Charles Woodson, Trey Burke, Tom Brady, Barry Larkin, Does Michael Phelps count?
The guy was a Michigan student and "volunteer coach" or some such thing for about five minutes...
Derek Jeter then?
Tyrone Wheatley
I'll second that
Without any criteria for the selection process, it would be difficult to deny that Oosterbaan has an excellent argument for the implied question that the OP is asking. After all, as you mention, he played three sports, although as I recall, in addition to coaching basketball and football, he spent some time as the coach of the freshman baseball team as well.
the greatest ever. I remember watching him one fine Saturday afternoon. He single handedly beat ohio.
Ron Kramer
End of discussion.
Oosterbaan gets a nod as well.
But this gets an unqualified yes from me.
His name was the first that came to mind for me, before I even clicked on this thread.
Honorable mention to Pete and Chalmers ( i don't think I even need to type in their last name).
There's only one Fuck Lion.
During WWII, jumped out of one plane because of a storm, and had to bail another after being shot down over China. Awarded a purple heart I believe.
Top Michigan athlete and a true American hero.
Can't believe he wasn't the first one named.
There are a lot of options -- a whole lot -- but Tom Harmon is probably the best one.
But if not him, then Tom Harmon with Denard a close second.
The Notorious C.O.N.E.
Probaly Harmon...I was always impressed with what Jim Abbott achieved with the cards he was dealt as well
Sam Mcguffie, he jumped over 5 homeless people last week
Horace Prettyman
Last american, until this year, to win the boston marathon. It was 1983. Set a course record at the time.
Hi Greg!
"Hello!" from me, too (high school classmate and Track teammate, class of '73. Go WC Falcons!).
I would say Harmon.
Jarrett Irons or these guys.
I measure atheltics based on how high you can jump...Petway wins. Also, D League slam dunk champion (that's an actual thing according to wikipedia).
Basketball - Webber
Football - Tie between Woodson and Wheatley
Baseball - Larkin
Hockey - Brian Wiseman
Neil Snow, Spencer Brinton and Cecil Pryor immediately spring to mind.
How do you define "great"?
to see you say cecil pryor my dad was friends with him before he died... he used to get me and my dad into michigan basketball practices back in the 80's when frieder was the coach because they were good friends...
It's tough to compare today's athlete with guys from the mid-20th century, but Tom Harmon was a once in a lifetime athlete.
Has to be Bennie Oosterbaan. Hard to be great in two sports but he was great in THREE.
Sam Mikulak has to be the best of this era.
Petway.
Willie Heston.
Anyone that Yost calls the greatest of all time gets my vote.