Denard on Denard
Because the logical thing to do these days is expect everything will be DOOM forever I was waiting for Denard Robinson to say something about not transferring (instead of people who have talked to Denard Robinson) before declaring ollie ollie oxen free. This would be that:
I'm still expecting a couple weeks of terrifying rumors in May, but I think it's safe for the kids on the diag to put their candles out and head home.
There have been kids on the diag with lit candles, right?
[New media looking-glass bonus: this is a snippet of a longer interview posted by the official site, clipped by a television station, placed on youtube by the roving band of Michigan video maniacs, and embedded by yours truly.]
January 17th, 2011 at 10:54 AM ^
The roving band of Michigan video maniacs can't seem to find the longer interview on the official site. I guess they will post it later today?
January 17th, 2011 at 10:57 AM ^
Its there. Go to Multimedia and choose football and it is the first video.
January 17th, 2011 at 11:20 AM ^
The audio is out of sync toward the end because the media department hasn't hired me yet.
January 17th, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^
DO NOT Google "kids on the diag" and click on the lone link. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
edit - possibly NSFW. Definitely not safe for eyes.
January 17th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
not only in terms of keeping a player of Denard's ability and character, but also in terms of PR early in his tenure. I am excited and hopeful to see what they do with the offense - Rod obviously brought out a lot in Denard, here is to hoping Borges/Hoke can refine some of the rough edges in his game.
January 17th, 2011 at 10:59 AM ^
Prospering under two different styles is interesting. If he can improve in a more passing based 'spread' offense I can see him having a very successful career.
January 17th, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Break out the breakfast scotch!
January 17th, 2011 at 12:02 PM ^
Yes, I have the bottle right here, from the wake-up scotch I enjoyed at 6 am.
See you for elevensies?
January 17th, 2011 at 1:37 PM ^
Morning drunk (+10) + LOTR reference (-11) = -1 on the coolometer. So close to breaking even...
January 17th, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
In these emotional and chaotic times, Denard is the rope that binds us together. Hold the Rope.
January 17th, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
Can't wait until Denard uses his spread knowledge and is pro-style knowledge to become a successful NFL QB!
January 17th, 2011 at 11:39 AM ^
I sure as hell can wait because that means he won't be here anymore
January 17th, 2011 at 11:27 AM ^
I'd be surprised if he left, but (as noted by others) we'll still need to sit through a round of practices to see how well Denard meshes with Al Borges. You could say that he's just doing the smart thing by waiting to see how it all works. He could transfer later and not lose any eligibility. Again, I'd be surprised.
January 17th, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
I think you are being a tad bit delusional in thinking Denard is going to transfer in May. Because you think the Spread is the way the truth and the light, doesn't mean everyone else does.
Denard just might have enough confidence in himself to believe he can thrive in an offense other than the Spread.
January 17th, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
I don't think he was saying that he will transfer - just that there will be rumors. I am sure he is right about that. There will be tweets and posts and "sources" who claim that he is staying, going, staying, going, etc. It will be frustrating.
January 17th, 2011 at 10:17 PM ^
I dont think that was the intent of the statment either, rather a prediction of the rumors we are sure to hear flying in may. On a side note how nice is it to see a kid that from outward apperances you would expect to act like those SEC thugs be such a humble team player. I dont think at this point we could ask for a better "face of the team" so to speak.
January 17th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
Outward appearances? You mean because he has dreadlocks? He often wears button down collar shirts under sweaters for goodness sake. He doesn't look even the slightest bit like a "thug".
January 18th, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
I think Boomer519 was probably more referring to his crazy stats and the media's insatiable appetite for stories on him... both/either of which have a tendency to ruin young men. I agree completely: he's one of my favorite players to follow -- not only because he's made of dilithium, but because he's made of dilithium and not stupid. FWIW, the SEC isn't the only place to find thugs (anyone up for a 5 game suspension?).
January 17th, 2011 at 11:30 AM ^
when I listen to Denard describe his reason's for staying. It gives me a lot of hope for the future of Michigan football...Go Blue 4 Life
January 17th, 2011 at 11:33 AM ^
January 17th, 2011 at 12:04 PM ^
Did he say anywhere in this interview that BH had anything to do with him staying? I think people giving BH credit for "getting Denard to stay" are a little off base. DR stayed because he loves UM and his fellow players. BH could have been a reason for him to transfer, but I don't think he is a reason he is staying.
P.S. This post Isn't intended to be anti-hoke as I am pretty certain he isn't claiming he has anything to do with DR staying. I just find it weird that people are implying BH did an awesome job getting DR to stay when his decision was based on anything Hoke said or did from his comments on this video.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:00 PM ^
But Brady could/would of driven him away if he would of said the wrong things - like, Denard, we plan to run a strict Pro-style offense. We hope you can adapt, thanks.
<br>So I think the argument is half right. While Denard may be primarily staying for other factors, he could have been driven away by the new coaching staff. For the latter, I give credit to coach Hoke.
January 17th, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
At the very least there had to be some Hoke influence, as Denard made his decision after speaking with Brady. And don't overlook that Denard mentioned playing in 2 different offensive schemes...which means Brady didn't just tell DR what he wanted to hear.
January 18th, 2011 at 10:20 AM ^
Sorry, but twice in one sentence and I couldn't resist.
Could have/would have, not could of. You even wrote it correctly later in the post.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:30 PM ^
If Denard had left, so a little credit isn't a horrible thing. But it's a two way street, and takes both of them to do the right things for it to happen. But I doubt if he left Denard was going to get the Mallett treatment, or Hoke get the "he was gone anyway" defense, so it doesn't hurt to at least say he didn't screw things up.
January 17th, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^
I get the impression that Denard leaving would have created backlash against Denard in a lot of circles. I started to hear it in the last week "If he leaves, he was never a Michigan Man anyway", etc. Really sad, but there are plenty of people who were looking to turn on him. Not surprisingly, many of those people are the same people who still think Tate should be our QB and Denard should be a slot receiver.
Double standards are maybe my least favorite thing in all of life.
January 17th, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
Denard++
January 17th, 2011 at 11:58 AM ^
This kid is a class act, and his humbleness is refreshing. He is showing his teammates and future players how to persevere in hard times. He's acting out the definition of leadership. Good Job and Best wishes young man.
January 17th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^
He mentioned that the team was like a family, that they had bonded. I could have sworn I heard that RR had eroded the family values. Hmm.
I Hoke this works!
January 17th, 2011 at 2:16 PM ^
Because the logical thing to do these days is expect everything will be DOOM forever
Annoying, dude. It's gotten annoying.
January 17th, 2011 at 2:32 PM ^
Listens to others, thinks, evaluates. We are so fortunate to have him.
January 18th, 2011 at 12:46 AM ^
Denard is a Michigan man! Coach Hoke and Borges must have had a great talk with him about the offense and how he will fit in. I think we will see something similar to that school from ohios offense, which is great for staying unpredictable.
January 18th, 2011 at 11:39 PM ^
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Record-setting quarterback Denard Robinson acknowledged he thought about transferring when Michigan fired Rich Rodriguez.
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<br>"Rich Rod was one of the few coaches that gave me a chance to play as a quarterback on the next level," Robinson said in an interview posted on mgoblue.com, the school's website, on Monday.
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<br>Robinson decided to stay after talking to his parents, brother and high school coach.
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<br>"This is my family -- my home now," he said.
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<br>Rodriguez was fired Jan. 5 and Brady Hoke was hired a week later. Robinson told Hoke a day after he was hired that he was committing to staying to play for him next season.
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<br>Robinson's high school coach said "every school" wanted Robinson to leave and he had heard from 10 to 15 coaches within a day of Hoke's hiring.
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<br>The first player in NCAA history to throw and run for 1,500 yards said new coach Brady Hoke was "terrific" and added that he was eager to learn his offense.
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<br>"It's going to be something to learn," Robinson said. "It's going to be fine."
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<br>Art Taylor, who coached Robinson at Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High School, backs Robinson's decision.
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<br>"I'm supportive of Denard and happy for him," Taylor wrote in a text message. "As long as he is happy, that is the most important thing."
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<br>Robinson finished sixth in voting for the Heisman Trophy and won awards as the Big Ten's offensive player of the year and MVP.
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<br>Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon has said QB Tate Forcier, who backed up Robinson after starting ahead of him when they were both freshmen in 2009, is no longer with the program.
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