ANGAR Reality Check
Just your reminder that no matter how angry/bad/sad/depressed you feel. You're never going to feel worse than the guys out on the field
Gardner fumbles.....stays on the ground, head buried....they tried to pick him up....but he wouldn't budge.
— angelique (@chengelis) November 23, 2013Gardner was barely audible, extremely down: "I lost the game myself, I fumbled the ball when they trusted me to drive down and score."
— angelique (@chengelis) November 23, 2013Devin Gardner fighting back tears at media podium, says he was trusted to win the game, blew it with a fumble.
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) November 23, 2013November 23rd, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^
At least not on the field. He doesn't lead by example, that's for sure. You do bring up a great point though...who exacly are the leaders on this team?? Anyone?
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:45 PM ^
maybe a legend?
November 24th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
i agree, lewan seems more like a punk than a leader.. just IMO
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:48 PM ^
an old, fat, rich man around on his back.
Al owes this kid a lot more than he has been giving him.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:50 PM ^
cleaned toliets as poorly as Borges calls an offense he would be fired...I don't get it. This man is stealing money and ruining peoples years while doing so.
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:27 PM ^
Borges fools people into thinking all his technical football talk means he's a good offensive coordinator. That was the buzz on him when first brought to Michigan ... he's an "offensive genius." Like hell.
Borges can't possibly survive into next season. If he does, then Hoke is banking his career on Borges. I don't think that's going to happen. I think we'll see Borges step away, and I think that'll be the last time he coaches at a big-name school. It's lesser schools from here out for Borges.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:49 PM ^
Gardner is a great person and talented football player. But he is not the QB Hoke or Borges would recruit.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:55 PM ^
Maybe not, but fuck you. He's the QB. You don't sink the ship just because you didn't pick some of the crew.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^
I think he's criticizing Hoke and Borges more than Gardner. Your response is a bit harsh either way.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:56 PM ^
They want the player who handles the ball the most to be less athletic. Because that's what a manly, manly man should want.
/not a shot at you or what you said - just venting frustration
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:12 PM ^
Frustration understood.
The entire progam decided to go back to a more traditional style of offense when Hoke was hired. When Denard was here with the RichRod leftovers it really wasn't practical to switch immediately.
But as they recruited players more suited to the new style, they had to flip the switch at some point. Devin is in no man's land, recruited by RichRod and utilized in a Hoke style offense. He's somewhat better suited than Denard, but not totally.
That's why I can't really be overly upset at Devin or the staff. It's growing pains, and I still think it will pay off in a couple years when our O-line has matured and Morris is handing off to Green and pitching to Campbell and Funchess - and maybe Peppers in there for good measure.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:49 PM ^
True words.
These players devote an insane amount of time and themselves to play at Michigan. Their lack of fulfillment from their hard work is the true tragedy of the poor coaching, not the fans' discontent
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:51 PM ^
especially at this level. Their play is always going to reflect their coaching.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:53 PM ^
I appreciate Devin's dedication to the program, but he has hurt us way too much this year.
It's not all his fault, Borges, lack of a QB coach, O-Line, etc., but he is not good at reading defenses, holds the ball too long, doesn't use good judgement in the pocket on when to run, has made a myriad of mental mistakes.
I just hope Morris gets a fair shot at the QB job, I want Hoke to keep his promise of giving young guys a fair shot of starting or playing more. I'm sorry but Gardner has been a huge issue for us this year.
Get mad at me all you want, what we're seeing on the field tells the story. I will say that Funchess had a really bad game today and that hurt a lot.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^
He's a tough kid who isn't a perfect QB but who isn't getting much help either. DG has shown a ton of heart this year, and he's never made an excuse - at least as I've seen. He's done everything you'd hope from a player in a circumstance like this. He doesn't need to apologize to anyone. I'm glad he's Michigan's QB.
November 23rd, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:00 PM ^
Right now especially in the immediate "now" right after the game, it is easy to allow emotions overwhelm the more rational parts of the mind. There is an old piece of advice from work. When something really ticks you off, write a letter and put it in a drawer. Then tomorrow take a look and re-read it - often you'll see a calmer more rational tone.
Everyone is disappointed - PSU, Neb and Iowa were far worse than MSU because the first three games were winnable. It was very clear that after the first 7 minutes, MSU was better in all phases of the game (off, def, sp team, coaching).
So rant and rave as you want but please don't question whether the kids had guts or wanted it bad enough or some other non-sense. The kids on this team, especially the ones who have a larger public presence showed in general a lot of guts and class in holding together, not being defeatist or back biting in public. They won't finish with a great record but I'll always remember them for their courage of going out there (when it is clear that they weren't being give helpful prep or training) and still took their lumps.
Earlier in the week Brian posted a bit from the old British show Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson at his best) and poked fun at the predictable repetitive Michigan offense. He didn't show the ending - it is available on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vH3-Gt7mgyM
Like Captain Blackadder, Gardner and the rest of the Wolverines went over the top armed with a stick against a heavy machine gun - they did their duty and followed their leaders. So post, rant and say what you will but don't ever question their guts or committment or some other non-sense.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:00 PM ^
DG is still low on game experience. You can't expect him to carry the load of not having a decent run game and O-line. If we can run the ball and protect him better next year he will reward us.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^
It's not your fault, Devin. It's not your fault. You didn't sign up for this coaching staff. The staff you signed up for is up 21-9 on No. 5 Oregon right now.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^
Why go there in a thread that was to appreciate Gardner's dedication to Michigan, his teammates, and us fans?
By the way, if their defense doesn't choke it away, Arizona will be 7-4.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^
They're 6-4.
November 24th, 2013 at 10:40 AM ^
you clearly don't comprehend english very well..
He said IF their defense doesn't choke it away they are 7-4
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:05 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:12 PM ^
Me too!
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:26 PM ^
For fumbling?
I have a world of respect fro Devin and players aren't perfect. I feel for him being so down and caring so much. But to turn that into anger against Borges is... ill advised.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 8:46 PM ^
How do you know that Borges "manipulated" him into feeling that way? A lot of star athletes are their own worst critics.
November 23rd, 2013 at 8:51 PM ^
Borges also shot Lincoln, and found the lost valley of Shangri-La but wont tell anyone where it is because he's a meany pants. Don't you know?
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
I feel bad for DG. You can't put everything on him. He has no run game, his line is suspect, and most of his coaches are inept. The kid's taken more punishment, then any Michigan QB i can remember. He's a gamer, and I have a lot of respect for him.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^
Thanks for hanging tough, bud.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:18 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:20 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^
This needs to be upvoted into infinity. DG always had my respect -- he was taken and moved to receiver and back to QB at a whim and I was REALLY excited from what I saw of him last year. The talent is there -- he was a top recruit out of HS and did well in his limited action last year.
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:35 PM ^
Goddamn it, I need an upvote button for moments like these. Gardner's got courage and willingness to be accountable. He sets an example the coaches should follow.
November 24th, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
Exactly, especially after watching Hoke's postgame presser.. Blaming it on the players again..
Are you fucking kidding me hoke.. He mentioned the players need to play better?
How about your fat ass and borges fat lazy ass coach better? What a joke staff this is
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:21 PM ^
I think it is possible to appreciate Devin for his toughness and leadership, and still point out that his decision making needs some work. It is a matter of perspective and presentation. I love the guy for the way he hangs in there and what he does. I just wish he could be more decisive and find the open reciever sooner. However, an injury would explain why he isn't more decisive on the run.
I don't think any loss is all on one player. That is crazy. I hope his teammates tell him to keep his head up.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:28 PM ^
only sadness.
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:28 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:28 PM ^
Gardner is BAD..and has he has ALL SEASON LONG he turns the ball over in critical situations..
November 23rd, 2013 at 5:29 PM ^
Ya, Denard was just bad too right? Record setting QB under RR, horrible under Borges. I'm sure it's the player though, not the coaching.
November 23rd, 2013 at 9:28 PM ^
Had a pretty damn good year, won 11 games and a Sugar Bowl, which is 4 more games than he won with RR. Now, get your data straight and recall the facts that the records Denard set under RR were against the bottom half of the B1G.....
November 24th, 2013 at 10:46 AM ^
And was coached fucking horribly to lose to winnable games against Iowa and MSU...
Somehow he thought he was a drop back QB in those games
November 23rd, 2013 at 8:39 PM ^
I mean, real bad. The guy couldn't have gotten Desmond even an invite to New York if his life depended on it.
November 23rd, 2013 at 10:48 PM ^