Michigan makes Wisterts' No. 11 the fifth number with "Football Legends' distinction
Demond Howard became the first former player to be designated a "Michigan Football Legend." Four will be given that distinction next year, including the Wistert brothers.
Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com
The Wolverines now will be issuing five numbers this year that honor former legends -- four of which had been retired. Those four -- Bennie Oosterbaan's 47, Ron Kramer's 87, Gerald Ford's 48 and the Wisterts' 11 -- will be honored one at a time before home games this year.
Former All-American and Heisman Trophy winner Tom Harmon also will be honored before the Michigan State game, and former coach Gary Moeller before the Iowa game, meaning each home game this season will memorialize one player or coach.
The full schedule:
Sept. 8 -- Air Force (No. 47 Bennie Oosterbaan, Team 48)
Sept. 15 -- Massachusetts (No. 87 Ron Kramer, Team 77)
Oct. 13 -- Illinois (No. 48 Gerald Ford, Team 55)
Oct. 20 -- Michigan State (Tom Harmon, Team 61)
Nov. 10 -- Northwestern (No. 11 Alvin Wistert, Team 70)
Nov. 17 -- Iowa (Gary Moeller, Team 115)
The final Michigan Football Legend jersey is Desmond Howard's No. 21, which was introduced last season. Senior receiver Roy Roundtree, who previously wore No. 12, will adorn that uniform for all of next season.
The Wolverines have yet to announce who will wear the other Michigan Football Legend uniforms. It also is unclear whether those numbers will be worn for single games, or for the duration of the season.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
golfer
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 12:38 p.m.
should be for the season. they should be given out the first home game. this waya the player will have something to live up to for the season.
glenn
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 11:05 a.m.
My memory of Gary Moeller includes this: Moeller resigned in May 1995 after tapes were released of his alleged drunken outburst following an arrest on a charge of disorderly conduct at the now-defunct Excalibur restaurant in Southfield, Michigan on April 28 I would think the first coach legend-sized would be almost any of the other coaches like Bo, Fritz or Bennie.
TheWay
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:10 a.m.
They said he'd be honored. They didn't say anything about making him "legend-sized". Harmon is being honored also; his number isn't being issued as a legend. At least not yet.
ted
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 4:26 a.m.
In other news I have a bad feeling about Laquon Treadwell. I think his interest has wandered south. Also Deirrick Green looks like he doesnt have any interest. Which is probably ok since Michigan already has a guy in that class who is better anyway. You are welcome for my insight.
TheWay
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4:06 a.m.
Derrick Green doesn't have any interest? You mean because he just announced his top 6 (which included Michigan) and said Auburn and Michigan were strong leaders right now? Oh, then there's the fact Greg Bryant, the #2 RB in the country, just decommitted from OK and said he's going to Auburn, which leads many to believe Michigan has the inside track on Mr. Green. Oh, and who exactly do we have coming in that class who is better than Derrick Green? Deveon Smith is the only RB recruit right now for 2013, and he's a 3 star...
Scott
Sat, Aug 4, 2012 : 1:08 a.m.
Great to see Tom Harmon put on this list. Desmond belongs there. What about Charles Woodson and Anthony Carter.
Milqueman
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 5:46 p.m.
Sorry, I couldn't let that one go. I see a lot of people post their "Opinion" on these boards. Most time I don't comment, sometimes a do, they're opinions and everybody has one. But when somebody is going to openly lie about a GREAT Michigan alumnist and football player and former President of the United Sates, I just had to say something.
TheWay
Wed, Aug 8, 2012 : 3:38 a.m.
Alumnist?
Dwayne
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 5:41 p.m.
Okay, XMS (or whoever) just has his ignorant comment removed regarding Gerald Ford and Willis Ward. Not sure that it was necessary to be removed, posters were already showing his ignorance by providing facts. So XMS, here's a little knowledge for you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willis_Ward#Gerald_Ford.E2.80.99s_role_in_the_Georgia_Tech_controversy Please just do a little reading once and awhile, before making ridiculous comments like that.
Ingrid Howard
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 4:30 p.m.
Congratulations Desmond Howard!
heartbreakM
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
I think it's a great way to honor the outstanding people in M's football history, but it make me wonder (as I've previously said): How do you establish "new legends" if you are not keeping a unique number for your career? Roundtree will take over 21 this year--that's great. What if he has a Heisman year? Does he get a legend number in the future as 12 or 21? Does he get one at all as this would be his only outstanding year? I doubt that the athletic dept and coaches have thought about this. But I will say that it is a wonderful way to bring back the history and make it pertinent to today's players and fans, and I credit the creative thought process. I just hope they can figure it out
TheWay
Sun, Aug 5, 2012 : 4 a.m.
That makes no sense, BornInA2, because these legend numbers are indeed honoring the individuals who wore them, not the teams they played on.
BornInA2
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
It's not about creating a "your own" legend, as I see it. It's about contributing your legacy and achievements to the team, both the full team, and the other great players with whom you've shared one of the legends numbers. The Team, The Team, The Team.
heartbreakM
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 5:57 p.m.
Born: Your point is fine, but other than Edwards (who wore 1 for 2 years), those players all wore 1 for their entire career, and not just at the end. And frankly, other than Carter, I don't think those other players qualify as "legends" although Edwards had a lot of yards. You didn't really answer my question of how to create your own legend if you are switching numbers based on leadership, etc.
BornInA2
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 4:38 p.m.
Just like #1, additional great achievements by any player wearing it add to the number's legend. That Anthony Carter, Greg McMurtry, Derrick Alexander, and Braylon Edwards all did great things while wearing #1 takes nothing away from their achievements or #1, in my opinion. It makes more sense to me than having an ever-growing and therefore increasingly meaningless collection of 'legendary' numbers. Keep the list small, keep it exclusive, keep it meaningful.