Invite a die-hard Michigan fan to a live broadcast and hand him the reins of building an all-time Wolverines football roster, and you’re bound to spark a passionate discussion.
Dave Portnoy, one of Michigan’s most devoted and vocal supporters, was handed exactly that challenge Thursday during a special live edition of “The Joel Klatt Show” in Ann Arbor, ahead of Saturday’s matchup between Michigan and Oklahoma (noon ET, FOX).
Klatt tasked Portnoy with assembling an all-time Michigan team featuring a quarterback, running back, two wide receivers, and one defensive standout. Portnoy chose a recent national champion under center, a legendary rusher, two of the most electrifying receivers in program history, and what many consider the greatest defensive player ever to wear the maize and blue.
Here’s who made Portnoy’s all-time Michigan team:
Career stats: 482-of-713 passing (67.6%) for 6,226 passing yards, 49 passing TDs, and 11 INTs; 161 carries for 632 rushing yards and 10 rushing TDs.
Portnoy’s thoughts: “To me, it’s a no-brainer. It’s not even close. If you need a QB who can play in the NFL, it’s [Tom] Brady, clearly. But [McCarthy’s] record was 27-1 as a starter. You have to remember, before he arrived, we couldn’t beat Ohio State. He turned the entire program around. Michigan was in the dumps, and once McCarthy stepped in, everything changed.
“I wanted Jim Harbaugh gone. Every year we were getting hammered by Ohio State. There were some rough stretches. But McCarthy’s record, his national championship — I don’t know how anyone could pick anybody else.”
Career stats: 434 carries, 2,624 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns, 12 receptions, 121 receiving yards.
Portnoy’s thoughts: “I’m going with Biakabutuka. He ran for 313 yards against Ohio State, which was the No. 2 team in the country at the time and undefeated. He embarrassed them. I loved Biakabutuka. I had a crush on Biakabutuka.”
Career stats: Howard: 134 receptions for 2,146 receiving yards (16.0 YPR) and 32 receiving TDs; 23 rushes for 249 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs; 45 kickoff returns for 1,211 yards and 2 TDs; 26 punt returns for 337 yards and 1 TD.
Carter: 161 receptions for 3,076 receiving yards (19.1 YPR) and 37 receiving TDs; 36 rushes for 213 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD; 79 punt returns for 907 yards and 2 TDs; 63 kickoff returns for 1,606 yards (40 total touchdowns).
Portnoy’s thoughts: “I want Desmond [Howard] and Anthony Carter. I’m down with that.”
Career stats: 21 receptions, 370 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs, 167 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 16 interceptions.
Portnoy’s thoughts: “You could argue Aidan Hutchinson. There’s that clip of him picking up an Ohio State lineman and launching him into the fourth row. But yeah, it has to be Woodson.”
