Dave Portnoy Picks His All-Time Michigan Football Team On 'Joel Klatt Live Show'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}If you invite a die-hard Michigan fan to a live show and give him the chance to build his all-time Wolverines football team, you better be ready for some debate.
Dave Portnoy, one of Michigan's most passionate — and outspoken — fans, was given that opportunity Thursday during a special live edition of "The Joel Klatt Show" in Ann Arbor ahead of Saturday's showdown between Michigan and Oklahoma (noon ET, FOX).
Klatt asked Portnoy to select an all-time Michigan team consisting of a quarterback, running back, two wide receivers and one defensive player. Portnoy selected a recent national champion at quarterback, a legendary running back, two of the program's most dynamic receivers and perhaps the greatest player in school history on defense.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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’re saying you need a QB for the NFL, it’s [Tom] Brady, clearly. But [McCarthy's] record was 27-1 as a starter. You gotta remember, before he came here, we couldn’t beat Ohio State. He turned the whole program around. Michigan was down, and when McCarthy came in, everything turned.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I wanted Jim Harbaugh gone. … Every year we were getting drummed [by Ohio State]. There were some down years. But, McCarthy’s record, him winning the national championship. … I don’t know how anybody could say anybody but him."
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 had 313 yards against Ohio State, which was the No. 2 team in the country at the time and undefeated. He made them look bad. I loved Biakabutuka. I had a crush on Biakabutuka."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Portnoy’s thoughts: "You could argue Aidan Hutchinson. There’s that clip of him just taking the Ohio State lineman and just throwing him into the fourth row. But, yeah, it’s gotta be Woodson."