Michigan Football: The No.1 Must Be Earned, Not Given

There is a long tradition with the No. 1 in the history of Michigan football. It has belonged to some of the greatest Wolverines receivers and that’s why the next wearer should have to earn it.

Every few years, a controversy about the who wears No. 1 for the Michigan football team flares up. Of course, if you are familiar with the Wolverines, than you know the number is pretty sacred.

Past greats such as Anthony Carter and Braylon Edwards, who is arguably the greatest pass catcher in the history of Michigan football after posting three consecutive 1,000 yards season and career totals of: 252 receptions, 3,541 yards and a whopping 39 touchdowns.

Edwards also helped the Wolverines to an epic win over Ohio State in 2003 to claim an outright Big Ten Championship. He was also part of a team that was co-Big Ten Champs in 2004 and went to the Rose Bowl.

Since those days, Edwards has become a central part of who wears the famed No. 1 jersey. He even has something set up with the Michigan scholarship fund for the player that dons that number for the Wolverines.

That also gives Edwards a voice about who wears the jersey and after a photo came out of incoming freshman Dylan Crawford, having the jersey, the questions started coming about whether he was worthy.

Crawford, who is an ESPN 300 recruit and a four-star wide out, definitely has a lot of potential and could be an impact player soon for Michigan football. But, the question is, should any freshman or any player that hasn’t even played a game at the Big House, be entrusted with wearing No. 1?

My answer is no.

For his part, Edwards has said that he will support whatever Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh decides to do and that’s the classy move. Edwards wants to support his school and the program in which he won so many games.

Here’s what Edwards said about the situation, via The Detroit News:

“I definitely think he understands the value of No. 1 and knows the pressure that you put on the kid that’s going to wear that jersey. I’m confident he will make the right decision and whoever he chooses to give it to will be deserving of it. And if he chooses not to give it out, that would be the right decision as well.”

Edwards also offered up some comments on the video circulating that shows Crawford with the jersey in his locker.

“He doesn’t have the jersey for sure right now,” Edwards said. “(Harbaugh) respectfully called me and talked to me asked about the situation and I said, ‘Coach, it’s on you, it’s what you want to do. I trust in you.’ I’ve known him my whole life. I used to go to Ann Arbor with my father in ’85. I’ve known Jim a long time and trust him.”

It sounds like at this point, Crawford doesn’t have the jersey and the truth is he shouldn’t. Nobody should understand the history of Michigan football better than Harbaugh and that’s why, at the end of the day, I doubt we will see Crawford wearing No. 1.

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At least, not until the day that he’s earned it.

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