Question about the current system of honoring Michigan Legends
We are just a few days away from seeing one of my favorite wolverines dressing in maize and blue for the last time ever. Which makes me think of the current system that they are using to honor Michigan Legends. I think it's probably general concensus around here that Denard should infact be honored as a Michigan Legend, but would they, well lets not call it "retire" his number, but would they take it out of circulation for any amount of time? My opinion is that 16 & 32 should be put on the shelf for 4 years. I'm sure it won't happen, but it could be a long time before we see 2 players like those guys. Cheers to Kovacs & Shoelace! Now go beat those cocks!?!?
December 27th, 2012 at 4:11 PM ^
Time will tell, but I'll be pretty surprised if he's considered a Legend down the road. I think you are overly focused on his career rushing numbers and not enough on his passing numbers (which, quite frankly, haven't been very good) and on the fact that really, he hasn't played well in a lot of our losses - it's not like he's delivered epic performances in a lot of them and was let down by his teammates.
In this year's ND game, he probably contributed more to the loss than anyone else. You expect more from your senior QB than zero TDs and four picks (not to mention a lost fumble). In last year's MSU game, he also played poorly. He had rough outings against ND and VT last year as well, but we won in miraculous fashion. This year, as a third-year starter, he completed barely half his attempts and had a 9-9 TD/INT ratio. As a runner, he's been terrific, but as a passer, he's left us holding our breath in fear frequently.
The Legends patches should be a very rare privilege. If you have 20 guys on the team wearing them, they become a lot less meaningful. A player with any kind of clear weakness (passing accuracy/decision-making in his case) and no Big Ten titles shouldn't make the cut.
December 27th, 2012 at 2:24 PM ^
I prefer this new system to jersey retirements
the only good thing the Toronto Maple Leafs have ever given the world
December 27th, 2012 at 5:56 PM ^
Parts of this thread are unreaddable. This is Michigan. We don't celebrate individual accomplishments. We celebrate team championships. This whole legends patches thing is against everything Bo stood for, and he would have none of it if he was still around. That said, Denard is no where close to a legend because statistics other than championships are meaningless. The patches are worthless, the Michigan legends are the 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1932, 1933, 1947, 1948, and 1997 national championship TEAMS. Big Ten championship TEAMS are also very important parts of the history. Go Blue
EDIT: After reading my post, I want to clarify that I don't mean to say that we should never honor any individuals. However, the suggestion to honor Denard says to me that people have lost sight of what Michigan Football is about which is The Team, The Team, The Team.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:59 PM ^
If we don't celebrate individual accomplishments then why are there plaques around the stadium honoring players who won awards?
December 27th, 2012 at 6:13 PM ^
I tried to edit my post after it was posted to clarify, but I don't have a problem with stuff like that and also think it is pretty cool especially for those guys pictured above who won awards. I really don't have that much of a problem with the legend patches either. I still think they are somewhat pointless but they don't cause any harm at this point. I was just a little fired up when I saw people suggesting that Denard was a Michigan Legend. I know he has great statistics but that really doesn't mean anything in the long run.
December 27th, 2012 at 5:49 PM ^
Any player who wins the Heisman is automatically a Legend IMO. But what pisses me off is that the numbers aren't being given to players that actually play the positions that the Legend they're representing played.
I'm sure Michigan can get some kind of clearance by the NCAA to let the center wear #48. Seeing a LB wearing #48, a number worn by Gerald Ford who played CENTER is idiotic.
This is what needs to happen (or what I would like to see):
- Anthony Carter didn't win the Heisman
- Greg McMurtry didn't win the Heisman
- Derrick Alexander didn't win the Heisman
- Tyrone Butterfield did squat and left his Junior year to transfer to a 1-AA
- David Terrell didn't win the Heisman
- Braylon Edwards didn't win the Heisman
Don't get me wrong, I love most of the guys on that list and AC definitely would have won it if Bo wanted to pass more. But Desmond Howard won the Heisman. Therefore, 21 > 1.