Usually I tend to stick with one topic for an article, but I'm going to branch out tonight and touch on multiple topics.
1a. Gerald Ford's #48 is a retired number. Save for MLB and every player wearing Jackie Robinson's No. 42, I don't think I've ever heard of any team, in any sport, un-retiring a number for this purpose. I've agreed with most decisions that Hoke has made so far, but I can't agree with this one.1. I know my colleague wrote about Brady Hoke's comments about bringing back the No. 48 jersey, for whatever reason, here. While I do agree with what he says, I want to emphasize a couple things.
1b. It's President Gerald Ford. Now, I support every retired number Michigan has, and I think there should be a couple more. Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson for example. But, President Ford holds a hallowed space in Michigan lore for being the President. No other player in the Big Ten has been able to say that, and unless Tom Brady decides to run for prez when he's done with the NFL, I don't see it happening again. I gotta say it would help having Gisele Bundchen as a First Lady---we would be the envy of other countries in that aspect.
1c. I know the football off season is long, both college and pro, but please stop putting emphasis on what number a certain player is going to wear. I know in the age of media now things can become blown up a lot faster than they used to, but does it really matter outside of who might wear the No. 1? Not really.