Denard: I could take Usain Bolt (at a 40 yd dash)
August 12th, 2012 at 10:57 PM ^
Bolt has golf medals, too? Crap. That was the one thing I was thinking I just might be able to beat him at.
August 12th, 2012 at 10:50 PM ^
For some reason this discussion reminds me of the commercial where a Toyota Corona raced the Green Monster and won ... for the first 98 yards:
August 12th, 2012 at 11:06 PM ^
Bolt is only gold not dilithium - I say Denard wins in a 40 yard dash. Anything longer and Bolt wins by a pretty good margin.
At 6'5" it takes Bolt a while to get going, while Denard has incredible acceleration. That would be the difference.
Plus, an athelete is an athelete and speed is speed regardless of whether you are labeled a sprinter or a football player.
August 12th, 2012 at 11:05 PM ^
Look at swimming. Guys like Michael Phelps don't even swim in the 50m races because they are specialist events won by people who do one thing well--have incredible starts.
Now, I have no idea if Denard would have an incredible start or not--he woud probably need to train like crazy to even have a chance. But there is no question that Bolt is NOT one of the best starters in the world. If there were a 40 yard dash in the Olympics, he would probably not be the winner. He might not even enter the event. Remember, he was originally a 200m runner and that is still his better event.
August 12th, 2012 at 11:45 PM ^
August 13th, 2012 at 8:40 AM ^
Legend Status: Confirmed
August 13th, 2012 at 9:34 AM ^
I don't know how to embed ..but this is the clip sports science did on Denard, I think he could hang pretty good with Bolt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jja74-4ma8w
August 13th, 2012 at 10:18 AM ^
I like the confidence and he has a point, but still Bolt is as close to out of this world as possible. Denard's acceleration is in the 99 percentile of the college football feild, but not when he's competing against the level Bolt is. Makes Denard look extra fast when comparing.
August 13th, 2012 at 10:20 AM ^
That being said, David Brandon, get on it. Charge for it if you insist.
August 13th, 2012 at 12:07 PM ^
What would really impress is if he's developed a passing game to complement his running game. He is a QB after all.
August 13th, 2012 at 12:23 PM ^
Yep hilarious joke here guy. Got a regular Dane Cook among us. Almost as funny as Rob Schneider
August 13th, 2012 at 1:11 PM ^
I read the same story in USA Today:
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2012/08/denard-robinson-says-he-can-beat-usain-bolt-in-40-yard-dash/1#.UCkVgKFlStY
It's been a great discussion. Anytime you bring math to the table to verify is a great discussion. I would add that from my reading of the article, Bolt will compete at Denard's event, the 40-year. And I would have to assume that it would be done in the same way that football players are timed (i.e. no starting blocks, no gun). Given that, I think Denard has a chance.
Isn't it fun to be having a discussion about who is faster: an Olympic gold medalist or your starting QB in the 40?
August 13th, 2012 at 1:38 PM ^
I just noticed on the sidebar there that Nicole Auerbach, recently of the Michigan Daily, got a job at USA Today. Good for her!
August 13th, 2012 at 1:18 PM ^
Denard is probably talking about having Bolt run a 40-yard dash at the NFL combine just like he would, so the timer starts on athlete movement. So all of Bolt's track-start training is meaningless.
It really comes down to initial acceleration, and while Bolt is pretty much the fastest man in history from about 40m on, his first 40m, while world-class, is NOT super-human like the rest of his race is. Denard might not be able to beat him to 40 yards, but I'm not sure that hanging with him would be delusional. Of course, after 40 yards Bolt would leave him in the dust.