The list of greats goes on and on for Michigan football.
The Block M is a global brand that has over a century of success on and off the football field. While some mantras and traditions have been set in stone throughout the illustrious history of football in Ann Arbor, there is no way that players have been formally recognized for their feats as a member of the Michigan Wolverines .
“The Team, The Team, The Team” is excellent and should be the main focus on the field for players and coaches. But after accomplishments like what Team 145 had winning the National Championship, players deserve to be more than a memory at The Big House and in the surrounding facilities.
Last week, Maize n Brew published a piece about potential player statues outside of Michigan Stadium. It would be nice to have something like that, but it feels like it’s something so far outside of the realm of possibility, despite how awesome it would be.
As we progress towards the NIL era of college sports, however, it feels like honoring players is going to become more common, even at the most historic of stadiums and facilities. Some people in the comments of the aforementioned story recommended a ring of honor on the facade of the Big House. It’s something that has been done in other historic stadiums at both the collegiate and NFL levels, so it would probably make a little more sense.
However, I’d like to propose a slightly more modified idea that has been more common in the NFL: The Michigan Football Hall of Fame.
The athletics department has something similar to this in place with the Hall of Honor. According to their website:
The University of Michigan Hall of Honor was established in 1978 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions as athletes, coaches and administrators to the tradition of Wolverine athletics and, in doing so, have enhanced the image and reputation of the University of Michigan.
Those inducted into the Hall of Honor have earned All-America recognition in a team or individual sport or, as individuals have established an NCAA, American or World record; won an NCAA title, or made significant contributions to the Michigan Athletic Department as a coach or administrator.
The structure for this idea, however, would only be surrounding the football program and would be mostly stolen from the Green Bay Packers . They have a Hall of Fame that is a separate entity from the football franchise that is a museum that opened in the Lambeau Field atrium in 2015, but its original date goes back to the 1960s.
Here’s how it would work. Michigan’s NIL program and partners would spearhead the start of this project and museum just outside of the Big House where the M Den usually sets up its tents on gameday, and will definitely need some additional space outside of that.
Exhibits inside can go through the eras of Michigan Football, highlighting key moments, Big Ten Championships, players, equipment, memorabilia, and more. There would be a room for each major timeframe in the team’s history:
- The first-ever Michigan Football game in 1870, teaching Notre Dame football, the rivalry with Chicago, and the creation of “The Victors,” the 1902 Rose Bowl
- The Fielding Yost era, the “Point-a-Minute” teams, the independent years, and WWI’s impact
- The 30s and 40s: Michigan joins the Big Ten, the Harry Kipke era, Michigan’s first Heisman Trophy winner (Tom Herman)
- Fritz Crisler’s National Championship heading into the Bennie Oosterbaan era
- The Bo Schembechler years, all of his mottos, winning the first Rose Bowl since 1965 over Washington, Anthony Carter, and intro to Jim Harbaugh
- Desmond Howard winning Michigan’s second Heisman Trophy, an Elvis Grabac mention, heading into the Lloyd Carr era, and the intro to Charles Woodson
- Leading into the 1997 National Championship, the Chad Henne/Mike Hart run with Ohio State/Michigan meeting in 2006 as the top two teams in the country
- Finally the early 2000s to today — Denard Robinson highlights, Jabrill Peppers, the Revenge Tour, Aidan Hutchinson, Blake Corum, J.J. McCarthy, and Jim Harbaugh leading the Wolverines to a national championship.
(These are all brief synopses, obviously, there would be many more players and moments in each exhibit)
After the exhibits would come the Victors Valliant Wall — listing every Michigan football player and coach to win a national championship on maize stickers, similar to what is on the back of the Michigan helmets today.
Then, the Hall of Heisman’s, a room dedicated specifically to Tom Harmon, Desmond Howard, and Charles Woodson. In it would be a wall that constantly played highlights from the three and replicas of their Heisman Trophies would be on display (if not gifted by the players). There would be statues of each player in the room for photos for fans and attendees.
Next would be the Chamber of Conquerors displaying the different All-Americans and award winners outside of the Heisman winners, along with a statue of Blake Corum at the center of the room.
Last but not least, the Hall of Fame: listing each Michigan player, announcer, and coach who has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame or player who has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As part of high-end NIL packages, members of the museum and players in the hall would vote on a class each year who could be inducted.
Of course, it would conclude with a gift shop and area for fans to purchase merchandise indoors for gameday events at the Crisler Center or the Big House. All museum-specific proceeds would go towards the football NIL program with portions going to other sports. Gameday and Michigan-specific items would go towards the M Den and thus the athletics department.
NIL programs at Michigan could also levy special events, autograph signings, special exhibits, speakers, and more at the facilities for even further proceeds towards the NIL.