• Honoring Freshman Gerald Ford (1932)

    President Ford has been honored quite a few times by U-M over the years.   Along with his team MVP after the 1934 season, his #48 jersey was retired in 1994 and of course, it will be put back on the field Saturday as part of the Michigan Football Legends program. If you follow this site you know that 1934 is arguably the worst (and perhaps most controversial) in Michigan history but clearly, Ford kept things in perspective.   In a speech to the U-M Club in March 1975, he recalled, “[1934] was the year we lost seven out of eight of our scheduled games. But you know, what really hurt me the most was when my teammates voted me their most valuable player. I didn’t know whether to smile or sue.” But the ‘34 MVP wasn’t the first honor Ford received while at U-M.   During his freshman year of 1931-32, he received a different but quite prestigious honor.   On May 12, 1932, Ford won the Chicago Alumni Award (now the Meyer Morton Award) as the player who showed the most promise during the lengthy spring drills (which lasted all the way from early March to early May).   Ford edged out classmates Russell Oliver and Willis Ward to earn the honor. As mentioned the award is still given out today but receives…

  • The Meyer Morton Award Trophy – Michigan

    Meyer Morton Reader David is the son of former Michigan player Don Dugger who won the annual Meyer Morton award in 1954 under coach Oosterbaan.  The award has been given out since 1925 to “the football player who shows the greatest development and most promise as a result of the annual spring practice.”  They used to issue an actual trophy and yes, David owns it today and sent over a photo: Sweet.  Although I can’t spot the confirmation on mgoblue.com, I believe FB John McColgan was the recipient this spring.  I discussed the MM in more detail here and I shared this photo of the 1932 winner–future President Gerald Ford, holding the trophy: Very cool.