All Hail - Juwan Howard? Could It Happen?

I was a huge Fab 5 fan.  When we, Michigan Fans, believed that it was Steve Fisher that managed to land the Fab 5 of Juwan Howard, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson, I think all thought that Fisher was a genius recruiter and that Michigan had to potential to be in the National Title search for 3 or even possibly 4 seasons! We believed it so much that a bunch of us (loyal readers and slappies TJH, TMcD and others hopped in a Chevy Astro and drove to the Final Four in Minneapolis in 1992. 

That’s how much we believed.   

What we eventually came to learn was that when Mitch Albom authored “Fab Five” in 1993,  Brian Dutcher played a HUGE ROLE in getting the “key” player in that group to Michigan.  Dutcher realized that if he could get the first domino to fall, the rest would follow.  And Dutcher knew exactly who that was:

Juwan Howard

Juwan was the key as he was the most mature and Dutcher knew that Juwan would assist in recruiting the rest of the Fab 5.  Dutcher paid more attention to him than any of the other 4.  He ate at Juwan’s Grandma’s house.  Had fried greens for the first time.  When Juwan came to Michigan’s Hoops Camp, Dutcher made sure Jimmy King attended Michigan’s Camp at the same time and made them roommates.    Dutcher knew that Howard was the most important piece. 

And Guess what?   Juwan signed first.  If you don’t remember or need to recall, read the first couple of chapters for free on Amazon…

https://www.amazon.com/Fab-Five-Basketball-Trash-American/dp/0446517348

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And right after Juwan signed, Jimmy King followed.   And Ray Jackson soon followed after that.   However, it wasn’t until those three worked on Webber and Rose for a couple of months that those two decided to come along and make Michigan history as one of the greatest recruiting classes to ever go to one university.   Granted, Rose’s coach ended up on the bench at Michigan, also, sort of securing the Rose commitment.  But at the time, there was nothing illegal about that. 

But before I get to far ahead of myself and why I think Juwan would be the “Fit” Michigan is looking for:  A Defining Moment:   On the same day that Howard had signed his LOI, Juwan’s grandmother died unexpectedly and both Dutcher and Fisher showed up to her funeral a few days later.  Howard realized at that moment that Michigan was more than just a school or a university…

Michigan is Family.

So, if you’re asking me what I think about Juwan Howard, I’ll say this:  I don’t know if he can be a head coach.  I don’t have a clue (same as everyone else) as to whether or not he can recruit.  I know he came “THIS CLOSE” to winning a National Title in College.  I know he won an NBA Title with the Miami Heat and LeBron James.  And I know he was on the NBA All Star team several times and has interviewed for several NBA head coaching positions.  But he has either turned them down or they’ve turned him down for whatever reasons. 

But I can tell you this:  Juwan Howard is definitely a Michigan Man.  He still speaks highly of Michigan and the degree he earned from Ann Arbor. 

Jalen Rose seems to agree with me.  And wouldn’t it be great to see Rose as an assistant at Michigan?    I think so!!!

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/130/michigan-wolverines

At the same time, do you go with a guy with absolutely no head coaching experience but a lot of love for his alma mater?   Decisions like this can only really be summarized and judged in the sometimes long aftermath that follows this type of decision.  Nobody had a clue as to whether or not a deeply devoted Jesuit coach from WVU would be any good at Michigan.  Bill Martin decided he WOULD be good for Michigan and would get Michigan back on the map. 

Looking back, it was probably one of Bill Martin’s Greatest Decisions in all of his tenure as Michigan’s AD.   But we needed time and perspective to get to this point.  But not ever decision Bill made paid off like this one.    

Because Sailboat Bill also hired Rich Rod.  From WVU.  And that looked like a better hire, at the time, then Beilein.   And I’m pretty sure we all know exactly how that worked out.

Bottom Line:  Warde Manuel might be making a good or a bad decision with whomever he hires.  We simply won’t know until there’s time behind the decision as to whether or not it was good or bad.  And that’s all there is to it.

Make the best decision you can, support the individual and keep things moving.