Alright here goes, this was a fun little thread to do some research for. I was born in 1978 but my first game was in 1985. Here’s a little two deep for you with comments as well.
QB – Jim Harbaugh
Backup – Elvis Grbac
When it comes down to numbers we all know the Henne’s and Navarre’s of the world have them locked down but I love Harbaugh; from the guarantee over Ohio State to the throw to Kolesar. Beating Nebraska to win the Fiesta Bowl and just the general talent and moxie. Grbac was a brilliant field general with a cannon for an arm, and come on he made Yale VanDyne into a solid number 2 receiver in 1991. This is leaving off Tom Brady, Drew Henson, Denard Robinson, Todd Collins, Brian Griese and Michael Taylor.
RB – Jamie Morris; Tyrone Wheatley
Backups – Mike Hart; Anthony Thomas
4 of the best running backs (at least statistically) in Michigan history. Personally I loved Morris and Wheatley revolutionized the ultra fast power back concept. What Michigan fan didn’t love Hart and all his heart and talent and Thomas, well, Thomas was a BEAST. Hard to leave off Touchdown Timmy, Jon Vaughn, Ricky Powers and Chris Howard.
WR – Desmond Howard; Braylon Edwards
Backups – Derrick Alexander; David Terrell
How crazy is this, three people who wore number 1 and a Heisman Trophy winner! Howard is my all time favorite Wolverine, so that one was pretty easy. Edwards did things when the ball was in the air I’ve never seen. Alexander was exceptional as a WR and a punt returner and Terrell was a pure mismatch hell. Imagine what that 1991 team would have been like if Alexander hadn’t ruined his knee before the season; Would Howard have still won that Heisman with another legitimate threat on the other side taking opportunities away?
TE – Jerame Tuman
Backup – Tony McGee
Well Tuman was an All-American and McGee would have been if he had played when Navarre, Henne and Brady were throwing the ball.
OL – Steve Hutchison; Jumbo Elliot; Steve Everitt; Jon Runyan; Jake Long
Backups—Jon Jansen; Jon Vitale; Rod Payne; David Baas; Jeff Backus
Wow! There are multiple All-Americans; All-Pros; Bowl Game MVP’s; A Remington Award winner and an NFL overall number 1 draft pick. All that and I could take the backups and still post one of the best OL’s known to man. Oh yeah, and a guy nicknamed “Jumbo”
DE – LaMarr Woodley; Brandon Graham
Backups – Glen Steele; James Hall
Woodley could also be seen as an OLB but I liked him here as for Graham, come on it’s Brandon Graham. Steele and Hall lead the 97 defense and found themselves continuously meeting at the quarterback.
DT – Mark Messner; Alan Branch
Backups – Chris Hutchison; Will Carr
Messner was THE most disruptive DT I’ve ever seen. Every time you looked up he was camped in the opposing backfield. Thing is: So was Branch! Hutch and Carr were in their own rights Great DT’s. Don’t forget Gabe Watson and Mike Evans.
LB – Erick Anderson; Jarrett Irons; David Harris
Backups: Dhani Jones, Ian Gold; Larry Foote
Anderson won the Butkus Award, enough said. Irons and Harris were two of the best tacklers we’ve ever had (boy I hope the kids now can change that). Jones and Gold were key parts of the greatest defense known to man. Foote was just a machine on the field always ending up with a tackle for loss somewhere. Just missed: Shawn Crable, Prescott Burgess and Sam Sword.
CB – Charles Woodson; Ty Law
Backups – Marlin Jackson; Leon Hall
Ok one spot was easy, a Heisman Trophy kind of trumps all. I took Law for pure shutdown ability but have nothing against either Jackson or Hall for that spot.
S – Tripp Welbourne; Marcus Ray
Backups – Earnest Shazor; Vada Murrahy
Welbourne might have been the best safety I’ve ever seen. I’ll never forget the images of him and Murrahy flying in to block some extra point or field goal. I will also never forget Murrahy going head to head with Todd Plate against OSU (’89 I think) knocking Murrahy out cold and stopping that game for 30 minutes. Ray was a cornerstone of our 97 defense and anyone who puts David Boston on his head gets bonus points. Shazor hit like a freaking truck and even scared his teammates I think. Can’t forget Jamar Adams and Cato June.
K – Remy Hamilton
Backup – Mike Gillette
This was maybe the hardest spot to call. I remember Gillette running that fake punt against Indiana (I believe) for a big gain and being almost as close to clutch as it gets but I just couldn’t go against the only All-American kicker Michigan has ever had. Don’t forget Garrett Rivas, Hayden Epstien and JD Carlson.
P – Zoltan Mesko
Backups – Monte Robbins
Another hard sell but you just don’t mess with the Zoltan. Robbins was an All-Timer though.
And finally the coaching staff.
Head coach – BO!
Offensive Coordinator – Gary Moeller
I seriously thought about RichRod here but I didn’t want the site coming to my house and dragging me out of bed one night and running me up a flag pole or something.
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Harmon, That's my youngest son's name! Great way to go!
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Alright here goes, this was a fun little thread to do some research for. I was born in 1978 but my first game was in 1985. Here’s a little two deep for you with comments as well.
QB – Jim Harbaugh
Backup – Elvis Grbac
When it comes down to numbers we all know the Henne’s and Navarre’s of the world have them locked down but I love Harbaugh; from the guarantee over Ohio State to the throw to Kolesar. Beating Nebraska to win the Fiesta Bowl and just the general talent and moxie. Grbac was a brilliant field general with a cannon for an arm, and come on he made Yale VanDyne into a solid number 2 receiver in 1991. This is leaving off Tom Brady, Drew Henson, Denard Robinson, Todd Collins, Brian Griese and Michael Taylor.
RB – Jamie Morris; Tyrone Wheatley
Backups – Mike Hart; Anthony Thomas
4 of the best running backs (at least statistically) in Michigan history. Personally I loved Morris and Wheatley revolutionized the ultra fast power back concept. What Michigan fan didn’t love Hart and all his heart and talent and Thomas, well, Thomas was a BEAST. Hard to leave off Touchdown Timmy, Jon Vaughn, Ricky Powers and Chris Howard.
WR – Desmond Howard; Braylon Edwards
Backups – Derrick Alexander; David Terrell
How crazy is this, three people who wore number 1 and a Heisman Trophy winner! Howard is my all time favorite Wolverine, so that one was pretty easy. Edwards did things when the ball was in the air I’ve never seen. Alexander was exceptional as a WR and a punt returner and Terrell was a pure mismatch hell. Imagine what that 1991 team would have been like if Alexander hadn’t ruined his knee before the season; Would Howard have still won that Heisman with another legitimate threat on the other side taking opportunities away?
TE – Jerame Tuman
Backup – Tony McGee
Well Tuman was an All-American and McGee would have been if he had played when Navarre, Henne and Brady were throwing the ball.
OL – Steve Hutchison; Jumbo Elliot; Steve Everitt; Jon Runyan; Jake Long
Backups—Jon Jansen; Jon Vitale; Rod Payne; David Baas; Jeff Backus
Wow! There are multiple All-Americans; All-Pros; Bowl Game MVP’s; A Remington Award winner and an NFL overall number 1 draft pick. All that and I could take the backups and still post one of the best OL’s known to man. Oh yeah, and a guy nicknamed “Jumbo”
DE – LaMarr Woodley; Brandon Graham
Backups – Glen Steele; James Hall
Woodley could also be seen as an OLB but I liked him here as for Graham, come on it’s Brandon Graham. Steele and Hall lead the 97 defense and found themselves continuously meeting at the quarterback.
DT – Mark Messner; Alan Branch
Backups – Chris Hutchison; Will Carr
Messner was THE most disruptive DT I’ve ever seen. Every time you looked up he was camped in the opposing backfield. Thing is: So was Branch! Hutch and Carr were in their own rights Great DT’s. Don’t forget Gabe Watson and Mike Evans.
LB – Erick Anderson; Jarrett Irons; David Harris
Backups: Dhani Jones, Ian Gold; Larry Foote
Anderson won the Butkus Award, enough said. Irons and Harris were two of the best tacklers we’ve ever had (boy I hope the kids now can change that). Jones and Gold were key parts of the greatest defense known to man. Foote was just a machine on the field always ending up with a tackle for loss somewhere. Just missed: Shawn Crable, Prescott Burgess and Sam Sword.
CB – Charles Woodson; Ty Law
Backups – Marlin Jackson; Leon Hall
Ok one spot was easy, a Heisman Trophy kind of trumps all. I took Law for pure shutdown ability but have nothing against either Jackson or Hall for that spot.
S – Tripp Welbourne; Marcus Ray
Backups – Earnest Shazor; Vada Murrahy
Welbourne might have been the best safety I’ve ever seen. I’ll never forget the images of him and Murrahy flying in to block some extra point or field goal. I will also never forget Murrahy going head to head with Todd Plate against OSU (’89 I think) knocking Murrahy out cold and stopping that game for 30 minutes. Ray was a cornerstone of our 97 defense and anyone who puts David Boston on his head gets bonus points. Shazor hit like a freaking truck and even scared his teammates I think. Can’t forget Jamar Adams and Cato June.
K – Remy Hamilton
Backup – Mike Gillette
This was maybe the hardest spot to call. I remember Gillette running that fake punt against Indiana (I believe) for a big gain and being almost as close to clutch as it gets but I just couldn’t go against the only All-American kicker Michigan has ever had. Don’t forget Garrett Rivas, Hayden Epstien and JD Carlson.
P – Zoltan Mesko
Backups – Monte Robbins
Another hard sell but you just don’t mess with the Zoltan. Robbins was an All-Timer though.
And finally the coaching staff.
Head coach – BO!
Offensive Coordinator – Gary Moeller
I seriously thought about RichRod here but I didn’t want the site coming to my house and dragging me out of bed one night and running me up a flag pole or something.
Defensive Coordinator – Lloyd Carr
Alright there you go everyone. Have at it.
GO BLUE.