NFG

May 18th, 2012 at 5:22 PM ^

So is the #21 a stepping stone for the #1 jersey, or am I wrong? I guess the best reciever on the team will wear #21, but if the reciever can become legendary he will wear #1?

help.

Erik_in_Dayton

May 18th, 2012 at 5:28 PM ^

I believe that Braylon Edwards (possibly through language written into the scholarship that he set up) has a say in who can wear No. 1...But, yes, I believe that receiving No. 21 means you're awesome, while receiving No. 1 means you're super-awesome.   

Wolverine Devotee

May 18th, 2012 at 5:32 PM ^

Here is what needs to happen:

#1 Jersey: Best player on the team

#2 Jersey (Woodson patch): Elite DB

#21 Jersey (Desmond patch): Elite WR

#87 Jersey (Ron Kramer patch): Elite TE

#11 Jersey (Wistert brothers patch): Elite DT

#48 Jersey (Gerald Ford patch): Elite Center

#47 Jersey (Bennie Oosterbaan patch): Elite DE

#98 Jersey (Tom Harmon patch): Elite RB

Dave Brandon openly said that in the future he is going to get the approval of the families of the players whose number is retired, so they can be honored as a Michigan Football Legend and have a patch. I think it's a great idea.

Stike A Pose

May 18th, 2012 at 6:34 PM ^

Why do you say that?  Tom Harmon is a legend.  I don't think it will be completely out of the ordinary for RB's to want to wear #98 if they make a legend patch for the number and take it out of retirement. 

I don't think that anyone who knows what Tom Harmon mean to Michigan wouldn't think of it as a complete honor to wear the number on the field at Michigan.  I mean the man was the first Heisman winner at Michigan, and got a freaking Purple Heart in WWII.  What more of a selling point do you need?

redhousewolverine

May 18th, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^

What he said. These kids care far less about it than we do. Granted, maybe a 4th or 5th year RB at Michigan might have developed enough fondness for the specifics of tradition, but lots of these kids also want to put their stamp on Michigan history. From my experience with sports the high numbers aren't so popular (aside from 69, cause well obviously, and 99, Gretzky). Even those exceptions are not very prevalent.

tasnyder01

May 18th, 2012 at 8:28 PM ^

In fact, none will be.  Because they're freshman, and not stars.  The earliest they could be offerred the patch would be sophomore year, by which time they will have been indoctrinated into the culture. 

I know Harmon's "old news" but he's one our only heisman trophy winners.  I've got to believe that every sophomore knows who he is, and if not every junior/senior at least.

burtcomma

May 19th, 2012 at 11:01 AM ^

of doing this legends patch type program is to help teach our incoming football players and our ongoing football teams about the history and accomplishments of those who came before them so that they identify themselves as Michigan Team no. 133 and see themselves as the proud bearers of an ongoing story and tradition.....

spartanfan123

May 19th, 2012 at 12:09 AM ^

Dont think its actually possible to get star RBs to wear #98.

From wiki, numberings of offensive players from the NCAA rulebook:

Backs 1-49 Snapper 50-59 Guard 60-69 Tackle 70-79 End 80-99

ommeethatsees

May 19th, 2012 at 7:16 AM ^

I think this is the best plan on handling this "number thing". Unretire all the numbers create patches for the special players in those positions and give number 1 to the best player on the team. It would be the start of a great new Michigan tradition. I know no other team doing this.

Buzz Your Girlfriend

May 18th, 2012 at 5:39 PM ^

Agreed that he never had a shot after last season. What I am thinking is that #21 is going to be given out to the best WR (most likely Junior/Senior) and #1 will transition to the best player on the team (again, most likely Junior/Senior). Just speculation on my part...but it kind of makes sense instead of having TWO "special #s" both for wide receivers.

UofM-StL

May 18th, 2012 at 5:27 PM ^

This seems to suggest that the team's top receiver every year will get the #21. I guess that's fine, since there's already a number to denote an extraordinary WR.

denardogasm

May 18th, 2012 at 5:30 PM ^

Read an article a while back about how the #1 jersey thing is getting a little out of hand as far as what the criteria are.  The longer we go without having someone wear it, the harder it becomes for someone to be worthy of it.  Also with all of the hype surrounding it, I worry that it might go against the team mentality/hurt the psyche of the other receivers.  It's become a tougher situation than it ever should have with the whole endowment thing and all the hype about Hoke bringing it back.  I would like to see someone get it sooner rather than later, even if that player is not necessarily a top 5 receiver in college like the past #1s.

YoungGeezy

May 18th, 2012 at 5:38 PM ^

I don't get the sense that anyone is striving for the No. 1 like the endowment intended for because it somewhat unattainable. Any player who has ever talked about it refers to it as something they would be honored to recieve but not something they focus on.... It does seem like the 21 is the new 1.

tbeindit

May 18th, 2012 at 5:33 PM ^

I LOVE this move. Roundtree deserved something, but he's obviously not even close to deserving the famed #1 jersey.  I think the #21 is more about being a leader and having a deep love for the school, which I really think Roundtree has right now.  Hemingway and Desmond obviously both had that (not that Hemingway was really selected), but Roundtree continues that tradition.

jg2112

May 18th, 2012 at 7:20 PM ^

Wearing the #1 jersey as a WR was made "important" by a bitching Braylon Edwards.

Wearing the #21 jersey as a WR was made important by the football program.

I know which number is more prestigious in my eyes.

What Hoke should do is give JT Floyd the #1 jersey.