What athlete do you wish had played for Michigan?

Submitted by M-Wolverine on

This what I was kinda hoping the other thread would be about. Are there any athletes who went to other schools, that after their careers you wish had gone to Michigan? It probably helps if they were really considering Michigan, but I'm not setting any ground rules. (I mean, "I wish Michael Jordan had gone to Michigan" is nice, but seems there's not much there). I would say they should not only be good, but you think would have fit in for Michigan. Some great guy you hate might not work. Terrelle Pryor probably would have helped up, but we might have bigger problems than "stretching" now too. (But maybe you can make a case for him).

I immediately thought of daddy Glenm Robinson, who said after the fact if he knew all the Fab Five were going to Michigan he would have gone too. Put Ray Jackson as a sixth man, and add him, and I think those title games might have ended differently. (And a third year even without Webber). Kevin Garnett was considering us before he went straight to the NBA. I'm sure there are some football players who went elsewhere we didn't end up hating. Or go other sports if you like. Really miss that Jeter never got to actually play here? Or that Phelps had been eligible to compete?

And yes, I know we have one vote for Aaron Craft already.

madmaxweb

January 25th, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^

You should read his book it's not bad at all.



In his book he said something to the extent that he was pissed that Bo didn't tell him he was retiring but he told Ricky and that was a slap in the face for Bettis. Said that showed him that UM wanted Ricky more than him.



Again I recommend everyone to take a look at his book. It's very interesting to see how his life was from being little to growing up through football and in the NFL.

M-Wolverine

January 25th, 2013 at 3:26 PM ^

 

Bettis also talked about his signing day many years ago. He had multiple hats ready to go and couldn't decide between Michigan and Notre Dame. He was going to go to Michigan, but Bo Schembechler saw another running back the last night in Ohio, and that turned him off.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/144921/index.html

 

User -not THAT user

January 25th, 2013 at 3:21 PM ^

...Bo said that he always regretted Rick Mirer getting away...he said he didn't even bother recruiting him because he just assumed he'd go to Ann Arbor, having been a Michigan fan since he was a little kid.

Not exactly as bad as Alabama taking Bo Jackson for granted (nothing in the history of recruiting could have been as big of a mistake as that), but proof that Bo could whiff with the best of them at times.

M-Wolverine

January 25th, 2013 at 3:29 PM ^

I believe it was Mirer who was the QB Bo was visiting when the game where Dierdorf went off how Harbaugh was the first U-M QB to do this and that in the NFL was on and Bo had to turn red faced and tell the kid something like "you'll be the next one, son!"  Didn't get him.

cfaller96

January 25th, 2013 at 1:58 PM ^

Joey Hudepohl. Let's see if anyone has the desire to Google him and figure out why he was supposed to be a Michigan Man. What a shame he went elsewhere.

Hannibal.

January 25th, 2013 at 3:55 PM ^

I can think of one guy that would have changed the course of history if he had decided to come to Michigan.  He is one of the least respected athletes ever on this board, and I pretty much agree with the sentiment that he is an idiot, but Terrelle Pryor is that guy.  He would have easily gotten us to a bowl game in 2008.  He would have been a monster in RichRod's offense, and a significant upgrade over Sheridan and Threet would have easily won us the NW and Utah games.  I don't have a problem saying that we would have beaten Toledo or Purdue with an upgrade to the QB position either.  Even against MSU, we were leading 21-14 before the defense tanked in the fourth quarter.  A remotely competent QB maybe wins us that one.  That makes us 7-5 or 8-4 in RichRod's first year, with a good recruiting class coming in and a lot of positive vibes.  The guys who don't buy in are marginalized, not validated.  Recruits don't listen to the guys who are negatively recruiting against RichRod. 

The next year, an upgrade at the QB spot in both experience and athleticism probably gives us wins over Iowa and MSU.  Possibly an upset against OSU, since we lost that game because Tate turned it over five times. 

I'm discounting the off-the-field issues, of course, because RichRod isn't a cheater like Tressel, and probably wouldn't be letting his guys drive "loaner" cars. 

Other than Pryor, I can't think of a single big-time recruit who may have changed the course of history for us -- a guy who would have been such a hugely important upgrade at a postion of need that he would have changed the outcomes of multiple games within a season at a turning point in our history. 

I don't miss the RichRod years in the slightest, and I generally think that he sucked at Michigan, but I have never stopped thinking about whether he could have succeeded if just one or two bounces had gone his way. 

M-Wolverine

January 25th, 2013 at 9:49 PM ^

Do we still recruit Denard, or does he not want to be a back up for that many years? Or does he come anyway and at least redshirt?

If Pryor is just a knucklehead and we do get into trouble, is it contained to him and is he dismissed and we're with a back-up? Does he draw some other kids into it? Do we get into enough trouble that Rich is fire for REAL infractions? (Rather than staying with the nonsense infractions we got, but enough real embarrassment he has to go. He wouldn't get the show cause because he opulent lie about it and cover it up). Then are we a GERG interim program in 2011? How awful is that? Harbaugh is already in the NFL by 2012...do we end up with Hoke anyway, but a year later, actually disgraced, and no Denard?

trueblueintexas

January 25th, 2013 at 3:59 PM ^

Basketball: The Big Dog. No one could have matched a front line of Howard, Webber, and Robinson. Seriously would have been the college equivalent of Parrish, Mchale, Bird.

Football: Peyton Manning. There would have been no "split" of the 97 championship. Period.

Glen Masons Hot Wife

January 25th, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^

He wanted to come here. His dad flipped out on him said he had to go to OS. Rest is history, or whatever.

JHendo

January 25th, 2013 at 6:58 PM ^

...but my sister, who went to Notre Dame for women's basketball over Michigan. Wouldn't have to ignore her for one week during the fall (or for all football season this year). Also, getting tickets and Michigan swag would've been a lot easier/cheaper.

snowcrash

January 25th, 2013 at 8:08 PM ^

Drew Henson in 2001. All the regular season losses that year were close, and mostly on the offense. If he had stuck around, we probably could have run the table and lost to Miami in the NC game.

Section 1

January 25th, 2013 at 8:12 PM ^

Willie Wilson of the Kansas City Royals was a fabulous 3-sport athlete who was recruited very heavily by Bo Schembechler and would have come to Michigan if he hadn't decided to take advantage of his position as a first-round pick out of high school in the '74 baseball draft.  Think Braylon Edwards, who could also throw a strike from left field.

MosherJordan

January 25th, 2013 at 9:04 PM ^

The Golden Bear, for a non football choice. Troy Smith might be my take for football. Could've put us in the 2007 NC game (not having him on the other side of the field would've probably meant the win vs Ohio), and possibly meant a win in that NC game. Imagine the difference a NC win in recent memory, against Urban Meyer no less, would mean for Michigan in terms of recruiting now.

MosherJordan

January 25th, 2013 at 9:35 PM ^

Jim Harbaugh, amending the topic slightly to coaches. I can't express how much I wish we had hired Harbaugh instead of Rich Rod. Turns both Stanford and San Fran around. Guy knows how to compete and coach. Bare cupboard or no, Harbaugh plus Mallet would'nt have done worse than 8-4, and would've been BCS bound in 2008, and NC contenders by 2010.



I love Hoke, but would trade him for Harbaugh plus no RichRod fiasco six days a week, and twice on Sunday.

Mr. Brownstone

January 25th, 2013 at 9:51 PM ^

I dated a few VB players while I was at UM and I can assure you had she come to Michigan and not Florida State, I would have been all over that.