• Retiring #21 Gets the Heisman

    Momentum seems to be building for another former M player (or 2) to have their jersey number retired, something that hasn’t happened since 1994 when we hung up President Ford’s #48.   As Mike Rosenberg discussed recently, Coach Carr brought it up and supports the idea: "Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson, as winners of the Heisman Trophy, I think they are both deserving of having those jerseys retired," Carr said Wednesday. "I believe that … I think it’s an issue that is very important to Michigan football." I’m not big on retiring jerseys but if the tradition is going to continue, I’d love to see Desmond and Woodson honored.  And while I don’t think there is racist intent, it’s still a bit glaring after all these years (and Heismans) that no African American is represented among those retired. So this brings me to this, and thanks to my man and local writer James Dickson (see MVictors guest posts) for allowing me to post this beauty.  A while ago JD dug up this October 1997 report from Amy Whitesall of Ann Arbor News, announcing that #21 would be hung up for good: Except of course none of that ever happened. So what’s deal?  The report was pretty specific (U-M board voted Tuesday…ceremony next season…) so you’ve got to believe something was seriously…

  • Meram Lost his Shirt – The Lady, the Photog or an Inside Job?

    Good stuff in the Daily today.  Apparently in the aftermath of Justin Meram’s shirtless body surf in the student section following last week’s overtime triumph over Central Florida, the senior forward lost his jersey. You’ve probably already seen this shot from last Sunday:   You are all suspects.  And you’re all suspect. I witnessed a little bit of the aftermath after Meram walked back onto the field.  I remember him asking for the jersey back.  Here’s a horrible photo, the second to last I took, of Meram walking back to the students to find his shirt: Here’s the last shot I had in the camera, apparently Meram giving up or seeing if someone had it back on the bench by this time: The lady in yellow seems suspiciously aware of the shirt situation, and even found a shirt, just not the one Meram was looking for.  The old bait and switch?   And the dude in the black Members Only jacket with his hands in his pockets is little too casual for a crime scene if you ask me.  I did find this shot of a jersey during the melee’, unconfirmed if it’s Meram’s.  It appears as though it’s one of Meram’s teammates – is this an inside job? I also caught longtime Michigan photographer Per Kjeldsen packing his bag: What’s…