What athlete do you wish had played for Michigan?
This what I was kinda hoping the other thread would be about. Are there any athletes who went to other schools, that after their careers you wish had gone to Michigan? It probably helps if they were really considering Michigan, but I'm not setting any ground rules. (I mean, "I wish Michael Jordan had gone to Michigan" is nice, but seems there's not much there). I would say they should not only be good, but you think would have fit in for Michigan. Some great guy you hate might not work. Terrelle Pryor probably would have helped up, but we might have bigger problems than "stretching" now too. (But maybe you can make a case for him).
I immediately thought of daddy Glenm Robinson, who said after the fact if he knew all the Fab Five were going to Michigan he would have gone too. Put Ray Jackson as a sixth man, and add him, and I think those title games might have ended differently. (And a third year even without Webber). Kevin Garnett was considering us before he went straight to the NBA. I'm sure there are some football players who went elsewhere we didn't end up hating. Or go other sports if you like. Really miss that Jeter never got to actually play here? Or that Phelps had been eligible to compete?
And yes, I know we have one vote for Aaron Craft already.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:10 AM ^
Mostly alot of defensive backs over the past 10 or so years.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
But I was a slacker in high school and nowhere near talented enough to play D1 football.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:12 PM ^
I was a slacker...but if coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would've been state champions. No doubt. No doubt in my mind.
January 25th, 2013 at 3:33 PM ^
I bet you $100 that you can't throw that ball over that mountain.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:12 AM ^
Always seemed like a decent guy. Awesome career. Wound up with the Lions. In one of the Michigan v OSU documentaries he says he told his Dad he wanted to go to Michigan (grew up in Ohio) and his Dad said something like "if you go there, don't come back" so he went to OSU.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:19 AM ^
I second this. With his charity work and his dedication to his family, he is just a great representative of OSU. He just seems like a truly kind person, which seems rare with a lot of football players. He's up there with Mesko and Omameh in terms of good dude status.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:56 AM ^
He might actually be my favorite Buckeye, besides Gary Moeller. I don't actually hate him as an announcer either.
My biggest gripe against him is that he didn't have the balls to stand up to his dad and come to Michigan.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^
The 'balls' to burn a bridge between him and his family, perhaps permanently? That's one way of looking at it, i guess
January 25th, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^
If going to Michigan would permanently burn a bridge between him and his family, then his family kind of sucks.
I would be pissed if my kids ever went to OSU but I would still love them because they are my kids.
January 25th, 2013 at 1:48 PM ^
In Bo's Lasting Lessons, did't he say that Spielman came into his office with snuff in his mouth and he kicked him out?
January 25th, 2013 at 4:02 PM ^
January 25th, 2013 at 6:33 PM ^
January 25th, 2013 at 10:50 AM ^
A corner to take Morgan Trent's spot in 2006 (Justin King)
A safety to take Ryan Mundy's spot in 2006 (Jai Eugene? Can't remember)
But most of all.....hindsight is 20/20 and all but DAMN I wish Harbaugh had come along in 2007. By 2009 he would've blown the doors off the Tressel operation. Easy. He did it to Pete Carroll, a superior coach. We might have even gone to the Rose Bowl and won it, don't even get me started on what he'd do to MSU....
By 2010 if not sooner, Andrew Luck OR Robert Griffin III (assuming Harbaugh was going to recruit both once more, and land one of them) would be the starting Michigan QB. Beats recruiting the last Texan QB, Mallett. Even better, the pass defense wouldn't be ranked #118th or whatever. We'd be going BCS bowling and momentum would be rolling.
And when the QB jumped to the NFL, I assume Gardner wouldve still been a Wolverine, so we'd be good there. The QB pipeline at Michigan would've been going strong. Top prospects dying to play here.
Assuming Harbaugh left to the Niners at some point? Bit of a blow to the Michigan ego but big deal.
We'd have have Brady Hoke and David Shaw to choose from. Best Best Best case scenario, hire Greg Mattison, keep Shaw as OC, and have Hoke running the show. Bam. Dynasty Mode Engaged.
No one over here would even bat an eyelash at the Urban Meyer hire.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
He was down to Duke and Michigan if my memory serves correctly. Perhaps had he played for one year, the BBall program would have maintained some buzz and stayed relevant.
Football wise, I'll go waaayyy back and say Tiki and Ronde Barber. Both were very high on UofM but too much home state pressure sent them to UVA. Woodson and Ronde at CB with Tiki at TB would've made the NatChamp team even better for perhaps longer.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:15 AM ^
Mark Ingram
January 25th, 2013 at 10:37 AM ^
Yes. From what I've read and seen, not only was he very talented, he was also a very upstanding student and citizen.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:16 AM ^
John Gibson could have single handedly saved this season for the hockey team. Maybe not totally, but with him I doubt we're second-to-last place in the CCHA.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:20 AM ^
Either him or Campbell would be huge right now.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:20 AM ^
May sound random, but it always bothered me that Jesse Owens went to OSU. What an exceptional athlete, and how defiant he was in the 1936 olympics in Berlin (given the political/global climate). 4 Gold medals in track & field in Germany. Dominance.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:17 PM ^
Seconded!
January 25th, 2013 at 10:20 AM ^
Barry Sanders. I know we had Boles and Hoard but it's still Barry Sanders.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:21 AM ^
That was my pick too. He really would have made that era of Michigan among the greats in college history.
January 25th, 2013 at 9:42 PM ^
I always thought he would be a great fit at Michigan.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:24 AM ^
Of course that might be more of a "who do I wish had never coached at Michigan" answer.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:27 AM ^
I wish all of Charles Woodson's clones had come to MIIIIICH
January 25th, 2013 at 10:28 AM ^
Derek Sanderson Jeter. Hands down.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
Was he really named after that white skates-wearing, skirt-chasing, boozing forward that played for the Bruins during the Bobby Orr days?
January 25th, 2013 at 1:08 PM ^
Some say yes, Jeter says no. His dad's first name is Sanderson so that seems a more likely source of the name.
January 25th, 2013 at 12:37 PM ^
You were close...he was a student.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
"Magic" Johnson. Johnson was one of the best players ever to play the game, as shown by the fact taht just about every player who played with him played the best basketball of their life WHILE they played with him. He elevated whatever team he was on. Also hurts that he was a Michigan kid who picked Sparty over the Wolverines, no matter the reasons.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
Magic Johnson.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
Magic Johnson. He almost came to Michigan. It would have been amazing to see showtime in Ann Arbor.
January 25th, 2013 at 11:45 AM ^
But where are you hearing he almost came to Michigan? Everything I've ever heard said he was always MSU. He was from the Lansing area, a lot of his family went to MSU, and I think he was always a fan growing up. I've never heard anything that he was even seriously considering Michigan.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
I'm a little unclear on the history. But I thought he and his track coach were considering coming to Michigan before he went to Ohio State.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:34 AM ^
had come to Michigan.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:37 AM ^
Jim Thorpe, and Walter Payton.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
Hockey: Steve Yzerman
Football: Toby Gerhart
January 25th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
It almost happened.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:43 AM ^
January 25th, 2013 at 10:47 AM ^
Justin King
January 25th, 2013 at 11:35 AM ^
January 25th, 2013 at 1:24 PM ^
January 25th, 2013 at 10:49 AM ^
Hockey: John Gibson. We could use the goaltending help right now.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:53 AM ^
Kevin Garnett for basketball (because, duh).
I will go with Justin King for football. Because if we have him in our secondary for The Game in 2006, we win. Easily.
January 25th, 2013 at 10:57 AM ^
Me, even though we beat M half the time. (baseball).
January 25th, 2013 at 10:58 AM ^
Football: Ed Reed.
Basketball: KG or Iverson.
January 25th, 2013 at 11:13 AM ^