Michigan is one of the greatest programs in all of college football. Throughout their history, they’ve had many great quarterbacks. Tom Brady, John Navarre, Brian Griese, Denard Robinson, all great Michigan quarterbacks. But there’s one that stands out to me more than the others. Chad Henne is the greatest to ever play quarterback for the University of Michigan.
As a Spartan fan, I try not to discuss this. When I was younger and dumber, I liked Michigan. Somewhere in a dusty photo book, there’s a picture of me in a Chad Henne jersey. There’s also a photo of my father and I at a Michigan football game. I’m wearing a Michael Hart jersey. This was about the time that I really fell in love with college football. It was an autumn day in October of 2006. Michigan was hosting Michigan State. The Tigers were on their way to the ALCS. And Chad Henne was the quarterback of the Michigan Wolverines.
That day, John L. Smith’s Spartans were absolutely dismantled by a smarter, more disciplined and more athletic Michigan team. It would be one of a myriad of things that got John L. Smith fired. I remember Michigan having a big day through the air that day. Except, they didn’t throw the ball much. Henne went 11-17 for 140 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Henne didn’t need to do much. But he was great that day, and I was a fan.
What made him good?
In today’s college football, we expect much more from our quarterbacks than we did a decade ago. Quarterbacks today operate like point guards; facilitating an offensive machine predicated upon their ability to distribute the ball in a timely manner while also making split-second decisions in the run game. Quarterbacks of Henne’s time simply weren’t asked to do as much as they are today.
Chad Henne was your prototypical pocket passer, a gunslinger in the waning days of the one-dimensional quarterback. But man, could he sling it. Everything from his footwork to his release was beautiful. The best part of his game might have been his vision. He constantly climbed up in the pocket and either found the open guy or threw someone open.
A four-year starter for the Wolverines, Henne’s time at Michigan is marred by some of the lowest points in Michigan history (that is, before Rich Rod & Brady Hoke). Four straight losses to Ohio State, the loss to Appalachian State. But overall, he was one of the constant positives for some very good Michigan teams that notoriously underachieved.
Best Moments
Vs Michigan State, 2004
As a Freshman, Chad Henne got an early chance to win over the Michigan faithful against hated in-state rival Michigan State.
He took that opportunity and ran with it, throwing for 273 yards and four touchdowns.
2005 Rose Bowl vs Texas
The 91st Rose Bowl marked the first time that a Big Ten team would not face a team from the PAC-10, ever. Continuing with the theme of firsts, it would also be the first time that Michigan and Texas would meet for a football game.
Henne was magnificent. But he wasn’t the story of the day. Texas legend Vince Young had one of the best performances in Rose Bowl history. Michigan wideouts Braylon Edwards and Steve Breaston gave Henne plenty of great looks all game.
Texas would prevail 38-37 on a last-second field goal. It was the greatest Rose Bowl of the young 21st century. That is, until a year later when Vince Young would return to Pasadena and put on another show for the ages.
@ Notre Dame, 2006
This is one of my favorite examples of Lloyd Carr’s conservative ass. Chad Henne threw three first-half touchdown passes as Michigan routed the Irish 47-21. Michigan 63 plays, 41 of them were runs. And Lloyd Carr was perfectly happy with that. The Notre Dame win was a huge statement for Michigan. The momentum from that win carried them undefeated all the way to a meeting with #1 Ohio State at season’s end.
@ Illinois, 2007
Missing superstar running back Michael Hart, Michigan found themselves down 14-3 against an Illinois squad that featured fabled quarterback Juice Williams. After falling behind and sustaining an injury that brought backup QB Ryan Mallett (lol) into the game, Henne returned and threw two touchdowns en route to a 27-17 Michigan victory. In my opinion, it was one of the gutsiest performances of his career.
2008 Capital One Bowl
Chad Henne’s final game for Michigan. Florida came into the game having a similarly disappointing season. However, they did have Tim Tebow, who had just been the first-ever true-sophomore to win the Heisman Trophy. After lackluster performances against Wisconsin and Ohio State to finish the season, not many people were giving Michigan a chance against the defending-national-champ Gators.
By The Numbers
By the end of his Michigan career, Chad Henne was the most prolific passer in the history of Michigan football. He threw for 9,715 yards and 87 touchdowns in an era where Michigan didn’t throw the ball all that much. What really tarnishes his legacy is the 0-4 mark against Ohio State. Not that any of those losses are Henne’s fault.
At the end of the day, he was an elite player at the college level that brought not only stability but excellence to the quarterback position. Michigan has had many great quarterbacks, but Henne is unequivocally the best. At least, in my opinion, he is.