Did Jalen Rose Give Fab Five Credit For Michigan's Big Season?
ATLANTA (97.1 THE TICKET) - Among the crowd cheering for the Wolverines in the NCAA champion game were Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson and former Fab Five player Jalen Rose.
What did they think? Robinson seemed to be a bit awestruck, saying, "There are so many legends here" - Charles Woodson - I gave him a high-five," he said.
He added: "It's amazing just being here. I'm just standing next to the Fab Five so I'm happy. ... and these guys are playing great basketball. It's a part of tradition, it's a part of our school."
Rose noted that the big audience is a great opportunity to celebrate the U of M program.
"You know the world is watching," said former Fab Five player Jalen Rose. "It's a big stage for Michigan basketball, I know we very prestigious and tradition runs high - we've been in the Final Four seven times. So, it's not like it happens every year."
Rose was just 20 years old when he played in the NCAA's title game, and he said it was a terrific celebration getting back together with former Fab Fivers.
And then he seemed to claim the Fab Five of the 1990s spurred the current team's success, saying their recent ESPN documentary snowballed into the team getting some great new players. The documentary focused on the play and rock star quality of the fabulous five, who were recruited into the University of Michigan class of 1991, widely considered the greatest class ever recruited.
"All four of us were together when we did the Fab Five documentary - March of 2011 - and we felt like it created a positive snowball for the program," Rose said. "Whether 1 percent or 99 percent, all I know that in 2012, we got Mitch McGary, Glenn Robinson and Stan(Spike) Albrecht, right? And Nik Stauskas, and in 2013 we are in the championship game - so poetic justice," said Rose.
