Michigan ends 'Legends' jersey program, will retire six numbers
Michigan is putting an end to its “Legends” jersey program.
The Wolverines athletic department announced Tuesday that it will no longer allow current players to wear the jersey numbers of players dubbed the “Michigan Football Legends:” Gerald Ford (No. 48), Tom Harmon (No. 98), Desmond Howard (No. 21), Ron Kramer (No. 87), Bennie Oosterbaan (No. 47) and Albert, Alvin and Whitey Wistert (No. 11).
Each of those jerseys will be retired in a ceremony during the Wolverines’ Nov. 28 contest against rival Ohio State.
Michigan interim athetic director Jim Hackett said the decision was reached after meeting with the current team and first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh.
"During the search process for our new football coach, I had a meeting with the Michigan Football team, and they expressed their feelings associated with wearing these legendary jerseys," Hackett said. "At one end of the spectrum they are awed by the legacy of the men who wore them, and at the other end of the spectrum, and as part of a team sport, they wondered why we would call attention to one of our team members.
“I brought this issue to our new head coach Jim Harbaugh. He agreed with me that it needed a review. I then talked to the families of these great Michigan players. I called them directly and laid out the paradox of seeing players as a team and the due respect to these individual great players.”
Hackett said that each jersey will be displayed in Towsley Museum, which is connected to Schembechler Hall.
"Because we don't have the display area inside the stadium, we have found an area on the concourse where fans can see and honor these retired jerseys,” Hackett said.
As part of this decision, the athletic department will also officially retire Howard’s No. 21 jersey. Howard, who currently serves as an analyst for ESPN, won the 1991 Heisman Trophy.
The Legends program began under the watch of former Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon in 2011. It started with Howard’s No. 21 before former head coach Brady Hoke selected other players to wear other retired numbers.
In all, per Mlive.com, 10 players switched to Legends uniforms:
Junior Hemingway – No. 21 in 2011
Roy Roundtree – No. 21 in 2012
Brandon Moore – No. 87 in 2012
Jake Ryan – No. 47 in 2012
Desmond Morgan – No. 48 in 2012
Jordan Kovacs – No. 11 in 2012
Jeremy Gallon – No. 21 in 2013
Devin Funchess – No. 87 in 2013
Courtney Avery – No. 11 in 2013
Devin Gardner – No. 98 in 2013
Because of the decision, Morgan, a fifth-year senior linebacker, will be forced to change his uniform number.
For more Michigan news, visit TheWolverine.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
