Though many have donned the maize and blue for Michigan, there is one piece of apparel that does not come with enrollment in the university or even a spot on an athletic team.
It is reserved for an exclusive group of athletes whose talent makes Ann Arbor nothing more than a pit stop on the road to greatness. The Wolverine football team has seemingly produced more NFL players than any school outside of Florida, Texas or Indiana (thanks to the Irish)-from a guy with a great name (Tshimanga Biakabutuka) to a guy with one career-defining game (Desmond Howard).
But not even defensive Heisman winners (Charles Woodson) or Super Bowl MVPs (Howard, Tom Brady) can wear the sacred No. 1 jersey. Only receivers-and exceptional ones at that-can lay claim to such an honor.
Standouts at wideout may be fond of their number in high school-the number scouts had to watch for when they were tearing up the pre-pubescent competition-but any numeral affinity is out the window when Michigan's No. 1 is in reach. It does not matter if their gold necklace or tattoo has the No. 81 because it was their dad's number when he played for the Cowboys.
The No. 1 jersey first became exalted when Michigan's long-time career leader in any important receiving category, Anthony Carter, chose to wear it in 1979. Over the next four years he racked up 161 catches, 3,076 yards and 37 TDs. Those records would fall 23 years later to the son of Carter's former teammate Stan Edwards. The young man's name: Braylon. He would also be awarded the No. 1 jersey-deservedly so-and finish his career with a school record 252 catches, 3,541 yards and 39 TDs. Edwards is now a rookie with the National Football League's Cleveland Browns.
\My father played with Anthony Carter and always talked about how good A.C. was,"" Edwards said. ""My father told me that Anthony was the best receiver in Michigan history and in college football history. I grew up hearing that my whole life and it was motivation for me to try to break his records and put my name in front of his in the record books.
""Personally, it was important for me to wear No. 1 and to be successful,"" Edwards added.
Ever since the No. 1 took on the meaning it has today-a playmaker worthy of the hype and capable of leading Michigan's annual run for the Roses-such players as Greg McMurtry, Derrick Alexander and David Terrell have been given the distinct symbol of leadership and excellence. All of them finished with at least 1,900 yards and 15 touchdowns for their careers, with one blip on the radar screen; a receiver named Tyrone Butterfield who played two years and caught four balls for 68 yards and no TDs.
This year, the No. 1 is noticeably absent from Michigan's roster, which raises some eyebrows because the coaching staff has two highly touted receivers in Steve Breaston and Jason Avant, whom they decided were not worthy of the loneliest number. In this Saturday's match-up, the team with the No. 1 receiver is Wisconsin. Senior Brandon Williams began his career with No. 25 but took the No. 1 last year.
""The reason why I chose No. 1 is because I felt like I was going to be that No. 1 guy, and I wanted to put myself in that position mentally as well as physically,"" Williams said, he leads the Badgers in receptions and receiving yards in this young season.
Badger coaches do not award the No. 1; it can simply be chosen because there is no tradition of excellence associated with any one number-yet.
""I just wanted to put it out there that I'm trying to be the leader in the receiving corps, so I thought it would be fitting to take the No. 1,"" Williams said.
If Williams continues as the lethal punt-returner and reliable receiver he has been thus far, he could be starting a tradition here at UW. After all, Michigan has a ""1"" in the loss column and not on the field. If Williams has anything to say about it, his number will only resemble his team's year-end ranking.
