Stonum targeting the #1 jersey
I just took a look at TomVH's twitter account, and he retweeted the following from Stonum (CornellStone22):
RT @CornellStone22 Some1 tell @theofficialbraylon to tell me what I gotta do to get that number 1.
Looks like Roundtree and Ricardo Miller are gonna have some competition! If he keeps up his hard work, I think Stonum has a very good chance.
October 24th, 2010 at 12:48 PM ^
Actually, Desmond was always more productive. In 1990, when both were healthy, Desmond had 63 catches for 1,025 yards and 11 TDs while Alexander had 31 catches for 450 yards and six TDs. (Aside: I love mgoblue.com's statistics archive.) If you remember, it was Desmond who we went to on the 2-point conversion attempt at the end of the 1990 MSU game (when he was blatantly tripped). Earlier in that game, he returned a kickoff for a TD.
However, Alexander was more hyped coming out of high school and probably was promised the #1 jersey after McMurtry graduated. Desmond played tailback in high school.
October 24th, 2010 at 9:39 AM ^
Sometimes players like to keep the # they had in high school. Does anyone know what number Desmond wore in hs?
October 24th, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^
Roundtree, Roy 7 33 395 12.0 2 74 56.4 Stonum, Darryl 7 24 323 13.5 2 66 46.1 Hemingway, J. 5 17 366 21.5 2 70 73.2 Odoms, M. 6 15 214 14.3 0 49 35.7 Grady, Kelvin 7 11 141 12.8 0 43 20.1
October 24th, 2010 at 11:13 AM ^
...catch everything thrown to him....get YAC...and score TD's. Not that difficult.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:21 AM ^
like your sister's virginity, but I am hopeful that someone proves worthy every decade or so. Right now we are blessed with a handful of very good receivers but no clear standout. All things considered, I'd say Roundtree has a slight edge as of now, but easy to make a case for Stonum or Hemingway too.
I do love Stonum stating flatly that he's after it. This will only help motivate everyone. When someone truly separates themselves, we'll know it, as will the coaches. I love the #1 tradition and I want it to retain its luster.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
You don't get the #1 jersey for just being the best reciever on the team. You have to be the best, and you have to be a game changer every game. A receiver who opposing teams make sure to include their weekly gameplan, one who has that type of an effect.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
Roundtree has double the receptions thus far, mainly because Stonum doesn't get open very much deep.
I love the drive and enthusiasm even though I personally consider the No. 1 jersey to a WR only as a moot tradition starting with Tyrone Butterfield. This kind of focus is badly needed though, since Michigan receivers have been banged up and have under produced the last 2 years and that trend has continued again in 2010. Michigan is 7 games in with 5 to play - the top three receivers have only 300+ yards each and only 6 TDs combined. Great for spreading the ball around, but no one is a standout wide out right now. Highly unlikely any one of them gets even close to 700+ yards.
One thing that could help Stonum immensely is to return a kickoff or seven for touchdowns like he did on regular basis in H.S.
October 24th, 2010 at 11:56 AM ^
I can't verify, but Braylon had not established himself as the man prior to receiveing the #1 jersey. He was a guy with good potential locked in Lloyd's doghouse. Lloyd dangled that as an insentive to Braylon in the offseason to keep him focused. Braylon matured, earned the jersey and then went on to be great. Remember drop Braylon wore #80.
Stonum appears to be in much the same boat as Braylon except he had qb's that offered little help. As a guy with a world of potential who had a lot of maturing to do. I see no problem with RR setting some parameters for him to earn the #1. After next season extend the same carrot to Roundtree.
October 24th, 2010 at 12:52 PM ^
Braylon was the only receiver who had to establish himself as a go-to guy before he was allowed to wear the #1 jersey. In 2002, wearing #80, he had 67 catches for 1,035 yards and 10 TDs.
October 24th, 2010 at 12:08 PM ^
No one on this team deserves the #1. I think the tradition wouldn't mean a thing if they gave it out every 4-5 years. What's wrong with having one #1 every 10 or so years?
October 24th, 2010 at 12:29 PM ^
Why not open up the #1 to other positions that are allowed to wear that number?
October 24th, 2010 at 12:53 PM ^
Because it's our tribute to Anthony Carter, who completely redefined the position at Michigan. We no longer retire jerseys, but we've reserved that one for receivers in his honor.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:12 PM ^
False. It was contrived by Braylon after he was in looted doghouse. There's nothing mythical or loaded in history about this. It's a new tradition.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:26 PM ^
This is pretty much right. Many (most?) of us didn't even realize it was a "tradition" until Braylon complained after RR gave it to a player at another position. (I think it was a freshman DB. IIRC, Braylon said that when he made a donation for a scholarship it was attached to a condition that #1 be reserved for a WR).
October 24th, 2010 at 1:38 PM ^
The average fan might not have paid attention, but I can assure you that in the program itself, everyone who has played here since AC knows the significance of the jersey.
October 24th, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^
If I were to get angry everyone someone posted something incorrect on the internet, I'd have to be committed. But I try to reason with people when I can.
The tradition of reserving the #1 jersey for wide receivers goes back to AC. In fact, Bo orginally planned to have the jersey retired, but later changed his mind. Some of the guys who played during and after the AC years are actually somewhat annoyed with Braylon for making it sound like the jersey is about him.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:39 PM ^
Okay, it's actually a random coincidence that only wide receivers have worn this jersey since Anthony Carter, who last played 28 years ago. I assure you that I know what I am talking about here. The only thing Braylon did was endow a scholarship for the player wearing that jersey.
EDIT: Not sure why I would get negged for saying this. Ask anyone on the team in the past 30 years when the tradition started.
October 24th, 2010 at 1:43 PM ^
I assure you that I know what I am talking about here.
That sentence makes you sound like a cock bag.
October 24th, 2010 at 12:33 PM ^
Give it to the leading WR on the next team that beats OSU. I'm dead serious. I don't care if they have 4 catches for 36 yards. That's a tradition I care more about than the #1.
October 24th, 2010 at 3:15 PM ^
Why shouldnt he want it? Its a honor, I hope he steps it up now