Tyrone Wheatley highlights

This was my time at Michigan and we were so incredibly dominant back then. Wheatley was f'ing amazing and still is one of my favorites. What a time in M history that was.

Ahhhhh.....the good ole days. He really was special.

My first memory of Tyrone Wheatley was seeing him on Scholastic Sports America (I think was the name) during his senior year. The next week, I saw him in person when Robichaud played Monroe SMCC (my sister's HS) in the state semi finals. It seemed crazy to think that we had just seen him on TV, as it wasn't like today where they're on all the time. Let me tell you, as a 5th or 6th grader he seemed 10 feet tall. He did it all. He was even kicking 45+ yard FG in warm ups. In the game, he was fairly contained... In the first half. Absolutely a man among boys. They torched SMCC in the second half and he went on to have a huge game in the state championship. I chuckle when I think about the faces my dad and uncle (buckeyes fans) made when my mom said, "Wheatley is going to Michigan." I'd love to see another back like him again.

Then I just started feeling worse and worse; filled with trepidation that I may never get to see the likes of that again. I remember taking it for granted that we'd always have somebody special coming out of the backfield. That we'd always be able to plow over defensive lines. That if we got within 3 yards of the end zone by 3rd down, it was pretty damned likely to result in 6. That I could settle in for some Saturday football with the expectation that we were going to beat somebody. And feel major disappointment if we didn't because losses just weren't supposed to happen. That one, or several, Wolverines were talked about nationally all year long with respect for being amongst the best. It's been 7 years since I've felt that way. Much too long.

You could ever ask of from a MICHIGAN RB! Green, Smith, Isaac, Hayes whoever! Just go watch that tape and see what it's like to be a Michigan RB! F**K I miss me some Wheatley! When #6 got the rock the LB and the DB knew he was coming to lay some wood! Miss that dude as he is still my favorite player ever besides Woodson!

The game has changed a lot since then. Miss the days of the homerun from a back. I remember pop warner football, everyone wanted number 6.

Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen

So many great memories, love that guy. 

The first Michigan game I ever went to was our 59-14 beatdown of Northwestern (back when they were the Mildcats) in 1991.  My dad and I got scalped tickets high up on the visitors' side of the field, but were able to move down to the front row in the 4th quarter when the blowout was on.

We had just made it to the front when Tyrone broke off on the run that starts at 2:00 of the video.  To nine-year-old me, it seemed like he was running right next to us, and I took off and started running after him.

Almost caught him, too, as I remember.

... Watching Wheatley torch the Huskies was awesome, except they kept coming back, so he had to rip off another long gain. To be fair, that 87 yd TD started with a huge hole opened by a fantastic line. Wheatley ran through one tackle and then turned on the jets and was gone. One of my three favorite Michigan memories (the other two are Anthony Carter :).

Thanks for posting. It also makes me sad for the obvious reasons. Never get tired if hearing Keith Jackson say "Touchdoooown MICHIGAN!"

I used to love watching Tyrone Wheatley back in the day! 

Size and speed.  Pure Michigan.

Number 6 had great vision. He let the play develop and then he shot through the hole. The first guy hardly ever got Wheatley down.