OT: Favorite Michigan QB

Griese. I honestly think my favorite part of his game was watching him scramble. He was the slowest person I have ever seen. I'll never forget when he did it during the Rose Bowl. It was like time stood still when he ran.

1. Navarre
2. Henne
3. Denard
4. Griese

Denard Robinson

 

I saw every year he started as a student at Michigan. He carried that team and saved us from what could have been much, much worse.

Steven threet or nick Sheridan....

Too young to remember Harbaugh.

1. Denard
2. Henne
3. Henson
4. Devin

Based on heart more than talent or stats (especially Devin).

Grbac
Henne
Denard
Griese

How do I pick among the many outstanding qualities that Michigan QBs have shown?  I can't do it.  Here is my list in reverse chronological order of Michigan QBs and what they did best:

• Best Example of a “Michigan Man”: Devin Gardner
• Most Fun to Watch: Denard Robinson
• Greatest to Ever Play the Position (including pro career): Tom Brady
• National Champion: Brian Griese
• Best Leader: Jim Harbaugh (the QB when I was a student)
• Why I’m a Wolverine: Rick Leach (was the QB when I began caring about college football)
• Greatest Athlete: Tom Harmon (yeah, technically he was a HB, but he was the passer)

It seems like there is a large recency bias on the board.  Denard is an all time great player, but he wasn't a great quarterback, of course play-calling and scheme may have had a lot to do with that.

Elvis Grbac was awesome with Derrick Alexander and Desmond Howard.  Michigan could score at almost anytime with a somewhat predictable left, right, left, uppercut (bomb).  

Todd Collins is my favorite because we all thought there would be a huge drop off and Collins seemed to be even better.  We didn't miss a beat for several years.   Griese gets props for the National Championship and Brady gets props for the Alabama win and for putting up with Henson. 

Of course as a teenager, when I didn't watch many games, there was Jim HARBAUGH and AC.  

 

 

I would have to say Griese.

This is like answering a favorite sex position question, so many great ones to choose from. Leach, Brady, Harbaugh come to mind first, and Griese, Grbac , etc

Denard. My Michigan fandom really formed in 2007, so much of my early experiences ended up being heavily influenced by Denard. Not only was he the most fun player in college football, but he made tuning into Michigan games mandatory, just to see what he would do. He kept the program relevant and he did it while just radiating joy. I'll always associate M football with Denard Robinson.

Favorite in terms of liking the most is incredibly hard for me to choose. It was Dennis Franklin for many years. I did not know him but I had a class with him (which he always attended) and he was a polite, humble understated guy. On the field he delivered exactly what Bo wanted, near flawless execution of the offense, and as others have noted, we went 30-2-1.

But- Denard slighly surpassed him for me, and not just for what he did on the field- I would remind people that he was 20th in the nation in PASSING efficiency in 2010, and in 2011, he had 2 of his best games at critical moments against Nebraska and OSU, but also for his commitment to Michigan period. He stayed when many thought he should transfer, and who doesn't love his support as evidenced by the classic GIF of Denard and Roundtree at the Michigan basketball game?

I like them all though.

 

For me it has to be Henne, mostly because that was just around the time that I really started paying closer attention to every little detail of UM football. If I was, ya know, alive during the 70's or 80's my answer might be different.

Dennis Frankln. Fast, accurate, and great decision maker. Played on what we're probably Bo's best teams

It's been said 1000 times, so I'll say it the 1001st: Denard.

Well, I like Henne, Morris, Henson and Gardner when he was a backup. Have a soft spot for Demetrius Brown and Spencer Brinton. But yeah, ultimately I have to go with Rick Leach.

My best friend and I were visiting Ann Arbor in the fall of 1986. We sat in the 5th row in the freshman section at the Iowa game. Chuck Long had gone, but the Hawkeyes were still good. It was time for revenge. The QB from Michigan was hyped as a Heisman canditate. Not sure what became of him, but that day he was my hero. 

Denard.

Not only as a QB but as my favorite player, period.

He may not have fit the prototypical qb mold but his character and playmaking excitement were above and beyond. He stayed and weathered the horrible years of Michigan football and provided arguably one of the best nd rivalry victories I've ever seen. Without him, the excitement of seeing if/when he would break off that big run...well I just don't know if I would have even tuned in to Michigan football during those dark years. Seriously.

I also have to mention Bob Timberlake, the first qb I saw play for Michigan.  Class guy.  Talented and heady qb.