Michigan is hoping that Jim Harbaugh can return the football program back to its former greatness while also helping to forget the struggles of the recent past. In that vein, a previous attempt to link to the Wolverines' great history is being scrapped.
The school announced Tuesday, per Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press, that it was doing away with its "Legends" jersey program. The program made it possible the last four seasons for Michigan players to wear a series of uniform numbers that had been previously retired.
Former athletic director Dave Brandon unretired numbers 11, 47, 48, 87 and 98 during the 2011 season, but those five (along with the No. 21 that Heisman winner Desmond Howard donned in the early 1990s) are now off-limits.
All six numbers will be formally retired at a ceremony during the Nov. 28 game against rival Ohio State, according to a news release issued by the school.
Interim AD Jim Hackett said the issue of wearing those uniform numbers came up when he met with players during the coaching search process, prompting a review of Brandon's program.
"At one end of the spectrum they are awed by the legacy of the men that 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," Hackett said, per the release.
"I brought this issue to our new head coach Jim Harbaugh. He agreed with me that it needed a review."
Last season, quarterback Devin Gardner wore the No. 98 made famous by Tom Harmon, who played halfback for the Wolverines from 1938-40. Linebacker Jake Ryan wore No. 47, previously worn by three-time All-American Bennie Oosterbaan, while linebacker Desmond Morgan donned the No. 48 jersey that former President Gerald Ford wore while playing for Michigan in the 1930s.
Morgan, a fifth-year senior, will shift to a new number for this season, according to Snyder.
All told, 10 different players wore Legends numbers between 2011-14, per Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com.
Once retired, the jerseys will be displayed prominently in Towsley Museum, which is connected to Schembechler Hall.
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