Online listing: Ex-Michigan football player Vada Murray's 1990 Rose Bowl jersey
Vada Murray, the former Michigan football player and longtime Ann Arbor police officer, died earlier this year after a long bout with lung cancer. Now a listing on Craigslist offers a 1990 Michigan Rose Bowl jersey with Murray's No. 27.
The listing was posted by Howard Heyman of West Bloomfield, a 1978 University of Michigan graduate and a longtime Michigan football fan. "Oh, yeah," Heyman said. "I was obsessed with it during the Bo era. And Mo. And Lloyd."
Howard said he's narrowed his collection of Michigan memorabilia in recent years, but he says he'll never part with his favorite: The polyester shirt Michigan coach Bo Schembechler wore while beating Ohio State in 1977.
Howard's listing for the Murray jersey notes that the name is missing because he obtained it while Murray still had eligibility remaining. "It might have been a backup jersey," Howard said. "I think the players got to keep the jerseys they wore."
Michigan lost to Southern Cal, 17-10, in the 1990 Rose Bowl, Schembechler's last game as the Wolverines' coach. Murray led Michigan with a career-high 10 solo tackles against USC.
Comments
Dennis
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 3:28 p.m.
How much is it? I have never bought anything from Craigs list, but I would buy Vada Murray's jersey, give it to his family. It would be the right thing to do, regardless who buys it.
treetowncartel
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 3:22 a.m.
To all of you Bo is holier than thou posters, Tressel is going down for Pryor's disposal of his gold pants while he still had eligibility. I am in no way condoning the current auction, but i just want people to stop and think about the position they are taking if the allegation about obtaining the jersey is true.
treetowncartel
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 1:10 p.m.
That is certainly right. We will never know if there was any remuneration for the jersey.
a2citizen
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 4:49 a.m.
But dead men don't talk.
Jim Burdelski
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 1:11 a.m.
Bad idea. Jim Burdelski, Santa Fe.
a2citizen
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 12:47 a.m.
"...he obtained it while Murray still had eligibility..." Sounds like a euphemism for he bought it. Who did he buy, er I mean obtain it from? If he bought it he has a right to sell it. It's not like the jersey, if it actually was Murray's, is going to have the resale value of a Honus Wagner baseball card.
huh7891
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 9:54 p.m.
I find it tacky to say the least....
Jim Burdelski
Wed, May 25, 2011 : 1:11 a.m.
I agree.
DBH
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.
I continue to be bemused by commenters who feel the need to rush to judge someone whom they do not know and from whom they have not obtained any information regarding their alleged crime/indiscretion/etc. For all any of the previous commenters know, the sale of this jersey may very well have the blessing of Mr. Murray's family. The seller could be donating the proceeds to the family, to a fund supporting families of slain or otherwise deceased police officers, or some other worthy cause or person. The point is, why villify someone when you don't have all the information? What purpose does it serve? The rush to judgment is what I find "disgusting."
ogel1209
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 9:25 p.m.
What a low, dishonorable thing to do.
Tru2Blu76
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 8:18 p.m.
Marking: another apparent low point in the behavior / decision making of "fandom." Specifically: if this jersey were donated to Mr. Murphy's widow and she then sold it, we could easily understand and accept that. If I had the asking price, I would buy this jersey and give it to Mrs. Murphy - just to get it out of the hands of this man.
areyoukiddingme
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 7:38 p.m.
Might be a nice gesture to give some of the proceeds to the family.
Cash
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
Absolutely. One can only imagine the resources M Murray used caring for him for all of that time. His wife and children could use that money,I'm sure. Wow, this just seems sick to me. Did he wait until Mr Murray passed so it would have a higher value.? Disgusting.