Who should wear Gerald Ford's #48 Saturday?
October 8th, 2012 at 10:38 AM ^
Since centers can no longer be 48, I think it's pretty safe to say that a center won't be able to wear it. Therefore, we should pick somebody that will likely be president which of course means Brendan Gibbons should wear it.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:09 AM ^
Or Matt Wile.....
October 8th, 2012 at 11:37 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^
Jack Kennedy
October 8th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
Give it to Joey Kerridge, Joe Bolden, or Des Morgan.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:45 AM ^
It would be a TV announcer's nightmare to potentially have two 6'3'' white linebackers with long hair playing next to each other wearing the numbers 47 and 48. Now that I think about, GIVE IT TO BOLDEN IMMEDIATELY!
October 8th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^
According to the TV announcers, there will automatically have 2 other linebackers on Michigan's team, Jake Bolden and Joe Ryan. Sounds good to me.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
These were decided before the season and while Bolden may make the most sense, I'm not sure if he'd been around long enough. I'm going to say Demens gets it. Morgan if they want someone to have it for awhile (which doesn't seem to be the case).
October 8th, 2012 at 1:58 PM ^
Demens makes the most sense, IMO, but I love seeing him in #25. Unique number for a middle linebacker.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
Clearly Jack Kennedy should get it...He's a Kennedy dude
October 8th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
Sugar Bowl Hero Glanda! He snaps the ball.
Obviously Snappy Snapnewski should get it in the future. Long snapper legend jersey? That's a Wow moment right there.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^
No one. Would make a guess to say that there will never be another All-American, then Senator, then President on a future Michigan team.
PS Get off my lawn
October 8th, 2012 at 10:47 AM ^
(sigh)
I think you are missing the point entirely.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:52 AM ^
I understand the marketing/honoring players/link to the past with current team etc. that the current adminstration is trying to do with patches, etc.
I also cheefully acknowledge being a bit old fashioned (hence the Get off my lawn remark).
However, Gerald Ford is the only alumn that was POTUS. And was an All-American center, captain of the team, etc etc etc. Is it too much to ask to RETIRE that number so no shapre/resemblance/etc hit the field in honor of the man and his unique accomplishments?
Again, get the hell off my lawn.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:08 AM ^
NEED MOAR ETC, etc..
October 8th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
1) He was never an All-American.
2) This isn't about ONLY giving the jersey numbers to people who match up to the life and accomplishments of the legends. No one expects Roy Roundtree to be Desmond Howard. It's about using the numbers to remind people about the deeds of those who came before.
October 8th, 2012 at 12:11 PM ^
Posted Mad Monkey's point over an hour later than Mad Monkey did. Here's a kitten to make up for my misstep:
October 8th, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:34 PM ^
He is the only former Michigan Football Captain to serve as VP.
/Just Say'n...
October 8th, 2012 at 4:27 PM ^
Ford was never the team captain.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:52 AM ^
when he presided as President of the Senate for the period of time he was Vice President of the United States).
October 8th, 2012 at 2:50 PM ^
"Would make a guess to say that there will never be another All-American, then Senator, then President on a future Michigan team."
Probably true, but only because Zoltan Mesko is not a native-born US citizen.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:45 AM ^
/s
October 8th, 2012 at 10:47 AM ^
He's the only guy I can think of, who'd be eligible to wear #48 and who is from Rep. Ford's old Grand Rapids congressional district. I'd expect that President Ford would be especially proud to have a walk-on from his hometown get the honor.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 11:30 AM ^
I don't know that an EGR resident would want a Forest Hills athlete wearing his number.
/s
October 8th, 2012 at 11:36 AM ^
They can get over it.
/FHNgrad
October 8th, 2012 at 1:31 PM ^
To get a speeding ticket for going 27mph in a 25mph zone...
/FHCgrad
October 13th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
Legend in my family is that my Grandpa went to high school with Gerald Ford.
Tim
October 17th, 2012 at 2:21 PM ^
If he went to Grand Rapids South between 1927-1931, then the legend is true.
October 8th, 2012 at 12:02 PM ^
Isn't part of the idea behind the Legends jerseys that you do something to earn it? Being from someplace isn't exactly earning it.
October 8th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
And there's a lot about this Legends-number program that I don't get. If all of our outstanding and best-performing players are shuttled into Legends numbers, then there will be few new Legend-identities created in the future.
I'd very much like to think that in the future, there may be Legends patches for Ron Johnson (40), Reggie McKenzie (65), Rick Leach (7), Bob Chappuis (49), Bump Elliott (18) and probably Pete Elliott too (45).
I really don't know; has Brandon ever clearly articulated how this is all supposed to work? He wanted a program; a plan; a set standard for jersey retirement or more correctly in football, un-retirement.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:01 PM ^
It actually seems like they're choosing the recipients based more on off the field/leadership stuff rather than awarding them to the best players on the team. Roundtree and Brandon Moore aren't two of Michigan's best-performing players, but they're wearing Legends numbers.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:50 PM ^
Shoot, Brandon Moore's not even playing. Not his fault, getting injured, but he has yet to wear his patch and play.
They'll likely give it to a linebacker, and likely one who played last year since these were assigned before the season started. Either Demens or Bolden.
October 8th, 2012 at 6:43 PM ^
It doesn't have to be based on who's the best football player. I think they've already shown that by giving Legends jerseys to Tree and Moore. But they're clearly putting in the work off the field and as team leaders. Hence, they're doing something to earn it, not just being from someplace.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
why not
October 8th, 2012 at 11:03 AM ^
Kovacs
October 8th, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 11:33 PM ^
I think a walk-on turned defensive captain is appropriate to honor a man who was neither elected vice president or president, and yet still held both offices. Ford was a walk-on turned President.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^
I didn't think about Mealer, and he'd be a good choice. But I think Jordan Kovacs wearing it makes a lot of sense.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:03 AM ^
He'd be the BEST choice, but centers can't wear the number.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:02 AM ^
The Fans
October 8th, 2012 at 11:10 AM ^
Maybe a player from the Grand Rapids area. Morgan?
October 8th, 2012 at 11:53 AM ^
That is why I suggested an Ada kid.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:21 AM ^
Kovacs is the obvious choice here. Team Captain, leader of the defense. I see no other option.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:48 AM ^
What are the chances Kovacs gets a legends patch some time in the future. Kovacs is a great story and IMO the epitome of a Michigan Man. He had to earn his way on the team Twice!
October 8th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
Zero. Look at the accomplishments of the players that have had their numbers retired. Kovacs isn't on that tier, or even close to it.
This isn't meant to be critical of Kovacs, just a statement that he isn't going to get a legends patch.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
Mealer actually can wear the #48 if Michigan chooses to give it to him. Unlike the NFL, the NCAA does not require players to wear certain numbers. Instead, they merely suggest teams give players certain numbers to help designate who is an eligible receiver on any given play. Here is a screen shot from the 2012 and 2013 NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations handbook clearing things up:
October 8th, 2012 at 12:15 PM ^
The following is included in Rule 7 on Passing (p. 73 of the document):
ARTICLE 4. Each of the following (a-c) is a live-ball foul and the play is
allowed to continue.
a. Formation. At the snap Team A must be in a formation that meets these
requirements:
1. All players must be inbounds.
2. All players must be either linemen or backs (Rule 2-27-4).
3. At least five linemen must wear jerseys numbered 50 through 79
So, unless Hoke wants to put in a blocking TE with a lineman number for every snap, Mealer isn't going to get it. Wait, come to think of it, Hoke may want to do that...
October 8th, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
The emphasis is that Mealer can wear #48. Now if he should is a completely different matter.