He was never meant to really play; he was just there in case something happened to all the people in front of him. Then K'Len Morris left. Then Jerret Smith left. Michigan went from a bad team with a large rotation to a bad team with a small rotation. Merritt was pressed into heavy service, and as the team began a historic slide, one foolish blogger noted that Michigan wasn't going to win anything playing guys like David Merritt.
Then Ohio State came to town. The house was packed, because the new football coach was speaking at halftime. OSU formed its own visitors' student section. But when Michigan, which has struggled at home this year more than on the road, began to falter, it wasn't Manny Harris that sparked us. It wasn't DeShawn Sims. It was senior walk-on David Merritt, who sunk a three-pointer with seconds to go on the shot clock and who scored on a killer drive through the Buckeyes' big men. He continued to play well in the second half and contributed in a big way to Michigan's biggest win of the year against a major rival; the fans who rushed the court hoisted him onto their shoulders and sang The Victors at the top of their lungs. At least, that's how it should have happened.
In reality, Merritt was injured and had to spend much of the second half in the locker room. Now, the Free Press is reporting that our unexpected hero's season, and his career, is done, as he has torn the medial meniscus in his left knee and requires surgery.
Thank you, David Merritt, for what you gave Michigan. In a forgettable season, true Michigan fans will always remember how much you did for the team.
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