More Legends Jersey Proposals

We read with great interest yesterday MGoBlog's post "This Week's Obsession: Leaders Numbers" and particularly Seth's concept below:

I'd start them young and make the whole thing goal-oriented: freshmen or sophomores can apply to the coaches for a Legend's number, and there's a set of things you must do in spring or fall practice to earn the right to wear it that exemplify the guy who set that number. For each I would also set list of accomplishments comparable to those of the Legend which if you achieve them in your career you earn the right to have your name added to that patch, for example Devin can get his name added to the 98 patch if he wins the Heisman and leads the nation in scoring, and Ryan would need to be a three-time All-American and two-time captain to have his name added to 47. Have a wall at the stadium somewhere that honors all of them and lists the accomplishments, and open it up a bit so there are easier numbers to attain (#7 for a QB who beats OSU three times as the starter, #46 for a QB who leads his team to an undefeated season and national championship, #77 for an OT who's a 4-year starter and two-time All-American, 60 for a DL who does the same, 76 for a guard).

Never one to let a good idea rest, we would like to humbly offer our Top 8 Legends Jerseys that should happen with the criteria needed to earn it.  (This will not be a slideshow, only because we have no idea how slideshows work.  We're like Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer when it comes to that part of the internet.)

From a September 1989 game by Stephen Dunn | Getty Images

8). Leroy Hoard | #33 | Michigan RB 1986-1989
A running back must average EXACTLY three yards a carry for his first two seasons.  No more, no less.  EXACTLY three yards a carry.

From a 2008 Michigan Daily photo by Clif Reeder

7). Zoltan Mesko | #41| Michigan P 2006-2009
A punter must achieve any two of the following three items:
a). Average 42.5 yards per punt.
b). Succeed in your attempt to high kick the M Club banner.
c). Prove that you hold domain over an extraterrestrial empire.

Getty Images

6). Marcus Ray | #29 | Michigan S 1995-1998
A safety must achieve all of the following in one season:
a). Intercept at least five passes.
b). Make cover of Sports Illustrated destroying an Ohio State wide receiver.
c). Captain a team of Michigan football players that defeats a team from Michigan's quiz bowl program in an intramural game.

You are still missed Vada.

5). Vada Murray | #27 | Michigan DB 1986-1989
Successfully block a field goal or extra point attempt while a minimum of 18 inches off the playing surface.

4). Jareth Glanda | #54 | Michigan LS 2010-2013
Move anonymously through two whole seasons of football without having your name mentioned, then catch a pass for a first down on a broken play during a bowl game.

3). Mercury Hayes/Martavious Odoms | #9 | Michigan WR 1992-1995/2008-2011
Catch a game-winning touchdown in either the opening game of the season in 98 degree weather or warmer or to beat Ohio State to end a losing streak.

One shining moment.

2). Nick Sheridan |#8 | Michigan QB 2006-2009
As a walk-on quarterback, successfully prevent Minnesota from taking three-year ownership of the Little Brown Jug by playing out of your mind.

Mike DeSimone

1). Ernest Shazor | #25 | Michigan S 2001-2004
Hit a a Purdue ball carrier so hard as to make him regret ever being born.

An incomplete inventory of Brady Hoke's Office Bookshelf

Based on this video
An incomplete, but hopefully accurate list Things on Brady Hoke's Bookshelf: 

• A replica of a Navy SEAL Trident
• A copy of The Big House: Fielding Yost and the Building of Michigan Stadium by Robert M. Soderstrom
• A copy of the Michigan Football Vault
• A copy of Jim Brandstatter's Tales from Michigan Stadium
• A photo of Charles Woodson's LEAPING Interception vs. MSU 1997 
• A photo of a real wolverine in the wild
• A photo of the Rose Bowl marquee
• A copy of Michael Rosenberg's War As They Knew It
• A photo of the offensive line in the trenches vs. MSU (year unknown)
• An Under the Lights stadium poster
• A photo of Charles Woodson with Heisman Trophy
• A photo of Desmond Howard in Heisman pose
• A photo of Jake Long
• A replica helmet from 1950
• A replica Ron Kramer helmet from 1956
• A replica Don Moorhead helmet from 1969
• A replica 1997 helmet 
• An original redwood seat from Michigan Stadium 
• A photo of his daughter 
• A poster of the 1/2/98 Detroit Free Press front page 
• A Personalized Michigan license plate that says THETEAM
• A photo of Charles Woodson's INT vs WSU in Rose Bowl
• A photo of Jerame Tuman
• A 100th Game Game Ball from OSU 2003
• A paper cutout of the Michigan helmet wings, side view
• An additional game ball
• 1997 National Champions hat (navy blue)
• A copy of the Sports Illustrated 1997 National Champions commemorative issue.
• A copy of the Alabama Game Week plan.

In addition, photos on the wall adjacent to the bookshelf, Team 133 congratulating Brendan Gibbons after his Sugar Bowl winning kick, a sea of helmets picture, and some others.

I will say, Brady Hoke's office is like the dream version of what I would want my office to be.

Wishlist

Things I would like to see, not in the grandiose "If I were King of the Forest" but in the "Well, that would be nice..." kind of way.


1).  The Freeh Report on the massive institutional failures at Penn State contained 119 recommendations for improvement at the school.  If the NCAA sanctions are designed as a deterrent measure to the other schools of the organization, then I would hope that each of the members could also demonstrate how they already meet or are working toward meeting the recommendations in the Freeh Report.  Learn the lessons of others by demonstrating how your structures are in place to prevent horrific things from happening again.

2). That Michigan would learn the lessons of Mike Ilitch when it comes to your team's on the field look.  Fundamentally, the Red Wings and Tigers look almost exactly the same as they did when Mr. I bought the team in late 1992.  The only real change would be the Tigers road look, and even that is a call back to the team's history.  Aside from a Winter Classic look or an occasional Negro League tribute game, the Tigers and Red Wings take the field/ice in the fundamentally same look that the teams wore in the 1950s and in the 1930s.  Kell worse the same jersey as Cash worse the same jersey as Kaline wore the same jersey as Trammell worse the same jersey as Fryman wore the same jersey as Verlander.  Aside from tweaks to the logo, the Production Line and the Russian Five took the ice in the same look.  This is what I want from Michigan, to know that what Tom Harmon wore on the field is what Denard Robinson is wearing on the field.  I know there are those who say that only the home jersey and helmet are sacrosanct, but in looking at the Cowboys Classic look, we're roughly four years away from the dreaded maize jersey, which will be "selected by the senior leadership of Team 137" (Shane, don't let this happen.)

I'd been said before, but remember that a baseball team would need to wear an "alternate" uniform 13 times a year to have the same proportional impact of a college football team wearing an alternate look.  An NHL hockey team would need to do it six times a season.  And this is if you just have one alternate look, not seven different looks during the course of a season.

3). That anyone who decides to drink would be so smart as to call a cab.  Seriously, just call a cab, have a DD, but do not, DO NOT, get behind the wheel.

4). That the NCAA would stop trying to go all DC/Marvel at stop it with the retconning* such as taking away victories and such and instead just let what happened on the field stand with massive footnotes about the circumstances under which they occurred.

*-our friend Greg made this joke first, we very much enjoyed it.

I'm sure there's other things, but this seems like a good start.

Embracing the Legends

"You know it's just Dave Brandon's way of getting us to like the name of the division, right?"

--My lovely wife on Sunday when discussing the new Michigan Football Legends honor.

A list, in no particular order, of my thoughts the new Michigan Football Legends program, honor, designation.

Treezy Like (Nearly) Sunday Morning