You Asked for it, You Got it: No.2 Jersey to Get No.1 Jersey Status
According to A2.com's Kyle Meinke, Brady Hoke intends to begin reserving the number 2 jersey for the top Michigan cornerback. Also, no one will wear the number 1 jersey this year.
The first-year head coach said Friday at the Big Ten media days in Chicago he not only will continue the tradition of handing out the No. 1 jersey to Michigan’s top receiver, but hopes to institute a similar decorum for the No. 2 jersey.
He would like to save that number for Michigan’s top cornerback.
Hoke, who coached on that 1997 team’s defensive staff, was asked if any of Michigan’s talented wideouts would wear the No. 1 this year.
“No, they gotta earn it,” Hoke said. “And they’re going to have to earn No. 2, after (Vincent Smith) is gone.”
Depending on how Lewan does, maybe 77 for the offensive line?
Maybe three reserved numbers is a bit much, but its July. Humor me.
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?
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.
Awesome!
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.