POLL: Do you like the "unretiring" of numbers?

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

I know there is a thread on the announcement of Ford, Oosterbaan and Kramer being honored with "legacy jerseys" rather than a retired number. It's summer, and half the front page starts with "OT:" so it's not like I'm bumping too much Michigan Football related stuff by creating this survey.

I do not want to hi-jack someone else's thread. Also, I feel those threads have some good discussion on "who's next?" and "who's going to wear the new legacy jerseys?"

With that said, and feel free to explain why, or just leave a simple "yes" or a simple "no" --- do you like that Michigan is unretiring numbers in favor of the new Legacy Jersey?

Note: Once this thread moves to the 2nd page, I'll tally up the results and share the MGoPoll for those interested.

ajh

June 13th, 2012 at 11:08 AM ^

No.

 

I love the idea of the Legends jerseys, and I think the Legends jersey should be an accomplishment on par with having a number retired, I feel "un-retiring" a number, even with permission from the family, is going back on a bit of tradition that I would like to keep.

 

That said, I don't have a huge problem with it. It just strikes me as unnecessary.

Mr.Mario86

June 13th, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^

I love it. Instead of retiring the numbers & never seeing them again, we can honor former players by the patch on the jersey where everyone can see it.

tbeindit

June 13th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^

I don't like unretiring Ford and Harmon's number.  No players can leave up to what they've accomplished on and off the field.  Think about it.  Number rules dictate that any player wearing Ford and Harmon's numbers will not play the same position.  After that, you have their legacies which aren't going to be replicated primarily because of off the field contributions such as fighting against racial discrimination and fighting in WW2.

It's unfair to the players that get the jerseys to demand those requirements.  Along with that, it's a shame to the players' legacies because you are going to have an undeserving person in their jersey.  That's the reason why they were retired to begin with.  It's supposed to entrench their legacy permeantly with Michigan, not downgrade it, which will be what happens if players get to wear Harmon and Ford's numbers

Mr. Yost

June 13th, 2012 at 11:20 AM ^

While I don't like retiring numbers...I'd leave Ford's retired. He was the President of the United States of America.

Everyone else, I'd unretire. Even Harmon. While I respect and appreciate his service to this country, he was not the only person to fight in the war that played football at Michigan. He made the right choice and I am HONORED that he's a part of the Michigan legacy, however, I believe he'd tell you that he did what his fellow teammate would've done considering the circumstances. I have nothing but positive thoughts, memories and prayers for Mr. Harmon.

Our country isn't at war now, but I can't say Denard Robinson wouldn't or shouldn't do the same thing. I'm sure we'd have a lot of players that would serve our country in the same manner Harmon did.

 

Anyway, I don't want to hi-jack my own thread or get us off topic...but I just wanted to say I see your point with Ford. With everyone else, I like the jerseys over retired numbers.

jmblue

June 13th, 2012 at 11:54 AM ^

Ford is definitely the one that's the most debateable.  I have mixed feelings about that.  The others I'm fine seeing return to circulation.

Ford's jersey is going to have to be reserved for an upperclassman who has distinguished himself as a player and person.  That one can't be given out lightly.

mark5750

June 13th, 2012 at 1:37 PM ^

I hate to break the news to you but we were attacked on 11 September 2001 and have been engaged in continous ground combat operations since 28 September 2001.  I am just speculating here due to the fact that I am not currently deployed but all the American servicemembers that are getting shot at in Afghanistan today would tend to disagree with you.

JeepinBen

June 13th, 2012 at 11:11 AM ^

As long as the honored/family supports it. I think it's an interesting way to embrace our history. I think the patch could be a little more subtle.

 A little much, no?

Also, I love the locker room treatment:

JeepinBen

June 13th, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^

For Desmond's it could just say "Des" or "Desmond" or "Howard"

Oosterbaan's could say "Bennie"

Ford kinda works on its own, as does Kramer.

They can get all fancy and formal on the lockers, but the patches could be a lot cleaner/less busy.

Mr. Yost

June 13th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^

YES.

I think that there are better ways to honor players than to not let anyone wear their jersey. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that most Michigan fans couldn't name half of the unretired jerseys and the players who wore them.

It also makes it harder to honor players moving forward, obviously Charles Woodson being the main guy (who, IMO, definitely will get a legacy jersey NEXT year when Vincent Smith is gone and Blake Countess really comes into his own).

What I don't like is that it still causes confusion for the #1 jersey. Does AC get it or Braylon? Also, these jerseys are most likely going to a great player or one of the better players on the team...so what happens if the player wearing the jersey ends up being someone worthy of a "legacy jersey?"

I'm not 100% sold on the Legacy Jersey, however, I do like unretiring the numbers. Honor these Michigan greats each and every game. Let them be visible to kids who will never see them play. Someone is more likely to notice a patch than notice a particular number is never on the field. Also the PLAYERS see and feel these great every single day. With the lockers, the patch, etc. They're reminded about greatness even more when they put on that winged helmet.

So, in the end, yes...I like that we're unretiring jerseys, I think that practice is old and outdated...I'm not so sure on the Legacy Patches just yet, I can be swayed either way.

JeepinBen

June 13th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^

These "honored" jerseys are MICHIGAN LEGEND jerseys.

Not to be confused with the Legacy jerseys, which we all loved thanks to this:

or the "away legacy" jerseys from when it looked like some joke team played baylor. Not a strike at you Mr. Yost, I've caught myself making the same error.

JeepinBen

June 13th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^

And feel free to change the OP as well. The last thing we need is DB stumbling upon a thread where everyone loves/hates the "Legacy" jerseys lest we get more post-warm-up surprises next year. Because any buzz is good buzz. people hating your jerseys are still talking about your jerseys. #Marketing

Blue in Yarmouth

June 13th, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^

The patch could say Carter and Edwards and any subsequent legend that wears the number 1. If you don't do this it precludes future legends from having their number recognized. They would get the honour of wearing a legends jersey, but forfeit the honour of having their number remembered. I believe this was mentioned by DB when this first came up last year...that there could be multiple names on the patch.

This is also why I think it should be given to underclassmen to wear for their careers. If you change a players number who has already established himself as great player so he can wear a legends jersey for his last one or two years, how do you remember that player? Would it be the number he wore for his last season or the one he wore the previous three? 

I say you let the underclassmen wear and make sure they appreciate who the previous player/players were who wore the number and remain aware of the fact that everyone who wears the number from this point forward isn't necessarily going to live up to the legend status. 

I would be as selective as possible when giving it to an underclassmen, but that is where I think they should go given the issues I mentioned about giving them to upperclassmen who have already distinguished themselves.

ChuckWood

June 13th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^

Yes,  there is no reason not to like it.  Plus, eventually over time there will be more and more numbers being retired, leaviing less to the actual roster.  I don't ever want to see anything higher than 99.

markinmsp

June 13th, 2012 at 5:07 PM ^

YES.

 I like the idea and think it is a great way to honor “legends”.  I also think it should be reserved and “offered” to selected players after proving themselves, making it truly an honor to have the jersey.

 However, I disagree with you and think it will reduce future jersey numbers being retired. If  better players are given a legends jersey then “new” numbers won’t get retired unless other players without these numbers “surprise” and do well.

jdon

June 13th, 2012 at 11:13 AM ^

I vote yes.

however, I do want to state that there is one inherent flaw in this idea:  what about the great players to come who want to be defined by their own number?

I'll bet someone down the road turns down the idea of taking a legend number because they want to keep their own.  (if it hasn't happened already)

jdon

 

Mr. Yost

June 13th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^

However, what happens if no one wants that number? Or if the number has to go to a walk-on or "lesser" player?

For example, what if Doug Dutch is wearing #21 instead of Adrian Arrington or Mario Manningham?

Mr. Yost

June 16th, 2012 at 9:44 AM ^

However, what happens if no one wants that number? Or if the number has to go to a walk-on or "lesser" player?

For example, what if Doug Dutch is wearing #21 instead of Adrian Arrington or Mario Manningham?

unWavering

June 13th, 2012 at 11:13 AM ^

I'm pretty indifferent to the actual process of "unretiring" numbers.  I will say that I don't like the practice of retiring numbers because it's really short-sighted (eventually you will run out of numbers to retire... even for greater players than the ones who already had their numbers retired).

I also don't really like the Legends patches.  I think each player should have the same uniform.  That's why it's called a uniform.

Baldbill

June 13th, 2012 at 11:13 AM ^

Yes, overall a good idea. Lets us honor more people as we move into the future without worrying about losing all the numbers.

Maybe work on the patch a bit, the locker thing is pretty cool as well.

artds

June 13th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^

Yes. I think it does more to honor the former player to have their number worn by a current player who embodies or strives to emobie the former player's attributes. Also, there's the practicality problem of simply never having numbers worn again when you have a 105 man roster. This is a better solution all around.

French West Indian

June 13th, 2012 at 2:42 PM ^

...but seriously, if you look closely some of those patches are at least as good as anything that says "Michigan Legend."  Why shouldn't we award players patches for "Community Service" and doing their "Best"...and the "Blue & Gold" patch seems pretty apt too.

MGJS SuperKick Party

June 13th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^

I like the idea a lot.



By doing it this way, it gives another generation of fans some history about these players. I approve as long as the family's of the retired players give the University approval first. If we were to do it without, then I feel we are not honoring the players.