Exit Tate Forcier Comment Count

Tim

forcier.jpg

Via weird Twitter release (@qbforce) last night:

-Immediate Press/Sports Release: January 20, 2011- Robert “Tate” Forcier University Of Michigan Sophomore Quarterback

Why do we all wait until we are at our lowest point to seek God’s help?

I’ve been kicked, pushed, knocked down, publicly berated, belittled, emasculated and more. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to give up or feel the victim. The humility of it all is indescribable and that is exactly my point. I had to reach rock bottom in order to see the light, and for that, I am thankful. It was not until then, I realized that it was my lack of accountability and maturity and not to pass blame.

I do hope all my young fans forgive me and benefit from my lessons that I have learned. Be grateful for what you have and be humble for your successes. Don’t wait to ask God into your life as he will help you see things clearer.

In summary, I believe, I will become a better student and a person of stronger character from these experiences at Michigan. I can proudly state,“I worked hard on the practice field, in the film room and at meetings” after all, football is my passion. I had fun celebrating with the fans. I even competed hard while injured as a true freshman through the last (8) games in 2009, but I always played the game giving it my all.

I am proud to have been part of Michigan Football history and will always cherish the memory. The last few weeks I worked extremely hard to catch back up. I really wanted to stay. I was not giving up on Michigan, but in the end, it was made clear they had given up on me.

With that being said, its time for me to go. I promise the Michigan family and fans I will make you proud again.

Tate Forcier #5 - A Michigan Man Forever - Go Blue

This has been rumored for weeks, and confirmed, in part, by David Brandon at the Brady Hoke introductory presser. From the looks of things, his dad's statement that he'd try to return to the team is no longer an option, and Tate is permanently gone.

This makes Michigan's need for quarterbacks in the 2011 and 2012 classes enormous, as Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner are the only signal-callers left on the roster. An elite player is reasonable (and necessary) in the 2012 class.

Comments

Tater

January 20th, 2011 at 9:07 AM ^

Forcier needs to go to a smaller conference where a QB with his size and "arm strength" can thrive.  Maybe he'll end up being a Banana Slug.  Or he could go for irony and see if SDSU wants him.  If the competition was just a little smaller and a little slower, Forcier could still have a very good career.  He has a quick release, is accurate, and can make very quick decisions. 

Sadly, except for the accuracy, those traits work a lot better in football than they do in life.  I hope he gets the second part straightened out.

Six Zero

January 20th, 2011 at 9:08 AM ^

Takes a man to own up, and to bare his beliefs in the face of adversity.  Most of us have screwed up in some way or another at twenty years of age... albeit not on a national stage like yourself.  Just remember, a real man is defined not by his mistakes, but by his efforts to undo and move on from them.

Thanks for all of the hard work and the memories.  God Bless.

might and main

January 20th, 2011 at 9:15 AM ^

Thanks to Tate for some genuine excitement he brought us.  That ND game was a thing of beauty.  I wish he could've stayed, but I have nothing but good wishes for him and his future.  He's just a kid going through some growing pains, on a huge stage. 

Undefeated dre…

January 20th, 2011 at 9:11 AM ^

There will always be ND '09, and Illinois '10... (and Indiana '09, argh thematic double-post)

Of course, when you sign a Forcier, you're sort of guaranteeing some flakiness. I can't find the Jason Forcier 'press release' about his transfer from Michigan, but it was similarly weird. I also think they may want to get JoePa's name right on http://www.qbforce.com/

w2j2

January 20th, 2011 at 9:33 AM ^

I was not giving up on Michigan, but in the end, it was made clear they had given up on me

.

I do not think the football program gave up on Tate.

I think it was academics.

Rasmus

January 20th, 2011 at 10:23 AM ^

But it's probably more than just that -- some kind of behavior thing. It's a credit to Michigan that whatever it is, it's not common knowledge.

IIRC, Tate didn't attend classes in high school like a regular student -- he was using tutors and the like so he could focus on football, constantly under his dad's supervision. Being on his own at Michigan may have been liberating to a degree he was simply not prepared for, especially after his older brother left town. I wish him the best, and believe he'll be fine at SDSU (just kidding, sort of).

Urban Warfare

January 20th, 2011 at 11:03 AM ^

If Michigan is like OSU, it's not like he was just on his own without any sort of academic support.  OSU requires new players to attend something like 10 hours of organized study tables (i.e. tutoring and coaching on study skills) every week during their first quarter; after that, the number of hours are adjusted based on GPA.

Blue-Chip

January 20th, 2011 at 9:14 AM ^

Sounds like he's coming to some hard earned lessons.  I wish him nothing but the best, and hope he can get on and maintain a positive path.

The 09 Notre Dame game is still one of my favorite games to have seen in the Big House.

ChetterBear01

January 20th, 2011 at 9:16 AM ^

looking at the strides Denard made in passing ability from freshman to sophomore, I think we'll be just fine as he can stay healthy. Denard will be much more matured and a better passer. but an injury puts all the eggs in Gardner's basket

ErikS

January 20th, 2011 at 9:31 AM ^

Because Denard sat behind Tate, Devin sat behind Denard...and they all had the opportunity to play either due to injury or through proving themselves.  If a QB is elite, he must believe he is elite enough not to sit.

VAGenius

January 20th, 2011 at 9:49 AM ^

... so we don't have to worry about him disappearing with a whole pile of David Brandon's money.

Lost one round but the price wasn't anything

Knife in a back and more of the same

Same old rat in a drain ditch

Out on a limb

You know better but I know him

FgoWolve

January 20th, 2011 at 9:17 AM ^

He's practically a Greek tragedy. An amazing ascent in act I, periods of rising and falling action, until finally as the man said, he hit rock bottom. And his story isn't over yet. While he definitely grew in maturity and experience as the stereotypical tragic character does, he had his own tragic flaws that invoke pity in the audience, as Aristotle pointed out was one of the greatest cathartic emotions for a tragic audience. It's just a shame we don't know exactly what those flaws are, and are forced to watch him go as the result of some unknown force, be it internal (Tate's personal struggles) or external (the rise of Denard, the possibility of no longer being wanted). I will miss Tate. No other player evoked more emotion from me over the past decade. I hope his story transitions into a comedy and a happy ending.

JJB2

January 20th, 2011 at 9:21 AM ^

Are you still a Michigan Man when you transfer?  

Good luck to him.  

Is there something in his family blood that lacks commitment.  I know he wants to play, but, come on, don't give up, work harder and beat out the other guy.   That's life.  You can't run away every time you get knocked down.

08mms

January 20th, 2011 at 10:55 AM ^

I mean, I would guess by the subtext the coaches or administrators told him that he wasn't welcome or at least no welcome with a scholarship.  Hopefully he takes some of the schools ethos with him wherever he goes, and if its just maturity issues, he lives up to the "Michigan Man's" best ideals when he finally hits his stride.

jg2112

January 20th, 2011 at 9:24 AM ^

Tate told us all that he was leaving Michigan during the celebrations after the UConn game. It's only now that he's gone ahead and made it official.

Good luck kid - hopefully in the future, you won't give newspaper interviews saying how easy classes are at Michigan three days before you're sent home from a bowl game because you're academically ineligible.

blueloosh

January 20th, 2011 at 9:24 AM ^

Last night I only saw the 'Michigan gave up on me' bit and thought this departure was poor form.  Reading the whole thing...90% of that is comprised of beautiful sentiments and respect for Michigan and its fans.  10% is defensive (e.g. 'I played injured!', 'I wanted to stay').  I can understand by emotional and defensive about his tenure when a former star exits the scene.  That would be tough.

I hope Tate's assertion of being reformed and prediction of future success both come true.

ijohnb

January 20th, 2011 at 9:29 AM ^

gave up on me."  Sure glad that "lack of maturity and accountability" thing has been corrected.  BTW, God has bigger concerns than whether you are first or second string at Michigan. 

I would say delusions of granduer, but I really don't know how to spell granduer and don't feel like looking.

Jon06

January 20th, 2011 at 10:05 AM ^

it's among the words one learns to spell when possessed of one's own delusions thereof.

also, i've never seen such a poorly written press release. if he handed in papers like that, i'm not surprised he couldn't hack it academically.

UM4ME

January 20th, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^

I know a lot of what is happening is his own doing but, as he exits stage left, I'm going to choose to think of the good times and thank Tate for ... 
  • Committing on his visit when he saw the offensive disaster that was 2008
  • Notre Dame 2009 - one of my favorite games ever in the Big House.
  • MSU 2009 - leading us to an incredible comeback in the rain ... almost.
  • The second half of 2009 - playing injured.
  • Illinois 2010 - another great (triple OT-style) memory in the Big House.
  • Almost all of 2010 - for the most part, being ready and willing to come in when Denard inevitably went down.
Some good memories, which will hopefully, in time, offset the bad. Good luck with your next stop young Forcier!

Everyone Murders

January 20th, 2011 at 12:45 PM ^

Tate may have had his difficulties, but do we really need to kick him when he's down?  Let's just wish him the best, and be grateful for the efforts he made as a Freshman and Sophomore (read 18 and 19 year-old kid) on behalf of the team and U-M.

It seems like Tate is being gracious on the way out.  Maybe we could return the favor.

MGoVillain

January 21st, 2011 at 3:15 PM ^

For Tate's sake, I hope he's not reading this blog.  

As for kicking him while he's down, when I think if Tate Forcier 67 years from now I'll think of :

1) Notre Dame 2009 

2) Illinois 2010

3) Fumbling in the endzone vs the university of ohio state university

 

2 out of 3 ain't bad.  I just wish I got to party with him in Ann Arbor.

As for you, I appreciate your avatar.  That's all.

VAGenius

January 20th, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^

...is insignificant next to the power of the Forcier.

However, the power of the University is even greater... having known lots of very smart people who couldn't make it through the academic part of Michigan, there's no shame there.

Thanks for the memories and the heroic comebacks, Tate. You're up there with Scott Driesbach in my annals of historic Michigan comeback quarterbacks.

Erik_in_Dayton

January 20th, 2011 at 9:48 AM ^

2009 would have been 2008 all over again w/out Forcier, and M wouldn't have won the Illinois game this year w/out him...He is a really young guy who made some mistakes.  I hope he gets everything together.