POLL: Do you like the "unretiring" of numbers?

Submitted by Mr. Yost on

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.

jabberwock

June 13th, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^

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).

UMGoRoss

June 13th, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^

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.

 

 

GrowBlue

June 13th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^

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

GoBlueInNYC

June 13th, 2012 at 11:19 AM ^

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?

a2_electricboogaloo

June 13th, 2012 at 11:26 AM ^

I agree with your points, but I still like the idea. I just wish they would have sprea it out more. They should only do one a year (or possibly two this year, with one being honored against Air Force and one against State). I think honoring the players in non-major games like against UMass is a hit silly, and seems almost like a ploy to pique interest in a hopefully uninteresting game.

NOLA Wolverine

June 13th, 2012 at 11:20 AM ^

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!" 

jmblue

June 13th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^

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.

Maize

June 13th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^

Yes, Although I'm concerned about our current and future player legacies. Once someone puts on Desmonds number then what happens if that player becomes a legend in his own right?

Roachgoblue

June 13th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^

They hate having 10 numbers to choose from. hahaa I like it and it brings back good memories from past stories.

Hurricane

June 13th, 2012 at 11:23 AM ^

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.

Maize_in_Spartyland

June 13th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^

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.

hart20

June 13th, 2012 at 11:29 AM ^

But just saying, no one should take these results too seriously. Lots of potential for error. That being said, it'll probably provide a good litmus test of the situation.

Philbert

June 13th, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^

Yes I like it. It's a whole new recruiting tool that you can sell a kid on. You want to be great like Woodson. Come to Michigan and see if you can put on the number 2 jersey. It gives these kids new goals to shoot for and it allows us to honor our past and praise our present at the same time.

Erik_in_Dayton

June 13th, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^

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. 

LinecoachJ

June 13th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^

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.

Jmilan

June 13th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^

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.

lbpeley

June 13th, 2012 at 11:33 AM ^

I'd have to say no.

 

No longer retiring any more numbers and doing the legends thing I'd say yes.

UPMichigan

June 13th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^

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...

BawseWeeks

June 13th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^

If I were related to a former player being honored with a legends jersey, I would be thrilled about an opportunity to come to a game where some of the focus was on him. It's such a special occasion for the family and player. Desmond seemed so happy and touched by it all last year. I enjoyed witnessing him share the moment with his young sons. And I couldn't help thinking of Des whenever Junior made a big play. I would even like to see the basketball team do something similar. Perhaps, for the Fab Five.

Tater

June 13th, 2012 at 11:42 AM ^

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.

Hugh Jass

June 13th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^

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

LB

June 13th, 2012 at 11:49 AM ^

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.