The myth of a Brady-Henson QB controversy....

[maelfan]

In Brady's two years starting, he started all 25 games.

Brady threw 618 passes.
Henson threw 134.

Brady was 20-5 with two bowl wins.

Henson only threw 40 something passes in 98, mostly in garbage time, an average of less than 4 passes per game.

In 99, he of course had more time, mostly in the second quarter and in some mop up time, and that move by Carr was a disaster as it rendered no positive results and probably cost us the MSU game.

Bottom line, the only people who treated him bad were idiots on sports talk radio who make up probably less than 5% of UMs football fans, if not less.

 

[detroitjohn]

In Brady's two years starting, he started all 25 games.

Brady threw 618 passes.
Henson threw 134.

Brady was 20-5 with two bowl wins.

Henson only threw 40 something passes in 98, mostly in garbage time, an average of less than 4 passes per game.

In 99, he of course had more time, mostly in the second quarter and in some mop up time, and that move by Carr was a disaster as it rendered no positive results and probably cost us the MSU game.

Bottom line, the only people who treated him bad were idiots on sports talk radio who make up probably less than 5% of UMs football fans, if not less.

That was a very tough situation, Henson was a once-a-generation athlete (he made a couple ridiculous TD passes, across his body, vs WI and OSU in 2000 that would have been intercepted if thrown by any other player). Brady was very solid as a JR starter, but hadn't quite distanced himself from Henson's immense potential. In hindsight, playing with the position the way Carr did undoubtedly cost us a national championship that year. The talent on that team was probably the best UM has ever had in total, especially on offense (Brady at QB, Anthony Thomas at RB, four future NFL OL starters, David Terrell and Marquise Walker at WR, and Aaron Shea at TE/hybrid). Defense also had lots of talent, though not quite to the offense's level. Every position was loaded, it was criminal that UM didn't bring home a NC trophy.

 

[Reality Man]

The truth is that Carr was juggling qb's until Brady separated himself. Carr was trying to appease Henson and his potential at the expense of Brady. I remember it well and Brady did rise above it and won.

Probably on some level helped make him the qb he was to become in the NFL.


RM

 

[michnittlion]

That was a very tough situation, Henson was a once-a-generation athlete (he made a couple ridiculous TD passes, across his body, vs WI and OSU in 2000 that would have been intercepted if thrown by any other player). Brady was very solid as a JR starter, but hadn't quite distanced himself from Henson's immense potential. In hindsight, playing with the position the way Carr did undoubtedly cost us a national championship that year. The talent on that team was probably the best UM has ever had in total, especially on offense (Brady at QB, Anthony Thomas at RB, four future NFL OL starters, David Terrell and Marquise Walker at WR, and Aaron Shea at TE/hybrid). Defense also had lots of talent, though not quite to the offense's level. Every position was loaded, it was criminal that UM didn't bring home a NC trophy.

Maybe ...... everyone remembers the MSU loss (the game where Henson sucked and Brady excelled) .... but the Illinois loss 2 weeks later is the one which, even 17 years later, makes absolutely NO sense.

It was 27-7 in favor of Michigan with 3 minutes left in the 3rd quarter! Tom Brady played well that game, and played 95% of the game (Henson was 2-for-3 for 9 yards on 1 possession). But it was the defense who totally collapsed. Illinois scored 28 points in the game's final 18 minutes.

Illinois was actually decent that year, but that's one of the more singularly inexplicable --- and costly --- losses I've seen over the years. Michigan would have had a reasonable argument to be playing Florida State for the MNC (it would have been U-M or undefeated Virginia Tech) as a 10-1 Big Ten Champion with the only loss to a very good MSU team. The Big Ten was absolutely LOADED with good teams in 1999. But the Illinois loss was a self-inflicted lethal shot in the foot.

 

[scfanblue]

Loyd Carr was an AVERAGE college football coach. His 1997 team was recruited primarily by Moeller and Mattison. Carr had some great teams after 1997 and managed to lose 2-3 and sometimes 4 games per year. The biggest issue with Carr is that he NEVER brought Michigan into the modern football age because he was stuck in the "Go to the Rose Bowl" mentality of the 1970's and 1980's. Meanwhile, Jim Tressel turned our rival OSU into a national powerhouse. Carr also NEVER built a staff underneath him that was worth a shit. He should have retired years before he did in 2007. Then he sticks his nose in the coaching search and undermines the new coach Rich Rod. Then he influences Brandon to hire Brady the Joke Hoke. I have much more respect for Bo, Mo, and Harbaugh than I ever will Loyd Carr who I think is a genuine asshole.

 

[maelfan]

That was a very tough situation, Henson was a once-a-generation athlete (he made a couple ridiculous TD passes, across his body, vs WI and OSU in 2000 that would have been intercepted if thrown by any other player). Brady was very solid as a JR starter, but hadn't quite distanced himself from Henson's immense potential. In hindsight, playing with the position the way Carr did undoubtedly cost us a national championship that year. The talent on that team was probably the best UM has ever had in total, especially on offense (Brady at QB, Anthony Thomas at RB, four future NFL OL starters, David Terrell and Marquise Walker at WR, and Aaron Shea at TE/hybrid). Defense also had lots of talent, though not quite to the offense's level. Every position was loaded, it was criminal that UM didn't bring home a NC trophy.

Yep. We should have been undefeated in 99. As good as MSU was, we were better. Brady not being on the field for every snap that game was nuts.

Losing to Illinois, even though they were ready to rise was ridiculous.

 

[maelfan]

The truth is that Carr was juggling qb's until Brady separated himself. Carr was trying to appease Henson and his potential at the expense of Brady. I remember it well and Brady did rise above it and won.

Probably on some level helped make him the qb he was to become in the NFL.


RM

My main point was people tried to say Brady was treated like garbage. Not so. Maybe from the vocal minority on sports talk radio, people who always think they know who should start at QB even though they never attend practices. Like when outrage occurred after Carr picked Griese in 97. Really? Were any of those sports radio caller idiots at even one practice? no.