry Johnson
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Chris Humphries
Kelvin Ransey (not sure why}
Mychal Thompson
Wes Matthews (sr)
Vince Young, hands down.
Young didn't play in the Big Ten.
But top 2 of semi-recent times, Brad Banks and TJ Duckett (knew he was a douche, but as a player, he was untackleable)
edit: I'm an idiot. If the question is rooting (and, um, yeah, that was the question), strike Duckett. Hated those State teams. But I did like watching him. I did root for Banks.
Brad Banks is an excellent choice.
I too really liked Brad Banks. I wanted him to win the Heisman.
I gotta go with Brad Banks too, though I also really liked Gary Russell from Minnesota though that damned 60 yard run against us in 05 blew.
I respected the hell out of what Troy Smith accomplished while at OSU, even though I hated what he did to us for three straight years.
but with an open-mind, Troy Smith was really fun to watch. Don't get me wrong, I hated him (or at least his uniform) but he was respectable nonetheless.
because I was a big Robbie Benson fan growing up.
I loved me some Tim Dwight. I hated watching UM defend him on returns, though.
Also, I enjoyed Mike Alstott. Berman made me start to dislike him.
Dwight's punt returns nearly gave Iowa the win in Michigan Stadium. Alstott was great.
those dudes were money in the bank, flat-out. I mean, Dayne destroyed fools.* and stanton was a flat-out winnah, no other way to say it. people go to MSU to be the best or beat the best** and that's what he did.
i remember thinking about each of those guys, "man, he will be a great player in the NFL, book it."
and here we are, years later, and i was right.
* who had no NFL talent.
** or mediocre, whatever.
0-5 against the "University of Puke." Bwahaha!
i was secretly happy for PSU and their run to the Rose bowl this past year, after 2 years of mediocre-to-suck with Anthony morelli at the helm. What I don't like about PSU fans, however, is the way they continue to mock Morelli after he's gone. enough is enough.
Daryll Clark is a beast, BTW
Plaxico Burress watching him make the Gators DBs look slow, small, and stupid in the bowl game was fun to watch. Plus he has given us so much to laugh at over the years. Spiking a live ball, shooting himself... Ah good times.
The first name that pops to mind is Lee Evans. He was unbelievable at Wisconsin, and I thought that NFL teams actually underrated him a little bit - for me, he was a sure-fire top-10 pick in any draft. While he lacked the height of most receivers typically taken in that range, his catching radius was outstanding, and he played much taller than his height - and there was no questioning his production or speed (both measured 40-yard speed and actual football speed).
Biggest beast ever.
enough said
Do the Lions count as a big ten team? Fine.... Kevin Newsome.
Brad Banks.
Terrell Pryor
His humility makes it really easy to like the guy.
Kenney gained notoriety as a barefoot kicker at Michigan State when the Spartans won national championships in 1965 and 1966. Kenney also played baseball at Michigan State, and is fourth on the school's career strikeout list behind Ron Perranoski, Dick Radatz and Mickey Spinks.
Honalulu Star
RIP, barefoot football kicking dude.
I've liked lots of Penn State's players. Arrington was one of the best college players I've seen.
Being from Chicago, I really enjoyed seeing Pat Fitzgerald play. Its good to see him get the NU program going again. I believe I even went so far as to buy a Fitzgerald jersey....of course when UM came to town, that jersey was nowhere in sight.
None. Never a reason to root for a non-Michigan guy.
How did American Hero J Leman take so long to be mentioned?
Wow Marc, I would 1) Lighten the fuck up and realize its just a game and 2) Get out of Michigan once in a while. Looks like Novi's gotten to your brain. It's ok to like players on the opposing team, or at least admire their talent. That doesn't mean your are rooting for them when they play UM. I admired the talent of Derek Jeter, but I'm a Cubs fan. It doesn't mean I surrender and allegiance to my team.
I dont like Zook, but I like Juice Williams and Arelious Benn alright. And I liked the basketball squad with Deron Williams, Luther Head, and Dee Brown. And Magic Johnson at state vs. Bird was great.
I admired Chris Spielman a lot when he was at OSU. He was a tackling machine. Then it was great when the Lion's got him.
Tony Mandrich was a fun to watch bury people.....now we know why :)
I enjoyed watching Minnesota's power running game under Mason. They were a machine. I don't know where they found all those backs and agile O-linemen. If Mason could have figured out how to coach the other side of the ball, they would have been scary.
I liked Jack Ikegwuonu and Asad Abdul-Khaliq. And of course J America Leman.
matt trannon, double sport guys fascinate me
and Brian Calhoun
I don't know that he was my "favorite" non-Michigan player, but I found him fascinating. The same way one might find a black widow spider fascinating.
Big bruiser for Wisconsin who I loved to watch run over defenders. It was really easy to root for him becasue he dominated everyone else but our defense always held him to like 50 yards a game with a 2.5 YPC average.
My thoughts exactly.
Seems like he always made some nice catches, and I remember him making a sweet catch at a Mich v Iowa game that I went to.
good call on hinkel
Most obscure but still impact player named so far.
You could mention alot of Penn State linebackers in this post. I think Poz was the best.
I like turtles
Ezor!