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Posted on Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 9:30 a.m.

Brady Hoke won't give hints on 'Michigan Legend' jersey recipients, but does like the concept

By Nick Baumgardner

Four members of the current Michigan football team could have the opportunity to honor legends of Wolverine past this season.

One will be wide receiver Roy Roundtree. The other three? That's still up in the air.

In May, Michigan announced that Roundtree would wear the No. 21 jersey of "Michigan Football Legend" Desmond Howard next season. Shortly thereafter, the school announced it would be un-retiring and recirculating Ron Kramer's No. 87, Gerald Ford's No. 48 and Bennie Oosterbaan's No. 47 beginning this fall.

Hemingway_Howard_Patch.jpg

Junior Hemingway wore the No. 21 Michigan Football Legend jersey last season, a number Roy Roundtree will don in 2012. Will Michigan award honored Nos. 47, 48 and 87 as well?

Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com

Who might those players be? Will they be announced this season? When will Hoke decide it all?

"Sometime," he said with a grin. "In the future.

"We'll see."

Howard was named the first "Football Legend" last September, beginning a new tradition and unique way of honoring former standout players.

From now on, anyone who wears the No. 21, 47, 48 or 87 will do so with a commemorative patch sewn on their shoulder.

Hoke has hinted in the past that the legend numbers may be handed out to players with the same positions as the honored athletes. Roundtree and fellow wide receiver Junior Hemingway have worn Howard's No. 21, but no promise or rule has been announced to set that logic in stone.

Additionally, Hoke said he'll also speak with each individual player who is deemed worthy of wearing one of the honored numbers, and make sure they understand what exactly it means when the time comes.

"We've got so many great players through our tradition that have been part of Michigan," Hoke said. "I think it's a way to keep their legacy out there and I think it also is a way to pay tribute to them."

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

Comments

bill feehan

Mon, Jul 30, 2012 : 8:40 p.m.

At first i wasn't a fan of the legend jerseys, but i really like the idea now. After a while people would forget about the players who wore them, but now people will away remember who wore them before.

Shelly

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 11:47 p.m.

Nice idea!

ted

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 10:10 p.m.

*Derrick has always said no when asked if he's thinking about committing. First time I got an "idk" answer -- #Michigan impressing clearly *Another "idk yet" from Derrick Green when asked if he will commit to #Michigan before he leaves. That often means yes but we'll see.

ted

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 9:03 p.m.

VOTE FOR TED. My presence on this blog is perhaps the reason most of you tune in. " What does Ted think about this?" So that I may finally get through to the small minority of dissenters on here, I am asking for a show of hands in the form of a "thumbs up" vote to assert the widely held belief that I am the authority here. This acknowledgement will illustrate to others, the appreciation and respect you have for me. As for the small minority on here who wish, you may vote "thumbs down." Thankyou

sedroc98

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 8:05 p.m.

nice cocept, but what if a guy (like roundtree) becomes even greater than howard? how will he be honored in the future? he cant be. coach hoke is making the assumption that none of his current or future players will ever be better good enough to have thier own # honored.

michboy40

Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 1:10 a.m.

We all remember and honor the guys who have worn the #1 jersey, it will be no different with the legends jerseys. IE: Roy Roundtree has a great season and becomes the next great one to don the #21...and so on. This practice will actually create legends by motivating guys to live up to the guys that wore the jersey before him.

concerned citizen

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 7:31 p.m.

Did a little research - prior to Anthony Carter other positions wore jersey number one - Angus G. Goetz LT 1919-20; Robert Jerome Dunne G 1921; Paul G. Goebel E 1922; Harry Kipke HB 1923; Dave Whiteford DB 1973-75; Gregg Willner PK/P 1976-78; Anthony Carter WR 1979-82; Greg McMurtry WR 1986-89; Derrick Alexander WR 1990-93; Tyrone Butterfield WR 1994-96; David Terrell WR 1998-2000; Braylon Edwards WR 2003-04. RWBill - unsure of your source of information - but Denard would be honored to be the first quarterback at the University to wear jersey #1. He deserves to wear it - he represents the UM on and off the field at the highest level. If he doesn't get to wear it the number should be officially retired.

concerned citizen

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 3:03 p.m.

Denard deserves to wear jersey #1! When will that announcement be made!

unclefred

Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 1:38 a.m.

I suspect that Denard want's number 16 to be a legends jersey. He's well on the way to making it one, and I expect him to chinch the deal this season.

concerned citizen

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 7:21 p.m.

Did a little research - prior to Anthony Carter other positions wore jersey number one - Angus G. Goetz LT 1919-20; Robert Jerome Dunne G 1921; Paul G. Goebel E 1922; Harry Kipke HB 1923; Dave Whiteford DB 1973-75; Gregg Willner PK/P 1976-78; Anthony Carter WR 1979-82; Greg McMurtry WR 1986-89; Derrick Alexander WR 1990-93; Tyrone Butterfield WR 1994-96; David Terrell WR 1998-2000; Braylon Edwards WR 2003-04. RWBill - unsure of your source of information - but Denard would be honored to be the first quarterback at the University to wear jersey #1. He deserves to wear it - he represents the UM on and off the field at the highest level. If he doesn't get to wear it the number should be officially retired.

azwolverine

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 5:25 p.m.

Hey, maybe Devin Gardner will get #1!

ThoseWhoStayUofM

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.

That number is reserved for wide receivers

RWBill

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 3:19 p.m.

He doesn't want it. He wants 16. He might accept 1 if they force it on him just to be a team player, but he doesn't want it.

Scott

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 2:52 p.m.

Nice idea. Some great players should be added- Charles Woodson, Jake Long, Anthony Carter, Tom Harmon. Especially Tom Harmon- can't fathom why he'd be off the list. Once so dominate he got a standing ovation at the horseshoe in Columbus. And how can you be better players than Woodson, Long, and Carter?

scmaize

Tue, Jul 31, 2012 : 12:54 a.m.

Tom Harmon's number was retired. They have asked his survivors if they would like his number to be unretired, so it can be a Legend jersey. As I'm sure you know, he was our first Heisman winner, and the only won for about 50 years.

Ed daggett

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 2:49 p.m.

Desmond Howard was a great M player for two yrs who was given this honor as goodwill more for his ability to be a mouthpiece for M football than for his on field performance at M. To put him ahead of the Dierdorfs, Leach, Lytle, Carter & Harbaugh's of M football is laughable

azwolverine

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.

Ed, I respectfully disagree with you.

ThoseWhoStayUofM

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 5:09 p.m.

He's only 1of3 people to ever win a heisman at Michigan. Honestly one of the most ignorant opinions I've ever heard.

Gary

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 3:28 p.m.

What is laughable are your comments. Desmond played for three years, his team won 3 Big 10 championships, career touchdowns receiving #3 all-time (Anthony Carter #2 and Braylon Edwards #1 played 4 years), single season touchdowns receiving #1 all-time with 19, Heisman Trophy winner in 1991, and he graduated early with a UM degree.

RWBill

Sun, Jul 29, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.

They are great, but not a Heisman award among them. True, Desmond and Dave are Twitter buddies.