Favorite Michigan QB of All-Time?

Who ya got?

Got a lot of old-timers here (haha jk), so I expect so see some Wrangler and Leach votes.

Speaking of Leach, where the heck is BOLEACH??

I'll have to go with my (aged/scar-tissue-laced) heart, Admin...and my actual time as an undergrad on campus. DENNIS FRANKLIN.

I've already described him on and off the field and off a.i., a.n., so won't again unless specifically asked.

Of course there were subsequent QBs who are more accomplished on the field, both at U-M and later in the NFL. But you stipulated "Favorite".

Exactly, that's what I'm looking for. Hell, someone's favorite could be Navarre. I don't care. Just curious.

I'll have to go with either Brady or Shoelace.

I started *seriously* following UofM in '96, at age 9. So I've only got Dreisbach, Griese, Brady, Henson, Navarre, Henne, the jokers in '08, Tate and Shoelace to pick from.

I'll go with #16 (the #16 with dreads, that is). If Brady would have gotten more time on the field, it would probably be him.

Well, Navarre DID get us our last win over that school down south, until your No.16 did last November.

Considering the accomplishments (for U-M) of Griese, Brady and Henson, your list alone makes for a tough choice. Last season's accomplishments would push Denard to the top for me, too, I'd think...along with his apparent (and, I'm convinced, genuine) devotion to all things Michigan (witness his presence in the Maize Rage...while never parting ways with that infectious smile).

Exactly. Brady's Orange Bowl was huge. Obviously, Griese will always have a special place in the hearts of all Michigan fans. But each of those qb's we only got 1-2 years out of really.

We've literally watched DR grow up in front of us for four years. His smile is magnetic. His athleticism is mesmerizing. His passion for UofM is intoxicating.

He's my favorite. I just talked myself through it.

Brady is a close, and I mean CLOSE, second.

Jim Harbaugh. I was in High School when he was the UM QB. Everybody trying out for QB on our Freshmen team wanted to be #4. The best QB in camp ended up moving up to Varsity after 1 game. He was clearly better than who was playing on the varsity team at the time. He was a good friend of mine, I was a center at the time, and he was bumed about having to wear #11 on varsity because a senior had #4.

JH should have won a Heisman in 1986, but Vinny Testaverde won because his team was so good.

GOD, that's hard. I can't choose just one. That would be like choosing your favorite child. Not that I have children but you see where I'm going here.

If I were a mad scientist and I was making the perfect Michigan QB, I'd combine Denard's speed/mobility (and personality) with Tom Brady's leadership and accuracy (the 4th QR comeback king) and Drew Henson's arm. Henson's passes were a thing of beauty, lazers right on target. Maybe I'd add Jim Harbaugh's confidence (we WILL beat Ohio State). But he had other talents too...O.K., even this is hard.

Adding my two cents about Navarre, I always liked the guy. He worked his ass off and he couldn't have come across like a nicer guy in all the interviews I ever saw of him. But I always felt sorry for him. I remember hearing fans around me groan and moan every time he came up under center even during spring games. He always handled it with class, though. Throwing 72 touchdowns wasn't so bad either.

I spent a lot of time defended Navarre on the mlive forum back then. Wow, has that forum really been around that long?

I would get beat up daily for defending the guy, but I really believe he performed above his abilities. I mean he made it to the NFL. Who would have thought that.

You are right WH, Navarre was a class act from day one. Thrown into a starting roll his RS Frosh year that he clearly wasn't ready for, then handed the keys to the offense the next year because Henson left.

Really, Navarre should not have seen the field until his RS JR year. And, if Henson had stayed, Navarre, without the benefit of being the incumbant, may have not started over Matt Gutierrez, who knows.

MLive has been around a LONG time. I started posting there in 1999 when you didn't even have to sign in with a user name to post a message. You just typed in a screen name every time. I remember the insane number of OSU fans coming to start fights even though John Cooper was still their head coach at the time. And how they all vanished after Henson tore them apart in Columbus.

Back to Navarre, I went to the Minnesota game last Fall and he was there being interviewed for the crowd and they showed highlights of the comeback he led against the Gophers in '03. I was kind of relieved when the crowd cheered for him afterwards.

I think I started posting on MLive in 2003 I think. IT seems longer ago than that.

I had been playing basketball and performed a 360 dunk (ok maybe it was a reverse layup) and came down awkwardly breaking my heel.

So I was laid up for about 3 months in the fall.

I remember some of my first posts were about the Michigan/ND rivalry and what it meant to me since I was born and raised 40 miles from South Bend.

It was also that same Autumn I shared a ditty on the forum anmed "The Ballad of Jim Tressel" (this was BEFORE he started kicking our asses every year!) I "wrote" it the week leading up to our game. It was hilarious because that year some player from OSU did something really stupid almost every single day that year.

I sure wish I had kept copies of that "song". I had to re-post it several times for people yet never kept track of it.

Oh, and my favorite QB is Rick Leach.

Mainly because I grew up hearing "Ufe" saying "2 Tight Ends with a balanced line. Ricky "The Peach" Leach under center".......

The Guts and Glue of the Maize and Blue Ricky "The Peach" Leach

Joe, I also remember a "regular" feature of yours back in the day, the weekly adaptation (geared to our prior game's opponent) of the ballad of "The Beverly Hillbillies".

But, yes, the forum was started around 1998 by ex-AA News sports anchor Jim Cnockaert. Always liked his commentaries which he'd add time-to-time, based on issues we posters would raise.

Yep, The Ballad of Jim Tressel was to the Beverly Hillbillies.

Also remember cnockaert. And remember him being there one day and "poof" gone the next.

Lotta rumors about it but I don't know that any actual truth came out about his "resignation."

In those days that forum was similar to this forum now. A great place to discuss and ask and tell things amongst Michigan fans. Screw the rest of them.

THEstjoemfan wrote:

I think I started posting on MLive in 2003 I think. IT seems longer ago than that.

I had been playing basketball and performed a 360 dunk (ok maybe it was a reverse layup) and came down awkwardly breaking my heel.

So I was laid up for about 3 months in the fall.

I remember some of my first posts were about the Michigan/ND rivalry and what it meant to me since I was born and raised 40 miles from South Bend.

It was also that same Autumn I shared a ditty on the forum anmed "The Ballad of Jim Tressel" (this was BEFORE he started kicking our asses every year!) I "wrote" it the week leading up to our game. It was hilarious because that year some player from OSU did something really stupid almost every single day that year.

I sure wish I had kept copies of that "song". I had to re-post it several times for people yet never kept track of it.

40 miles from South Bend? That couldn't have been easy.

I'm drawing a blank on 'The Ballad of Jim Tressel.' I think that may have been around the time I left MLive and went to rivals.com. But I was posting on both for about a year and I remember you, fish and Mike of course.

I can't believe how much I used to like arguing with rival fans in those days. I remember celebrating the 2000 OSU win there and I remember gushing over Marquise Walker's TD catch against Iowa with Mike. Those were good times.

I really don't have a favorite Michigan QB. I typically look at QB's as prima donna's (even though they aren't unless your name is Troy). I guess since you stated "favorite" as michmike aptly pointed out, I guess I'd have to say Navarre as he was the QB during my time at Michigan. I met him a couple of times, nice guy. Didn't seem like he could think his way out of a paper-bag but he was a very nice guy. In fact, one memory that sticks in my mind about Navarre (which isn't even Football related) was him having to duck while walking to the bathroom in The Brown Jug. Something about that just cracked me up. even does this day. Come to think of it, I can't recall ever seeing any bouncey-ball players in there. I did see Tim Hardaway Jr. (I think) in Ponchero's a couple of weeks ago.

don morehead, qb of 1969's greatest upset win ever....ripley couldn't have written it any better!-rosebowl bound meechigan 24, stunned and bewildered ohio state 12! (thanks ufe!).

bluebult56 wrote:

don morehead, qb of 1969's greatest upset win ever....ripley couldn't have written it any better!-rosebowl bound meechigan 24, stunned and bewildered ohio state 12! (thanks ufe!).

Don Moorhead was my step-nephew's gym teacher at Paw-Paw High School until he retired last year. He said he would have autographed a picture for me if I could find one...which I couldn't. Maybe if my nephew would have told me sooner who his teacher was I could have come up with a photo.

always wondered what became of him....great memories...

bluebult56 wrote:

don morehead, qb of 1969's greatest upset win ever..

Think he did?

WolverineHistorian wrote:

bluebult56 wrote:

don morehead, qb of 1969's greatest upset win ever....ripley couldn't have written it any better!-rosebowl bound meechigan 24, stunned and bewildered ohio state 12! (thanks ufe!).

Don Moorhead was my step-nephew's gym teacher at Paw-Paw High School until he retired last year. He said he would have autographed a picture for me if I could find one...which I couldn't. Maybe if my nephew would have told me sooner who his teacher was I could have come up with a photo.

Right down the road from me.

I always thought that he was a Porn-star with that name...

WolverineHistorian wrote:

40 miles from South Bend? That couldn't have been easy.

Unfortunately I've got Joe beat in that department. Grew up 17 miles away from Notre Dame stadium, door to parking lot. Close enough that on home football weekends, all of the restaurants around my house were topped off with ND fans, as well as all of the hotels.

And I was in Indiana, unlike Joe, so no Michigan fans mixed in whatsoever.

Ugly, man. Ugly.

Oh yeah, I crossed the State Line and it was like going into freakin Ireland man!

Shitrocks, I mean Shamrocks EVERYWHERE!!!!

People that think they will go to heaven just because they root for Notre Dame amuse me...

2ndComingOfBo wrote:

People that think they will go to heaven just because they root for Notre Dame amuse me...

I've never heard that line, but I love it.

Pardon me if I have to borrow that one in six months.

I want cited each and every time you use it....

I've actually never heard anyone say that either.

You guys lead pretty secluded lives, well that and I just made it up...

2ndComingOfBo wrote:

I want cited each and every time you use it....

Absolutely.

Do I get royalties as well?