The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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4 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2023 WHERE'S WILLIE HESTON? Willie Heston has been mentioned as having scored 72+ TDs for Michigan [from 1901-04], yet you continue to list others without him. Why are you not mentioning the REAL leader under ALL- TIME scorers? Ken Heston via email Mr. Heston, as we have tracked senior running back Blake Corum's march on the Michigan career rushing touchdown list, we simply have defaulted to what the U-M athletic communications team has published as its "modern records" (since the late 1930s). Including games that predate the modern era, Michigan does recognize Willie Heston as the all-time leader with 72 TDs, but as you probably well know, that number is a matter of some contention. The great Fielding H. Yost himself sent a letter to Grant- land Rice in 1925 attesting that Heston had scored 106 TDs at Michigan. But the NCAA and Michigan recognize Heston for having "only" 72 touchdowns in his career, including his high-water mark of 21 (also a pre-modern record) in his senior year of 1904. Following the win at Penn State, Corum now has 18 touchdowns this season (tied for third in the modern era, well within striking distance of Hassan Haskins' 20 in 2021) and 37 career rushing TDs (second in the modern era). As of Nov. 12, here is the all-time list of U-M rushing touchdown leaders, including No. 1 — who we pre- sume is a relative of yours from the pre-modern era: 1. Willie Heston (1901-04) 72 2. Anthony Thomas (1997-00) 55 3. Tyrone Wheatley (1991-94) 47 4. Denard Robinson (2009-12) 42 5. Mike Hart (2004-07) 41 6. Chris Perry (2000-03) 39 7. Blake Corum (2020-present) 37 KENNETH GRANT! Obviously, it's been discussed significantly, but Ken- neth Grant ran 30 freaking yards down the field on that play in pursuit [catching Penn State running back Kaytron Allen from behind]. Not only does it speak to him (both effort, ath- leticism and the work to get his body in shape to do that), but the defensive attitude as a whole (and the benefit of us being able to rotate so many people among the defensive front to keep everyone fresh) Crazy! Grant is definitely a freak athlete for his size [340 pounds]. TheVanBurenBoys It feels like we're trying to get Blake Corum the TD record in the last few games. But man, if Grant can carry the ball, I'd love to see him get a chance to be "Hammering Panda II" in a goal-line situation and flatten a few opposing defenders. BlueSwede94 To me, this isn't as much about his speed (as im- pressive as it is) but more about his desire and refusal to give up on the play. The real question should be "how many interior defensive linemen would have made this continued effort to get downfield to affect the play?" VERY FEW! Nov22-1969 RUNNING IT 32 CONSECUTIVE TIMES IS A THING OF BEAUTY That's the story of this [Penn State] game. Now, that's what I call tough, cryin' Ryan. Acorn I loved it … impose our will. ColKilgore Bo in his skybox enjoyed the hell out of that! bluestud How happy would we all be if the same played out on the 25th? The city of Columbus would implode. TampaBayWolf December 2023 • Vol. 35, No. 6 ISSN 1048-9940 Editor John Borton TheWolverine.com Editor Chris Balas Football Recruiting Editor EJ Holland Staff Writers Clayton Sayfie Anthony Broome Zach Libby Drew Hallett Contributing Editors Stu Coman Matt Herb Cathy Jones Chris Riffer Steve Downey Layout And Design Jeanette Blankenship Chris Miller Contributing Photographers Lon Horwedel Per Kjeldsen Cover Photo Lon Horwedel Publisher Mark Panus Business Manager Linda Autry Circulation Manager Crystal Clayton Advertising Sales Maria Taustine (502) 552-4390 Customer Service Cathy Jones (800) 421-7751 The Wolverine is published monthly. A one-year (12 issues) subscription is $69.99. The Wolverine is printed at The Papers in Milford, Ind. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Wolverine, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702. Periodical postage paid at Durham, NC 27702 and additional offices. For advertising or subscription information, call 1-800-421-7751 or write The Wolverine, P.O. Box 2331, Durham, NC 27702. The Wolverine is a publication of Coman Publishing Company, 905 W. Main St., Suite 24F, Durham, NC 27701. E-Mail Address: thewolverine@comanpub.com Subscription questions: cjones@comanpub.com Website: www.thewolverineondemand.com ❱ Be Heard! Send your letters to: Wolverine Letters P.O. Box 2331 Durham, NC 27702 Or email: mark.panus@on3.com Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Letters & From Our Website: TheWolverine.com JOIN THE CONVERSATION! New subscribers get 25% off your first year! Use Promo Code GoBlue2023 Willie Heston was the third Michigan player to be named to an All-America team and the first one to be chosen by the esteemed Walter Camp. He played on Fielding Yost's "point-a-minute" teams, and from 1901-04 he scored 72 rushing touch- downs — still an all-time U-M record. PHOTO COURTESY BENTLEY HISTORICAL LIBRARY