OT: Favorite Michigan QB

Submitted by M3chagodzill4 on

It's been about 2 years since the last one, so... Who ya got?

I'll start off with mine.

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goblue16

November 12th, 2015 at 4:58 PM ^

John Navarre first game I ever watched was with him at qb. Highly criticized guy who all of us would agree we wish we had the past few seasons. Big ten champ qb

Joined: 03/28/2010

MGoPoints: 17468

lilpenny1316

November 12th, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^

I don't think people appreciate the late 80s/early 90s teams as much as they should.  Five straight conference titles, four Rose Bowl appearances, two Rose Bowl wins, one undefeated team (with 3 ties).  And Elvis was the QB for three of those seasons, not to mention a great job filling in for Michael Taylor when he got hurt in the ND game.

30-5-3 without a 12th regular season game or conference championship game to pad the stats.

 

Joined: 11/19/2009

MGoPoints: 61836

mjv

November 13th, 2015 at 12:05 AM ^

That was the most recent truly golden era of Michigan Football.  I remember thinking after the '92 Rose Bowl (the loss to UW), oh well, will win this thing next year.  It wasn't just BS either, I was certain we would be back the next year (T-Wheat going 15 for 225 on UW).  

As crappy as Moeller was in managing a program (he had huge player loses during his brief tenure and the performance started trailing off as the team became more his team versus Bo's team), he was willing to open the playbook.  

Grbac was the first QB of the post-Bo era, and he benefitted greatly from and executed greatly in the much more wide open offense under Mo.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

mjv

November 13th, 2015 at 12:09 AM ^

Henson was potential.  Henson was performance.  Watching Henson blister laser beams down the seam was a sight to behold.  The difference in how hard he threw and how tight a spiral he had relative to any other QB I had watched was amazing.  Henne had an arm that was close to that level.  Mallett was the only one I've seen that might be as good.

Mallett, that a guy who was pure potential.  And a $0.05 brain.  

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

bsgriffin1

November 12th, 2015 at 5:27 PM ^

Favorite Michigan QB recruite hype: Mallet

Favorite Michigan QB - Henne  ; He was the QB when I really started to become obsessed

Favorite Michigan QB post college - Brady ; can't really remember him playing in college

 

Denard should have been a running back or Percy Harvin type for us and I wouldn't for some reason think of him as an just an ok QB and instead as an all time great ATH.

Joined: 11/29/2010

MGoPoints: 1119

mjv

November 13th, 2015 at 12:13 AM ^

Henson had even more hype than Mallett.  Henson was a phenom of the highest order.  Add to that all of the baseball success.  He was local.  I saw him in a playoff game his senior year at Saline (I think it was at Saline), and he looked entirely out of place on the field.  It was like watching a high schooler play against a middle schooler.  It just wasn't fair.

And he was his class valedictorian.  The kid absolutely had it all.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

makkd97

November 12th, 2015 at 5:25 PM ^

I was a couple years behind Jimmy. He wasn't a great athlete, just a fierce competitor and a lot of heart.He had a lot of bravado and I loved his confidence. Jim Harbaugh was my favorite Steve Smith is our most under rated QB. Rick Leach will always hold a place in my heart. Okay,I guess whoever the current qb is,that's my favorite. The Team, The Team,The Team

Joined: 01/14/2011

MGoPoints: 160

ST3

November 12th, 2015 at 7:03 PM ^

I had erased that game from my memory. Let's do a little ex post facto inside the boxscore:

http://collegefootballbelt.com/1981/1981%20Game%20Summaries/Michigan%20…

Smith was 3 for 18 with 3 INTs. That's sub-par.

Wisconsin was led by all Big-10 safety Matt VandenBoom. Had he played today, the internet would have asploded by now. He's the Eddie McDoom of the the 80's.

Butch Woolfolk ran for an 89 yard TD in that game. I think I was at that game. My dad and I were sitting in the first row right behind the Wisconsin bench. It was almost impossible to see the field through the wisconsin players. I remember you could see the red zone areas ok, but the midfield was completely blocked. So I see Woolfolk get the ball, he breaks a few tackles, disappears for about 50 yards until I see him emerge at the other end of the row of Wisconsin players. Sadly, that was about the total of Michigan's offense that day.

Joined: 09/11/2010

MGoPoints: 52559

Uper73

November 12th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^

Mine- Harbaugh, Franklin, Leach, Brady, Griese, Wangler.

Johnny Wanglers was the first pure passer I remember, he had touch and could throw. If his knees had not been ravaged, he would have surpassed s lot of M QBs.

Joined: 10/12/2013

MGoPoints: 1352

Yooper

November 12th, 2015 at 5:34 PM ^

Not very popular (or that good), was replaced by Wangler.  I remember when he struggled one side of the stadium would chant: "No BJ!" then the other side of the stadium would reply with: "No Dickie".  Classic.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 11269

WhoopinStick

November 12th, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^

Saw Navarre at the game last Saturday.  He is one big dude.

 

Favorite of all time - that's a tough one as there are so many good ones to chose from.  I'm leaning towards Harbaugh - and that is strickly from a QB standpoint - he just seemed to make things happen.  (Griese and Henson seemed more like they were really good for one year, Harbaugh for more than one.)  Of course there's Grbac, Collins, Henne, Robinson, Leach, Wangler, etc.  All good choices.

Joined: 03/16/2010

MGoPoints: 4799

mjv

November 12th, 2015 at 11:58 PM ^

Griese was actually quite bad for two years.  In 95 and 96, he was always ready to throw a killer interception.  Driesbach was the better QB during those years, but I think he got hurt frequently.  

But the interceptions were gone in 97, with the exception of the three he threw in the first half against Iowa.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 3656

socalwolverine1

November 12th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^

Came to Ann Arbor in '96 buried in the depth chart behind upper classman Griese and much more hyped Henson, but steadily improved to the point of beating out Henson and leading us to wins vs Ohio State and Alabama (Orange Bowl) in '99.

Yes, he only started his last two years at UM, but his success at UM in combination with the way he represents the University - his passion and pride for UM - is why he's #1 for me.  Brady absolutely bleeds maize & blue, and I hope he does a coaching stint at UM as QB coach (or HC) after he finishes collecting rings and trophies in the NFL!

Joined: 10/08/2012

MGoPoints: 1235

drjaws

November 12th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^

Tied between Harbaugh and Griese. Harbaugh was QB when I was a kid learning to love football (5-7 years old) and Griese for winning a title. Magical year.



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Joined: 02/26/2014

MGoPoints: 46778

rdlwolverine

November 12th, 2015 at 5:52 PM ^

Quarterback the first year I started to follow Michigan closely (4th grade), All-American led team to wins over Ohio State and in the Rose Bowl. Would have been national champs but for a 2 point conversion against Purdue led by soph Bob Griese.

Joined: 09/28/2008

MGoPoints: 984

Blarvey

November 12th, 2015 at 5:53 PM ^

Hard to call a favorite. To me, Denard was the most exciting, Brady was the most clutch, Henson was probably the most gifted, Harbaugh was the fiercest, Friedman was a pioneer, and so on.

I will say I have a great deal of respect for Brady because his career really exemplifies hard work, positivity, and intelligence over the measureables.

Joined: 11/21/2011

MGoPoints: 3472

archangel2k12

November 12th, 2015 at 5:56 PM ^

Harbaugh was QB when I started watching Michigan football as a kid, so he has always had a special place in my heart.  Brian Griese and John Navarre were guys I liked a lot but I loved Chad Henne.  To answer the question with finality...after all the drama and being in the dumps and sadness and needing hope...Denard Robinson and his smile and incredible athleticism...he is my favorite.  I know he was a train wreck half the time but when he was ON...he was ON.  A joy to watch.  His personality was the clincher.

Joined: 01/19/2011

MGoPoints: 1187