When is the #1 traditionally given? Is it normally a fall camp thing or spring? I just always assumed fall, so this seems odd.
Hasn't been awarded in the Braylon Edwards era so not really sure. Wasn't expecting anyone to get it this year though.
I wasn't either, but to me this represents a bit of change in philosophy. My impression of the #1 jersey was that it was given based on future potential instead of past results. Not that one is better, just different.
What I'm getting around to saying is that I expected this in September, not June.
I think it was awarded for future potential up until it was used as a motivation tool with Braylon. Now I think it's going have to be earned. But that's not so bad.
"My impression of the #1 jersey was that it was given based on future potential instead of past results. Not that one is better, just different."
Not entirely sure about how this has worked through the ages. I know Edwards was not originally #1, but got it later on. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure AC (the original #1, IIRC) was always #1, so it may just be something that's gone back & forth, as the situation presented itself.
There was nothing special until Braylon needed a kick in the pants. Now he thinks he owns it. All you need to know is Tyrone Butterfield any time the "aura" of the #1 comes up.
Couldn't have said it better. The jersey number was worn by some great Michigan WRs, but also run-of-the-mill Junior College transfers. Braylon wanted it bad though.
EDIT: Silly me: Butterfield transferred away from Michigan (to a 1-AA school, I believe), not to Michigan from a Junior College. It was Russell Shaw that transferred to Michigan from a Junior College.
Butterfield was actually a big-time recruit, as was every other player to wear #1 since AC, save Braylon (who was a 3-star guy). For a long time, the jersey was used as a recruiting tool. Things changed when Braylon requested it after his freshman year (and Carr made him "earn it" the next year before he'd get it), but the jersey has had significance since AC. Only receivers have worn it since then.
in 95 was a thing of beauty. He couldn't have played it any better.
Now that Braylon has a say through that whole scholarship thing, I'm not sure how the rules work.
Before Braylon, the #1 jersey was just given to a freshman who you could just tell was going to be a star receiver: Carter, McMurty, Alexander, Terrell. (I'm not sure how Tyrone Butterfield worked into that equation but thank GOD for his dropped pass against Virginia).
I get the impression now that the #1 will not be given to a freshman anymore. Maybe not even a sophomore. I don't like it but I don't want to open that old debate again.
I was hoping for a WH reply. Thanks for the clarification, we don't have to get into the issue.
Actually, with both Terell and Braylon, they were not given the #1 as freshmen. Both players started with different numbers and were then given the #1 (I think Braylon got it as a junior, DT maybe as a sophomore). It seems like kind of a hybrid--you have to earn it, but it is also based on potential.
Yeah, I guess I was wrong about that. I also checked the 1998 roster and he was indeed listed as #1 that year. Senility must be setting in.
You're probably thinking of Derrick Alexander. He switched to #1 after his freshman year, when Greg McMurtry graduated. I'm guessing Alexander was promised #1 all along.
I have game tapes from Terrell's freshman season (1998) and he is clearly wearing #1. In my Citrus Bowl video of the win over Arkansas, I had people asking why Terrell was wearing #1 as a freshman. Clearly, these must be younger fans.
Braylon wore #80 for his freshman and sophomore years. He is the only known player to have asked for the #1 jersey. Everyone else had it from the start.
...wore #40 as a freshman b/c senior Greg McMurty wore #1 that year. McMurtry (like AC and Terrell) was given #1 from day one. AC simply had #1, then McMurtry was the first player for whom Bo used the #1 jersey as a recruiting tool.
Had Manningham come back for his senior season, he definitely deserved the #1, IMHO.
Manningham said he didn't want the #1 jersey after his sophomore year. I always wondered if this was because he knew he would leave early for the draft.
Stonum got robbed.
/s (and maybe bad taste).
...and drove....twice.
we can atleast give TomVH the credit for re-tweeting it so all of us know...Thanks Tom
Bah...I kind of wanted the helmet stickers...
I for one am glad they wont be messing this beautiful helmet up with stickers.
I know it was a Bo thing but theres no way any sticker can make this helmet look better IMHO.
I'm not definitely not saying Roy Roundtree compares to the previous #1 jersey recipients or even Super Mario and A2, but I feel in this pro-style offense, he could definitely have a season where he has the numbers in the end that if he had been given the jersey, it will not be seen as a bad decision in retrospect.
I think Roy is a super WR and it would be fun to see the #1 jersey back on the field.
Before anyone brings up dropped passes, Braylon dropped a lot too.
I'm not sure if Roy deserves it or not but I'm excited to see what he does this season.
Braylon still drops a lot of passes.
I've always wondered... does anyone think Roundtree would have a better chance at the #1 jersey if he was not a slot receiver? I think that hurts his chances more than anything. The production is there, but he is not in the mold of previous #1s (I'm not saying that he shouldn't get the #1 for that reason... I'm saying maybe that's why he hasn't).
I think this came from the DC Alumni event that just ended about an hour ago. Confirming that Hoke did say there would be no helmet stickers and no #1 jersey this year.
Other notes and observations -
DB mentioned intent to expand Big House to 125K over time
Beilein stated that all feedback received is that D Morris will go first round
Michigan's new lacrosse coach was there as well as Red.
Hoke is very charismatic, but will probably never win a Toast Master's award. A very nice, passionate guy, recognized Chris Floyd, who was in attendance. Did the spiel where he explains how every Michigan team meeting begins ("good evening - response good evening, championship - response 42, years, response 132, Beat, response - OHIO"). Very nice guy, stayed around and took pictures with everyone that asked. Understandably, he had the crowd eating out of his hand.
I was just at an Alumni Meet and Greet in Arlington, VA (like at 7 pm) with Hoke, Beilein, Red, Brandon, and newest coach John Paul. Coach Hoke was asked about the helmet stickers, one word response: "No."
EDIT: And it looks like I got beat by a minute.
said "No" to the stickers, Hoke said no to whether anyone would wear #1 this year.
Hoke said 'No'. He was away from the microphone, so Brandon repeated it for the sake of the crowd. I was right in front. Video coming soon, probably.
...Twitterstream by @stuartberlow that captured some of what went down at the event.
Who is this guy? He seems to have an ax to grind.
that should be a coach's decision. And I'm happy about the stickers; let's not be OSU.
Braylon doesn't decide who wears #1. Never has. He endowed the scholarship, but does not have any veto power over whether or not it gets worn, and the scholarship is still given out regardless.
Maybe Brian needs to do an FAQ about this so people will stop trotting this stuff out whenever the #1 jersey issue gets brought up.
I thought in the early 2010 season, Roy was on his way to earning it for the 2011 season and if not then, probably by his senior year in 2012, but he had the dropsies last year, so I don't think he is even close to getting it...plus we have a new staff anyway, so even if Roy had a great season last year, he probably would not have been given the jersey this year because he needs to prove it to this staff now.
I asked Coach Beilein about the AAU stuff. (The hook was Gary Williams tried to stay as far away from the AAU types as possible and now that he's gone, Maryland seems to be going in a different direction.) He said you couldn't paint all summer basketball with the same brush; you can't punish the kid for the sins of others; but yeah, there were a few teams that you had to be carelful about. And of course, Gary did it the right way.
...event would be greatly appreciated. Are you up for it?
I'm working on posting video of the entire event to youtube right now.
But I was at the event as well and I thought it went well. DB, Hoke, Berenson and Beilein spoke well and the only time DB and Hoke shot someone down in the Q/A session was when somebody asked about Stonum's status--they weren't going down that path.
Personal note: Brandon was very patient with me as my camera malfunction and let me come back once I got it fixed to take a quick photo. Very impressed with all of them--our athletics are in good hands
Intros by Alumni types; Brandon introduces the coaches 1 by 1;Berenson, Beilein and Hoke give a talk; there was a lengthy Q&A; and then there's a reception line. I was one of the last ones, so the crowd was thin and got a chance to have a brief chat with coach Beilein.
The twitter stream referenced above has most of the highlights. Here's a few thoughts off the top of my head. (I won't remember if these were in their talks or Q&A.)
Berenson said that the goal every year is to win the national championship. (I don't think it was an intentional contrast with Hoke; no one remarked on it, though that's what occurred to me immediately.) He then said, from there you work you're way backward: you try to get to the championship, the frozen four, in the tournament, win the league, etc. He said that they thought they had a good team going into the season and was optimistic. He attributed the success of the year to the senior leadership; those who were juniors will have to step up this year. He also talked about how special Hunwick was. He was recruited to be a 3rd-string goalie and never play. Then injuries happened. This year we'll have a 6-6 goalied and a 5-4 goalie. We''ll all be able to tell who played. He also waxed on about the Big Chill and how it was such a special event---made better by "hammering" Michigan State. Someone asked about playing CCHA teams. He said they wanted to; Michigan has 14 games outside of the Big Ten, and they'd like to help out. But, he doesn't think they'll be taking too many trips to Alaska. He said the same about Northern and Lake Superior, while mentioning Notre Dame and Miami. [Editorial: I say play other Michigan teams.]
Regarding Berenson's comment about the goal to win national championships. Those of us that have watched Brady Hoke's introductory presser (probably all of us) remembers his interaction with a columnist whose name I will not mention because he's an insult to journalism. But if you think about it: In football, you do have to win the conference title to have a shot at the national title. In college hockey, you don't have to win the conference championship to make it to the Frozen Four and win it all. It all depends on the system in place for the sport.
Coach Beilein's talk was kind of a tour the season. They were optimistic about the team going in. Starting 10-2 gave them some confidence, but then the Big Ten season kicked in. Even though they were losing, he was happy with the team (though not happy with the win-loss record). They were learning and getting better. NU and IU on the road was tough. But, then they beat MSU, got some confidence and got on a roll. Who thought they'd be a basket away from going to the Sweet 16 and beating the "Dukies".
There were questions about Morris. He went through the basic process and expressed confidence in Darius that he went through the right process.
He mentioned Maui and the fact that we're playing all these good teams. Brandon cracked that coach is the only guy to complain about a trip to Maui in November.
Coach Hoke talked a lot about having character guys and players being responsible to their teammates. To be honest, it's hard to remember because I think most of the readers here could guess what he would say.
Someone aked about the offense. They're going to adapt their scheme to take advantage of Denard's special skills, but they will still run a pro-style offense. Running a pro-style helps your defense in practice. (I couldn't hear exactly how he explained it. He seemed to be saying that practicing against a pro-style was more important for preparing for other pro-style offenses than would be true for other schemes. But, I'm kind of guessing at this point; perhaps others can help out.
Things already noted:
No one will be wearing the #1 jersey this year.
No helmet stickers.
Brandon didn't even let him start to answer about Stonum. That will be worked out.
Yes, we'll have a kicker this year.
That was a lighthearted moment during the Q & A. A kid wearing a Michigan helmet and sitting on his dad's shoulders asked the question and of course it got a lot of laugher and applause. I can't remember what Hoke and Brandon said because it a very humourous moment.
Kid asks the question, the crowd laughs. DB turns around to Hoke and says, "you got a kicker this year?" and Hoke says, "yeah, we got a kicker". DB turns back around to the microphone and says, "so to answer your question, yes, we have a kicker".... "and we're going to tackle too!"
Zing.
just for the record....................please no stickers ! thank you