POLL: Do you like the "unretiring" of numbers?
I know there is a thread on the announcement of Ford, Oosterbaan and Kramer being honored with "legacy jerseys" rather than a retired number. It's summer, and half the front page starts with "OT:" so it's not like I'm bumping too much Michigan Football related stuff by creating this survey.
I do not want to hi-jack someone else's thread. Also, I feel those threads have some good discussion on "who's next?" and "who's going to wear the new legacy jerseys?"
With that said, and feel free to explain why, or just leave a simple "yes" or a simple "no" --- do you like that Michigan is unretiring numbers in favor of the new Legacy Jersey?
Note: Once this thread moves to the 2nd page, I'll tally up the results and share the MGoPoll for those interested.
Yes, so long as the patches exist. That's much better than having a number simply retired.
Yes, but make it seniors only. It's an incentive to stay/graduate, can still be used as a recruiting tool, and will recognize leadership AFTER a player has had a chance to actually demonstrate it (unlike freshmen).
the not being able to make your own mark issue. If you can only earn them as a senior that would give you 3 years to establish your own legacy as well.
meh it wasnt as good as I hoped
That's what she said.
Yes.
It's the best way to honor legends of the past. It does make it a little difficult to create your own "legends" number, but it may become something like the #1, where there is clearly room to have it associated with Anthony Carter, Braylon, etc.
The benefits outweight the costs. Could be used as a recruiting tool. It will motivate extra players to represent themselves/university/team well. It will motivate players to work hard to earn/keep the honor. It's a unique thing to Michigan. I actually think it brings more recognition to the old time greats because of the extra attention. Etc
So long as we're not doing this with 5 or 6 different players every season.
No.
I have no problem with the legacy program. I liked what they did with Desmond's number last season. But I see a couple of problems with how they're going about unretiring numbers. Unretiring three in a season is too much too quickly, in my opinion. Someone (I think Kramer) is getting honored at the UMass game, for instance. They shouldn't be doing more than one ceremony a season. The other issue I have with it as been touched upon by a lot of people (most recently by Brian on the frontpage), you have great current players who are changing their numbers at the end of their careers. To use Brian's example, if Kovacs' number changes, will he be associated with 32 or with his new number?
I think the only numbers that should ever be retired are for people like Jackie Robinson.
But I think the patches look stupid
Yes.
Yes.
Add the patch. But let's not add in this "let's switch player's numbers every year so that these numbers are always used" business. Anyone can get the jersey, it just comes with a patch saying "Desmond Howard was here" or "Charles Woodson was here," etc. Plus putting patches on the jersey also plays into Adidas' revolutionary outfitting scheme. "We can't supply you with a uniform uniform. Here's 3 to choose from, go nuts guys!"
Yes.
This allows us to go forward and recognize other greats. We stopped doing that when we became concerned about running out of numbers.
I'd like the patch to be smaller/more subtle, though.
Yes. They could just do a Wall/Hall/Ring of Fame inside the stadium that would work just as well.
They hate having 10 numbers to choose from. hahaa I like it and it brings back good memories from past stories.
Yes.
Yes. Nuff said.
We could create a ring of honor or something similar to recognize players from the past. This would solve the debate over which player should get the #1 honor AC or Braylon (AC to me is a no brainer) and it would also alleviate the problem of multiple names per patch we should have a great player get the 21, for example, and go on to win the Heisman. It would be a more visible way for the great names in Michigan football history to be remembered and prominently displayed.
Yes.
Finally a legitimate question. SVP talked yesterday about the "unretiring" of numbers in the context of other Michigan sports teams greats (Kaline, Bubba Smith [MSU], Barry Sanders, and Isiah Thomas), which is completely the wrong way to approach it. It should be on a number by number basis. For example, evaluating whether someone is worth to wear Ford's number, Howard's number, etc.
I'm not sure how you would tally my vote. I'm open to the idea, but would prefer a case by case basis. Simply giving someone a retired number for the sake of reusing it - I would be against.
It's a more active way of honoring the players than just refraining from using their numbers. Nobody who's not a Michigan fan watches a Wolverines game and says, "Gee, I've noticed that none of them wear No. 11."
I am with everyone on the size of the patches, though.
Yes, just give the numbers to incoming freshmen instead of upperclassmen and put up a section of "honored numbers/players" somewhere on one of the new structures.
and I wouldn't mind a ring of honor in the stadium, as long as it was done tastefully.
Yes, but I like the idea of giving the numbers to freshmen/redshirt freshmen to use throughout their whole careers. If we give the numbers to the best players or best seniors, we will never have any more historic numbers.
No. Too many patches ruins any uniqueness. Not that any of these players don't deserve to have one, but it just seems like too much.
I'd have to say no.
No longer retiring any more numbers and doing the legends thing I'd say yes.
and yes.
I just don't know what will happen when more than one player excels wearing the same number (like the #1 jersey). I wouldn't want to see a patch with 5 names on it. (And yes, I'm aware of the #11 jersey) I think this has a potential to get messy, in time.
Not saying this will happen, but, for example if Roundtree just has an outstanding Heisman season, that would warrant one of these patches in the future would his name be put on Desmond's #21 patch, or would another patch be made for the #12 jersey?
Maybe I'm just getting carried away...
Yes, but they should be used as a recruiting tool. I don't want to see players changing numbers their senior year.
No. They don't really need to retire anymore, but they should keep the retired ones retired. The numbers of greats that aren't retired should be the "legends" numbers, and worn as a way for current players to honor more recent "legends."
As it sits now, tradition is rapidly becoming a zero sum game for David Brandon. My suggestion would blend old and new tradition without trampling either. And that's exactly why it will never happen.
I think it is a better way to honor someone. I didnt even know Michigan had retired numbers until a few years ago. This way everyone will know.
I like it and think it's an awsome solution that is unique to Michigan.
like it...... it pays tribute to the player and will hopefully motivate the current player to live up to that legendary level, also may help with recruiting....Billy - you come to Michigan and you can wear Charles Woodsons jersey someday. AWESOME
I don't like the idea of changing an established player's number mid-career. If the players are ok with that, then I can live with people trampling across the lawn.
The alternative would be awarding a legacy jersey to an incoming freshman who might not be the person the coaches hoped he would be, either on or off the field. I'm really not in favor of that, so see above.