1 percent

August 27th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^

Would it be less annoying if gallon and Avery changed their numbers to some random number just because they were tired of what they were before. I didn't find it annoying when Gardner went from 7 to 12.

To assume that a player can't keep their number if they want to is absurd. Or maybe Hemingway, Tree, Gallon all looked at wearing 21 as a reward for the hard work they have put in for 3+ years.

No it's not the end of any new legends #s ... Carter, Terrell, Braylon are all Michigan legends all wore the same number. Every player is going to look at it as an honor but not every player has to take the number if they don't want it.

Blue-Chip

August 27th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^

I get that they are trying to start a new tradition honoring the program's history. That's cool. But changing guys numbers in their final year in the program just screws with me. I never got used to Roundtree in 21, and I imagine I will be wildly confused by Gallon in the number.

Mr. Rager

August 27th, 2013 at 11:16 AM ^

I hate the legends jerseys idea.  They should go to incoming freshmen if, anything.  

[Edit: there should be the #1 jersey which goes to only super stud WRs and the #2 jersey which is worn by super stud DBs.  And they must want to wear it, it's not forced upon them.]

ADSellers

August 27th, 2013 at 11:20 AM ^

Are Legends jerseys forced? I always assumed they were offered to deserving players, and accepted by the player as an honor. I can't imagine Hoke would tell a kid he has no choice but to wear it.

MGoCarolinaBlue

August 27th, 2013 at 1:59 PM ^

And if he were to go that route, I really can't picture Coach Hoke holding it against him.  BH is a reasonable man, I see no reason at all to think he would be anything short of completely understanding and respectful of any player's decision to turn down a legends jersey.  In fact, I can picture a little twinkle in BH's eye if Gallon for instance wanted to keep his number...  Coach Hoke is already proud of his players, I can't see that changing over something so small.



And to those of you that are frustrated with keeping track of the new numbers... deal with it?  Doesn't really seem like a big deal.  I'm pretty sure you'll get used to seeing Gallon wearing #21 after a game or two.

MI Expat NY

August 27th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^

Yeah, I imagine at least some of the players with new numbers have taken them on begrudgingly.  An athlete's number becomes incredibly personal.  Some wear the same number for years, and while they may not have the autonomy to pick their number at the start of their college careers, by the time they become seniors I'm sure there's a sense of ownership over their number.  Hell, in my adult rec league, some 30+ men make a big deal about getting "their" number everytime the jerseys come in.  

Maybe Funchess is perfectly content to ditch #19, but I bet at least a small part of Gallon and Avery wish they could simply be honored without having to change numbers.  

joeyb

August 27th, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^

That's frustrating. I've always touted my #10 jersey as my Jeremy Gallon jersey. Now that he's finally getting the acclaim that he deserves, though, he switches numbers. I guess I'll just have to go with my Denard Robinson jersey this year.

Also, I was looking forward to Funchess staying with #19 so that he could get his own patch one day. Then, every other tight end strives to get that unusual number for their jersey. 87 is just another tight end number now.

MichiganMan2424

August 27th, 2013 at 11:19 AM ^

The belly-aching here is so funny.

"Oh woe is me! A football player changed numbers! Now I'm not used to them being that number! My life is so hard, Brady Hoke should be fired!"

Look, this is a way to not only honor past greats, but also reward players who the coches think deserve it.

I'm sure no one is forcing these players to change numbers, they only do so if they want to. If they want to have their own number their entire career, I'm sure they can. Denard played in two years while Hoke implemented this, but he was still 16 the entire time. Even Kovacs who changed numbers will still thought of as 32, no one will say he's 11 now. It's a small thing, stop whining.

In reply to by MichiganMan2424

ADSellers

August 27th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^

Seriously. It might throw me off at first but by the 3rd of 4th offensive series of the season I'm used to it. I have a hard time sympathizing with the people making those complaints.

MichiganMan2424

August 27th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^

Really? No one ever said all that? Because multiple people have complained in this thread about not liking the changes because they're not used to them and how players can't make their own legacy now. The only thing no one ever said was the stuff about Hoke, but that was clearly an over-exaggeration.

In reply to by MichiganMan2424

ijohnb

August 27th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^

implies "over," using them both is redundant.  It is like saying the sun was "brightly-bright."  You don't need both.

And what he is saying is that just because your opinion is the exception to the rule does not make it insightful and eye-opening.  It just makes you in the firm minority on this issue, nothing more.

MichiganMan2424

August 27th, 2013 at 3:57 PM ^

I love when people start goign after grammar on this blog, because it means they can't go after the content of the post.

When did I ever say that my comment was eye-opening or insightful? I never said that, nor did I intend for it to be. I know I am firmly in the minority, that's what I wanted my comment to put forward, so I guess it succeeded.

And to take this statement;

"No one ever said that. Stop trying to act all high and mighty because it doesn't bother you. "

And turn it into;

"he is saying is that just because your opinion is the exception to the rule does not make it insightful and eye-opening."

Is a pretty damn big, and just plain dumb, leap to make. If he wanted to say what you're implying, he would have. What he meant to say, and did say, was no one ever said that, which was just wrong.

Also, I appreciate the douchey overtone to your post as well. Just because you disagree with me and can act like a dick when responding to my post doesn't make you right, it makes you an asshole.

And I know, get off your lawn.

 

Billy Ray Valentine

August 27th, 2013 at 12:36 PM ^

Are you really arguing that liking the Legends Jersey Program is acting "all high and mighty," as opposed to the arguments being advanced against the program.

 

I don't think I'm high and mighty because I will get used to Gallon wearing the #21 after the 1st quarter against CMU ... I just think I'm a die-hard Michigan fan that will get giddy at seeing the #21 making big plays again.   

In reply to by MichiganMan2424

Wolverine Devotee

August 27th, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^

It raises awareness of those players. You go up to the average fan and they most likely won't know who Al Wistert or Bennie Oosterbaan was. Or what numbers were retired and who they each belong to. 

I'm just not too crazy about #98 coming out. That number is sacred and should be retired forever. Basketball does pretty much the same thing.

Only one of the five jerseys hanging in Crisler are actually retired. #33 Cazzie Russell. The rest are in circulation. They just never made a big deal about it. 

 

In reply to by MichiganMan2424

shep4569

August 27th, 2013 at 12:02 PM ^

Thank-you for saying what needed to be said. They don't give out the numbers for the benefit of the fans. It's a great honor for the players and draws attention to the great tradition at Michigan.

And for those complaining about players making their own legacy, they could always use the number from before the switch. If Gallon really does do enough to have #10 put into Legends circulation, then they can use that number. BUT, do you then honor Gallon or Tom Brady? I gurantee people wouldn't be screaming "get off my lawn" if Gallon had been awarded the #1.....

In reply to by MichiganMan2424

joeyb

August 27th, 2013 at 12:24 PM ^

I know what I said above, but the was only half serious, half tongue in cheek. I understand this is a great honor, but what if Woodson had switched to 11 before his junior season? He wouldn't have created his own legends jersey, but instead added to an existing one. That's the truly frustrating part for me. I expect that Funchess will be great and now his greatness will be shared with others' greatness rather than celebrating them individually.

Bodogblog

August 27th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^

I don't like it right now, but I think it's possible that once this becomes normal, it's a cool thing.  Always the #11 on the Michigan D is an ass-kicker or deserving team leader.  Always the #87 TE and #21 WR is a player and someone that needs to be reckoned with. 

In time each will carry not only the legacy of the original legend, but the accomplishments of those that wore the number immediately before.  Gallon and Roundtree were friends, he's accountable (in Hoke parlance) to what Roy did in that uniform.  Same with Avery and Kovacs.  A TE 5 years from now is going to need to live up to Devin's (hopefully) outstanding legacy.  In that way they'll carry the past with them as every Michigan player does, but this a more tangible and direct connection.

Or it will just be confusing.