.....j 1 AM Awk 4B Saturday, October 6, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 0 0 9 0 w 0 U a Saturday, October 6, 2007 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com J5 Best season: In 1940, Har- mon carried the ball 191 times for 852 yards and 14 touchdowns, good enough to win the Heisman Trophy Defining moment: In his final game at Michigan, Har- mon led Michigan to a 40-0 victory at Ohio State, scoring three rushing touchdowns, Hometown: Gary, Ind. two passing touchdowns and Career stats: 398 carries, 2134 four extra points. When he left rushing yards, 30 rushing touch- the field, the fans in Columbus downs; winner of 1940 Heisman gave him a standing ovation. Trophy. After Michigan: Drafted with the first pick by the NFL's Chi- cago Bears, HarmonNoriginally turned down professional foot- ball to starras himself in the movie Harmon at Michigan. But after joining the Army Air Corps as a pilot in World War II, he played two years with the Los Angeles Rams. He later went on to a successful broadcasting career. His also had a son Mark, who would later play quarterback for UCLA before becoming a movie and TV star. The best ever Mike Hart's about to surpass Anthony Thomas as Mich- igan's all-time leading rusher. So who are the best run- ners to ever don the Maize and Blue? Check out what these guys did and which moments defined their careers. 0nthony SE Hometown: Syracuse, N.Y. Career stats: 907 carries, 4440 yards, 34 touchdowns Best season: Hart's freshman season may not have been his best statistically, but its was definitely his big- gest. His 1,445-yard line was really just a product of 10 games, and the then-freshman came out of nowhere to help lead his team to a Big Ten Championship. Defining moment: We may have not seen Hart's top moment yet, but he's got a a few. The most recent would be his 44-carry perfor- mance against Penn State's A top-ranked rush defense. He put the team on his shoulders and did his part to try and turn its fortune around after a dismal start to the sea- son. After Michigan: We'll see. Hometown: Winnfield, Louisiana Career stats: 924 carries, 4,472 yards, 55 rushing touch- downs (all records), 22 100-yard rushing games. Best season: Thomas finished as a finalist for the Doak Walker Award after he ended his senior season in 2000 with 1,733 yards and 18 touchdowns on 319 carries. He averaged more than 144 yards per game that season. Defining moment: Against Michigan State in 2000, Thomas rushed for 175 yards on 25 carries, and his two touchdowns set the Michigan career record for rush- ing scores. Sadly, what most fans remember about Thomas was his fumble against Northwestern later that season. Michigan looked to be in the clear after Wildcat running back Damien Anderson dropped a touchdown pass late in the game. But Thomas fumbled on the ensuing possession, and Northwestern scored the win- ning touchdown with 20 seconds left on the clock. After Michigan: Drafted in the second round (38th over- all) by the Chicago Bears in 2001, Thomas burst onto the NFL scene by gaining 1,183 yards and NFL Rookie of the Year honors. But he was ineffective in ensuing years and struggled with injuries after his rookie season. He has since bounced around the league, playing for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints before landing with the Buffalo Bills prior to the 2006 season. He is currently second on the Bills' depth chart at running back, behind rookie Marshawn Lynch. Hometown: Detroit Career stats: 487 carries, 2,440 yards, 27 rushing touchdowns, 10 100-yard rushing games Best season: In 1968, Johnson rewrote the Michigan record books. It was just the senior's second season taking the majority of the carries for the Wolver- ines, and Johnson made the most of the opportunity. He registered his sec- ond 1,000-yard rushing season and set Michigan records for rushing yards in a game (347), in a season (1,391) and in a career (2,440). He finished the year with 19 touchdowns on 225 carries and placed sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Defining moment: During that 1968 season, Johnson set a Michigan record when he rushed for 347 yards against Wisconsin. His game against the Badgers had also been an NCAA record that has since been eclipsed. After Michigan: Johnson was drafted in the first round by Cleveland Browns in 1969, but enjoyed his best seasons in the NFL from 1970-72 with New York Giants. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 1970 and 1972, the first 1,000- yard rushing seasons by a Giants' back. Johnson stayed in the NFL for seven seasons and went to two Pro Bowls. This past year, he was named chair- man of the National Football Founda- tion and College Hall of Fame.