I was listening to Bill Simmons podcast from last week where he talked about how he was now adding Steph Curry to his pantheon of NBA players. His criteria is subjective and a little ambiguous, but basically it is the highest level of his Hall of Fame and is reserved for players who transcended the sport either in their accomplishments or the way they changed the game.
And it got me thinking - who would be in the pantheon among Michigan football players? Unlike a Mount Rushmore, it doesn't have to be limited to just four players but the guys have to standout for one reason or another - and winning titles isn't necessarily a prerequisite.
The first three are easy - Tom Harmon, Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson. Beyond just winning the Heisman, all three were once in a generation talents who did things for Michigan that are engrained in our memories. And for Desmond and Woodson, I knew by watching them that there was something different.
I'd add in Benny Friedman because of the way he changed the game with the forward pass. Two Time All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year too.
I'm putting Mark Messner in too - 4x All Big Ten, consensus All-American as a senior, all time leader in sacks and TFLs.
Anthony Carter makes my list - 3x All-American and he's still second all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns, even though he played at a time when we didn't throw the ball nearly as much.
Jake Long is on there for me too. 2x All American, 2x Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and All Big Ten, and the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
My final player is Denard Robinson. He was an All-American and a 2x First Team All Big Ten. But what he did to keep Michigan football relevant in a time when nobody cared due to the record is what puts him in there for me. He wasn't a champion, but some of the stuff he did on the field was just mind blowing.
So that's my list - Harmon, Howard, Woodson, Friedman, Messner, Carter Long and Robinson.
Who makes your pantheon? Who did I give a spot to that didn't deserve it?
And it got me thinking - who would be in the pantheon among Michigan football players? Unlike a Mount Rushmore, it doesn't have to be limited to just four players but the guys have to standout for one reason or another - and winning titles isn't necessarily a prerequisite.
The first three are easy - Tom Harmon, Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson. Beyond just winning the Heisman, all three were once in a generation talents who did things for Michigan that are engrained in our memories. And for Desmond and Woodson, I knew by watching them that there was something different.
I'd add in Benny Friedman because of the way he changed the game with the forward pass. Two Time All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year too.
I'm putting Mark Messner in too - 4x All Big Ten, consensus All-American as a senior, all time leader in sacks and TFLs.
Anthony Carter makes my list - 3x All-American and he's still second all-time in receiving yards and touchdowns, even though he played at a time when we didn't throw the ball nearly as much.
Jake Long is on there for me too. 2x All American, 2x Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and All Big Ten, and the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
My final player is Denard Robinson. He was an All-American and a 2x First Team All Big Ten. But what he did to keep Michigan football relevant in a time when nobody cared due to the record is what puts him in there for me. He wasn't a champion, but some of the stuff he did on the field was just mind blowing.
So that's my list - Harmon, Howard, Woodson, Friedman, Messner, Carter Long and Robinson.
Who makes your pantheon? Who did I give a spot to that didn't deserve it?
