Legends Numbers
Two legends numbers worn last season have opened up, as Jeremy Gallon (21) and Courtney Avery (11) graduated. Any speculation as to who might be assigned these numbers during this season? And any thoughts on whether any new legends numbers will be created?
As random speculation, I see James Ross, Raymon Taylor, Matt Wile, Brennen Beyer, and Jarrod Wilson as the most likely candidates for #11 or #21. I could also see the athletic department creating a new #77 legends number for Jansen/Long so that one of the numbers is available to a lineman (currently they're all eligible receiver numbers, so an offensive lineman can't wear any of them).
Also, I know that Blake Countess has switched to 2 this year - is that a legends jersey for Woodson, or just a random switch?
August 27th, 2014 at 4:29 PM ^
A retired number should stay retired. Otherwise, it is not retired.
I'm tired of it.
August 27th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^
August 27th, 2014 at 4:54 PM ^
My godfather's jersey was the first "unretired "Legends Jersey." The athletic department sought our input and received unanimous support from our family.
The players I know all love having the opportunity to wear a "Legends Jersey" and they can decline without any repurcussions.
I do not believe that every "Legends Jersey" should be handed out each season. I also think the idea proposed by many of you to only wear the "Legends Jerseys" for a special game every year is a great idea. I will see Dave Brandon this week and I will mention it to him. GO BLUE!
August 27th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^
Thanks! I do like the Legends jersey but we have to make sure it stays special and not something simply handed out just to have them out there at all times. So anything we can do to fix that would be helpful.
August 27th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^
The legends numbers. Just let players pick their own damn number.
August 27th, 2014 at 4:59 PM ^
August 27th, 2014 at 5:51 PM ^
August 27th, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^
Do away with the patches, do away with the late number changes (Kovacs #32, Roundtree #12, Gardner #12, Gallon #10, I almost have Jake Ryan synonymous with #47 now but #90 was cool), and they don't necessarily all need to be used each year.
Awarded freshman will hopefully wear it with honor, pride and feel a need to live up to the high standard set before them. Could be the push a player needs early in his career.
August 27th, 2014 at 5:25 PM ^
August 27th, 2014 at 5:29 PM ^
to be able to establish their own number as a legend.
I want some kid 10 years from now to want to wear #5 because Peppers wore it.
August 27th, 2014 at 5:38 PM ^
I hate that we feel obligated to have the legends numbers on the field all the time. Our #1 receiver doesn't need to be #21 every year. Just let someone wear it and let Manningham make #86 special to us
August 27th, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^
Wow. There is some really hardcore hate going on for the legend's numbers. I've never really had a problem with it. I actually like seeing Gardner with 98, it really sets him apart from other QBs. To me, the thing about letting kids make their mark with their own numbers is way overblown. Shane wears #7, is he really going to make that number his? Are we all going to agree to forget that Henne guy and the records he set? Is Taylor making everyone forget Wheatley? And I know Kovacs was a great guy, but there is a certain Anthony Thomas who did some pretty awesome things in #32. If you want to make the argument of Funchess and 19 then OK, maybe. That one is pretty unique for a then-TE. But in general I don't buy that 95% of players that come through Michigan become associated with their jersey number. If that was true I wouldn't have had people ask me why I was wearing a Sheridan jersey in 2008.
August 27th, 2014 at 10:24 PM ^
More like 99.9% of Michigan players don't become associated with their number. But that still leaves about a player every 10-15 years that could be considered "legendary". If we have a player win the Heisman who started his freshman year wearing 9 and wore it every year, wouldn't you want #9 to eventually be a "legacy number?"
August 27th, 2014 at 6:35 PM ^
August 27th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^
August 28th, 2014 at 8:05 AM ^
August 27th, 2014 at 9:38 PM ^
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August 27th, 2014 at 10:13 PM ^
I think it was Brian that had the best solution: Give the numbers to walk-ons. That's a remarkable honor for guys who are the epitome of college athletics. They are also guys that are extremely unlikely to become legends in their own right, so you don't have to worry about what happens when a future Michigan great doesn't get his own legacy jersey because he wore Desmond's 21.
For example, Funchess at 19 had the possibility to be something special.
August 27th, 2014 at 10:26 PM ^
August 28th, 2014 at 5:15 AM ^
August 28th, 2014 at 9:00 AM ^
That's my thought at least...