Tremendous
Support MGoBlog: buy stuff at Amazon
You Asked for it, You Got it: No.2 Jersey to Get No.1 Jersey Status
July 29th, 2011 at 1:49 PM
#302
That sounds
July 29th, 2011 at 1:50 PM
#303
Me
Likey
July 29th, 2011 at 1:50 PM
#304
Amazing...
The greatest defensive college football player of all-time deserves an honour like this.
July 29th, 2011 at 6:00 PM
#305
Tom Zbikowski?
Did you know he's a boxer?
July 29th, 2011 at 1:53 PM
#306
IMO, this is a much better
IMO, this is a much better way to honor a player than retiring his jersey. Now, every time a player earns #2, we'll see him making plays and think, "Wow, just like Woodson used to do" or "Man, Woodson was better than this guy.."
Next year: Roy Roundtree #1, Blake Countess #2?
July 29th, 2011 at 1:57 PM
#307
I could see Roundtree getting
I could see Roundtree getting #1 if he stops dropping passes, but Blake Countess hasn't even practiced with the team yet. There is nothing to suggest that he will even be a starter next year.
July 29th, 2011 at 1:59 PM
#308
Oh, I completely agree. That
Oh, I completely agree. That was just me being hopelessly optimistic about a CB stepping up where we really need someone, and Troy will be gone after this year, so he can't earn it
July 29th, 2011 at 2:36 PM
#309
The comparison
Since this is the point in his career where Braylon got to wear #1 (start of his junior season), it is interesting to see what both he and Roundtree had accomplished at this point in their careers.
Roundtree: 104 catches, 1,369 yards, 10 TD
Edwards: 70 catches, 1,073 yards, 10 TD
And it isn't like Edwards never dropped a pass in his career. Roundtree took a redshirt year so it isn't exactly apples to apples but it is odd to see how differently the two players are perceived due to factors that aren't necessarily performance related.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:41 PM
#310
The dropped passes didn't
The dropped passes didn't really bother me until he dropped 5 in a row in one game. Up until that point, they were frustrating, but still understandable.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:53 PM
#311
I'm not thrilled with them either
Just pointing out that the next two years look very promising for Roundtree, despite a big perception gap between what he's done and what Braylon had accomplished at the same point in his career (when there was virtually no doubt that Braylon had "earned" the #1 jersey).
July 29th, 2011 at 5:18 PM
#312
Comparing Braylon's 2 year
Comparing Braylon's 2 year stats to Rountree's is misleading. I have not looked up the numbers but I clearly remember that Braylon had very little impact as a freshman partly because he was "not on the same page" with Lloyd, and also the former policy of not throwing to freshman wideouts. He burst onto the scene with a tremendous year as a sophomore (wearing #80) and part of the motivation was to get the #1 jersey. Roy on the other hand had pretty good numbers as a redshirt freshman to add to his strong sophomore year, but nothing like Braylon's sophomore production.
July 29th, 2011 at 7:25 PM
#313
Sophomore season
Roundtree: 72 catches, 935 yards, 7 TD
Braylon: 67 catches, 1,035 yards, 10 TD
The gap isn't all that great (and both did it over a 13 game season). Add in the fact that Braylon's offense threw the ball a little more and Roundtree was splitting catches with 2-3 other productive wideouts (Hemingway, Stonum, and Odoms when healthy) while Bennie Joppru was the second leading receiver on that 2002 team, and the numbers are pretty darn close. You are right that Braylon basically did nothing as a freshman and that accounts for the overall difference, but Roundtree really didn't get a shot until late in the year at which point he put up 3 or 4 very productive games to close out the season.
July 29th, 2011 at 11:13 PM
#314
To be fair, if we are going
To be fair, if we are going to include context, Braylon didn't have Safeties crashing down right after the snap to stop Denard, leaving the middle of the field open.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:01 PM
#315
Vincent Smith is a junior.
Vincent Smith is a junior.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:43 PM
#316
True, but can we not have a
True, but can we not have a DB and RB with the same number? I was under the assumption they just can't be on the field at the same time (see: Hayes & Avery, Hawthorne & Gardner, T. Robinson & Countess, Clark & Mealer, Herron & Bryant, Shaw & Carter, Hemingway & Taylor, etc.)
July 29th, 2011 at 3:06 PM
#317
I'm just going by Hoke's
I'm just going by Hoke's quote in the OP.
July 29th, 2011 at 3:12 PM
#318
That may be the case, but
That may be the case, but Hoke specifically said it wouldn't happen until after Smith departs:
“No, they gotta earn it,” Hoke said. “And they’re going to have to earn No. 2, after (Vincent Smith) is gone.”
I think the intention is to have only one player (the top defensive back) wear no. 2, which means no one on the offense will be able to wear it after Smith is gone.
July 29th, 2011 at 1:56 PM
#319
Hate to have to point it out, but...
Something that happened one time isn't a "tradition". If Hoke thinks reserving the number can motivate a guy/guys to play better then so be it (it definitely seemed to have a positive effect on Braylon's productivity), but it isn't like the practice is some cornerstone of Michigan football history.
July 29th, 2011 at 1:58 PM
#320
Traditions have to start
Traditions have to start somewhere.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:01 PM
#321
The #1 jersey is most
The #1 jersey is most definitely a "tradition" when it comes to Michigan football, it goes back decades. And as for the #2 jersey, nobody saying this is a time-honored tradition. Hoke just said he'd be starting a similar tradition for the top cornerback.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:06 PM
#322
How?
If you mean, "some guy who was pretty good wore that number", then pretty much every number is a "tradition" at Michigan. "Earning the #1 jersey" is not a tradition. The best player at the position in school history (Desmond) never wore #1. It is something Lloyd Carr used to motivate Braylon Edwards. That is it. Everyone else who wore it got to wear it from day one, and some of them weren't all that great at playing football.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:35 PM
#323
With all due respect to Des
I saw Anthony Carter play live, and in a far less pass-oriented scheme than was being used when Des was around. AC was an astonishing talent. No Heisman, granted, but it'd be pretty easy to make the case he was the best WR to take the field for Mich. When a WR takes on the 1, in my mind he's trying to meet AC's very high standard. And that works for me.
July 29th, 2011 at 4:27 PM
#324
Sounds like
you deserve all due respect as a veteran fan of the team. Wish I could've seen that too. But six wide receivers, dating back to 1979 and Anthony Carter, I'd say, is a tradition. That's where it started. Heck even the Michigan football website calls it the most coveted jersey number in Michigan football [lore] on its tradition page:
http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/021910aad.html
July 29th, 2011 at 3:30 PM
#325
T. Butterfield aside,
I'm not sure that "weren't all that great. . ." bit is true for post-AC #1s. . .and yes, yes, Butterfield did save at least one game for us single-handedly.
Er, I guess it was double-handedly, now that I think about it. Best drop in UM Football history.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:07 PM
#326
I have thought this would be
I have thought this would be a cool idea for a long time now, glad to see it happening. I look forward to having a #1 receiver and a #2 corner on the team.
July 29th, 2011 at 4:30 PM
#327
1979
Three plus decades, so yep, I'd say your counting is right on. And it may not have been an "earned thing" before Braylon, but it certainly was an important wide receiver tradition.
July 29th, 2011 at 9:05 PM
#328
" And it may not have been an
" And it may not have been an "earned thing" before Braylon, "
That's the point - the having to earn it thing wasn't an issue until then.
July 29th, 2011 at 1:58 PM
#329
Best return man/ smile
get's number 21
July 29th, 2011 at 1:59 PM
#330
Denard's switching to
Denard's switching to 21?
/bestsmileever
July 29th, 2011 at 2:55 PM
#331
Fine with me...but PLEASE
Fine with me...but PLEASE DONT LET OUR STARTING QB RETURN THE BALL!
July 29th, 2011 at 2:04 PM
#332
I pity the WR that has to
I pity the WR that has to line up across from whoever takes the #2.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:14 PM
#333
Good move by Hoke
If this is ever done again, it should be for #77 to the best offensive tackle. Beyond that, IME, is unnecessary.
July 29th, 2011 at 3:38 PM
#334
I wholeheartedly
endorse this suggestion!
July 29th, 2011 at 3:40 PM
#335
maybe not necessary, but
There's a guy on the current team who we're all hoping (I hope) will remind us that #7 was--at least once--a great number for MI QBs.
No, not talking about Henson. . .
July 29th, 2011 at 4:34 PM
#336
Remember
when we all wanted Henson to take over for Brady as a true freshman? Ah, hindsight...
July 29th, 2011 at 7:00 PM
#337
Gardner will get his chance
For now, I'm plenty content with letting Denard show the country why he deserves the Heisman... and to retire his number.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:16 PM
#338
Maybe we
dig up ole 98 and give it to Denard if he can start kicking successfully.....
July 29th, 2011 at 2:24 PM
#339
IMO...
The next person to wear #1 will be in this recruiting class....#2? Blake Countess.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:29 PM
#340
So which CB from last year
So which CB from last year gets the number 2?!
July 29th, 2011 at 2:37 PM
#341
Troy Woolfolk?
I was more impressed with his 2010 film than anyone else I saw on the field.
July 29th, 2011 at 3:36 PM
#342
Kudos to Hoke!
Best thing he's done since arriving in Ann Arbor. (Not that he's not doing great things - this is just the best)
July 29th, 2011 at 3:37 PM
#343
So...
So basically #2 will become like #1 where there is talk of someone getting it every year, but no one ever actually gets it.
My suggestion would be to hire an official MGoNumerologist/Tarot Reader/Astrologer to give each incoming freshman a personal consultation and assign each of them a number based on a complex pseudoscientific formula and/or process.
July 29th, 2011 at 4:07 PM
#344
Hm
.
I think we know who this should be
.
yes
.
July 29th, 2011 at 9:01 PM
#345
agree
Honestly I think things are getting a bit out of hand with this whole jersey thing. It wasn't even a tradition until Braylon asked for the jersey and Carr told him to earn it.
I think the #1/2 jersey should be given to a senior WR/CB who's shown good leadership, scholarship and work ethic, in addition to on-field performance. I'd like to see who gets to wear it each year, which senior gets the honor, even if he hasn't broken records on the field.
July 29th, 2011 at 4:40 PM
#346
posted from iPhone
I don't think it's so much that he doesn't like the receivers, I think the staff wants to base it on in-game performance rather than practice. I think it goes out to Roundtree next year, don't you worry.
July 29th, 2011 at 6:19 PM
#347
77
Depending on how Lewan does, maybe 77 for the offensive line?
Maybe three reserved numbers is a bit much, but its July. Humor me.
July 29th, 2011 at 6:29 PM
#348
Hoke is HC and can certainly
do almost whatever the hell wants to motivate his players, but honestly, who knows who will step up and be the next great football player at Michigan? And who knows what number they'll be wearing? It could be anything. This is the way it's been for a long, long time at Michigan and many other schools too.
What if Michigan recruits a 4-star quarterback wearing No. 16 who ends up winning the Heisman Trophy? All of the sudden No. 16 becomes a coveted number? I mean, where does it all end?
In my view, Alabama gets it. They don't retire any jersey numbers, and that decision is definitely not for a lack of great ball players at Bama. After all these years, every Crimson Tide jersey number is special and historic.
And so it with Michigan. Think of all the great players who have worn number 33 or 32 or 25 at Michigan? Some where fantastic players, and the great thing is they will be worn by many more great players in the future (hopefully).
This "earning of the jersey" stuff, man. What if you have a great sophomore year, but then you're unexpectedly beaten out by a much better player during your junior and senior years? Do you have to relinquish your No. 1 or No. 2 jersey to this better player? C'mon man.
Here's an idea. Let just them suit up and play some football. How about that?
July 29th, 2011 at 7:19 PM
#349
Mostly right
Agreed on retiring numbers. I don't like it. But.....I like that some numbers come with a certain cache. Maybe not a committee or coaches' decision deal, but letting a kid know that taking a number comes with a good dose of tradition and expectation. And, as you note, then he needs to get out on the field and live up to it.
Bo did that kind of stuff exponentially--"I hang my jacket on the same hook that Fielding Yost used." (imagine a low growl) Can be a great motivator.
July 29th, 2011 at 6:45 PM
#350
LOVE the #2 jersey idea.
Awesome!
July 29th, 2011 at 8:15 PM
#351
I like the numbers
I think awarding the best WR, and DB with the number 1 and 2 is a great idea. It gives the young players something to strive for. It's another example of Hoke's plan to bring back the great tradition that is Michigan football.
