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18th MMM Player since ’90: #9 Mercury Hayes
This post is part of a little August series on the 20 Most Memorable Michigan players of the past twenty years – basically going back to 1990. Don’t forget my friends, these are my memories…and beef if you must once we start getting down to the wire and you sense an oncoming omission. Previously: (20) Chris Floyd, (19) Marquise Walker.
#9 Mercury Hayes
1992-1995
Position: Wide Receiver / Kick Returner
Hometown: Houston, TX
Career Stats: 124 receptions, 2,144 yds, 12TDs
Hayes came to Michigan by way of Houston – and was recruited by Colorado, Florida State, USC, and Arkansas. Hayes was a four-year player that spanned the QB eras of Elvis Grbac, Todd Collins, Scott Driesbach, and Brian Griese. Is that not a decade of Michigan quarterbacks right there?
First Play That Comes to Mind
Big number nine came through Ann Arbor just as I was in that ten to twelve years old range. At the time, I’m sure I had no real perspective or understanding around what the Michigan football program was going though in losing Head Coach Gary Moeller that off season. At the time, Moeller was earning a $130,000 salary as the head coach. Needless to say, coaches be makin’ a little more scratch than that these days.So as the story goes, me the kid is upset that Virginia is pitching a shutout as the 4th quarter starts. Meanwhile, the entire Michigan fan base is mired in this extended scene of drama that began with the episode that led to Gary Moeller’s resignation and Lloyd Carr’s interim status as the head coach.
There was a lot riding in this game. A forgotten tumultuous time for the program.
This was a tone-setter for that 1995 season – not coming back from 17 down wouldn’t have set up for a pleasant week two in Carr’s coaching career. Michigan makes the comeback and is faced with an opportunity at the end of the game. Saying it was an opportunity is being mad generous too.
Michigan has one play left in the game, it happened to be a 4th & 10 with four seconds left from about the 15 yard-line…. Roll the tape…
That was sweeeeeet. That call totally could have went either way. And to think – there was no challenge, no question once those referee arms were raised up high.
On Deck?
Who is going to be #17? In the decade of the ’90′s, his 90-yard touchdown reception stood as the longest completion in Michigan history until it was surpassed by Mario Manningham’s 97-yard TD against Wisconsin in 2007.
Photo cred goes to Spawn of Mzone.
