Denard on SOTS, Harbaugh, and More

Submitted by Sopwith on

I looked in vain to see if I could find this posted somewhere, and it surely is but damn if I could find it.  Anyway it's Denard so double-posts don't count, because obviously.

Free Rivals article (LINK HERE) with video of Denard's post-SOTS comments (embedded below). Among the highlights:

On the SOTS stage:

"It was crazy," he said. [Ed.-not referring to subs] "During the pre-trial runs, the whole thing, it was different - like, 'how is this supposed to go?' When you see it you're like, 'this is comfortable ... a great idea.' It was almost like draft day. You had guys announcing, breaking down highlights, Todd McShay breaking you down just like the draft - and coming to Michigan is like being drafted.

On Harbaugh (Rivals selectively edited out the bolded bit in the article):

He brings that enthusiasm, he brings that flair [Ed.-see what he did there?] that you need as a head coach, and as a coach, period. He brings that... awkwardness, sometimes. But he's got that winning mentality and he's going to do what he do to get there.

 

 

rob f

February 11th, 2016 at 1:14 AM ^

to come north for their spring practices.  If they do,  well I'll...i'll...I'lll..whine and cry and complain and pout.

 Yeah.

 That's what I'll do, it'll sure show them!

(edit: meant this as a reply to FA Wolverine)

PopeLando

February 11th, 2016 at 8:23 AM ^

Denard was damn near a Heisman winning QB anyway. A half-decent defense might have gotten him there.

Let's stick to the what-if game with Devin Gardner. As painful as it was watching Hoke try to use Denard, he was the most exciting player in college football for 3 years. Can't get much better than that.

Denard will always have a special place in my heart for basically BEING Michigan football during his time here.

TdK71

February 11th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^

I stood in an autograph line a couple of years ago and had him sign my UTL I program, when I put it on the table his eyes got wide and he said "Wow! that was one of my best games that I played". I said the only thing I could "Hell yeah it was!". 

I'll always remember Denard as one of the best Ambassador's for Michigan Football to come along in quite some time. 

Sten Carlson

February 11th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^

Pope,

You're so right.  In thinking back it's amazing the talent that was squandered with Denard and Devin, and to think "what could have been" if those players were coming through the program NOW, or if Harbaugh had been in RR's place THEN.  However, it's quite possible that Denard would have never come to Michigan were it not for RR.  I think Devin would have been more likely as he was a Detroit kid, but again, we'll never know.

Transitions, especially ones that don't go smoothly, have an unfortunate side effect of lots of people falling through the cracks, so to speak.  Hopefully, we're in for a period of continuity and consistency so this type of squandered talent NEVER happens again.

Sten Carlson

February 11th, 2016 at 8:19 AM ^

This ^^^^ x 1000!!!!

I've had this very same discussion with friends. If Brandon hired Harbaugh in 2007 I have no doubt that he would not be Michigan's coach right now. He probably would have righted the ship better than RR and Hoke did, over all, but Brandon would have driven him to the NFL in the same way York drove him to back to college and to Michigan. Further, as you aptly point out, much of his allure today was the result of his success in the NFL.

Coach lives by the mantra of improving every day. As such, it's safe to say he's a far better coach now than he was then, and that he'll continue to improve. It was painful, for sure, but if we had to wade through a river of shit like that to get to the Harbaugh side, I'd do it all over again as somethings are worth the pain and struggle.

Wolfman

February 11th, 2016 at 1:59 AM ^

and I hate to talk badly about any of Bo's boys, but just like anyone whose offspring numbers so greatly, there will be a few failures. I don't know if they could have co-existed. I was never so embarrassed as a Michigan fan as seeing the photos of the Coke bottles in the seat and we already knew what it meant, "Buy one of these, get a free ticket."

I think Brandon  extended his tenure, especially with that strange first season under Hoke, both when MSU and OSU were as weak as we'll see them again, but I can't see him and Jim working together. Hackett, and thank you very much, sir, was the right man to get it done.

 

Wolfman

February 11th, 2016 at 1:53 AM ^

We always knew you worked as hard as anyone that ever wore the maize and blue. Hell, the record books prove you're one of the greatest, but the victories you lead over those boys from South Bend will always make you a favorite. We were blessed to watch you, young man.

LSAClassOf2000

February 11th, 2016 at 6:09 AM ^

Denard points it out as others usually do, but Harbaugh is one of those people whose awkwardness is intertwined with their own brilliance and that is what makes it work so well and makes him rather endearing as a coach, I think. We've talked quite a bit here about how Harbaugh has been able to market the program using only, well, himself sometimes and the awkwardness is such a huge net positive for that. It has always been my own view that you can't do as well as he has at this level without being on a different wavelength though, so to speak. 

MoJo Rising

February 11th, 2016 at 8:53 AM ^

He'd be so neg banged for having opposing views and saying things the multitude of PC and thin skinined posters on here (and there are a lot) are scared of hearing that he probably would be banned. And yet, these some people who would try to destroy him on here if he was a normal poster praise the guy because he is the head coach. This is just my observation and I think there are many lurking who would agree with me on this but won't post because they don't want to get negged. 

Truthbtold

February 11th, 2016 at 9:11 AM ^

"Jim Harbaugh might have Michigan on the upswing, but he's already three years and 29 points behind Meyer. He has yet to prove he's in Meyer's league, and I doubt he ever will.

As for the rest of the Big Ten? Yikes. Nebraska has aged as well in the 21st century as a pager.

Neither of them are coming "

1VaBlue1

February 11th, 2016 at 9:21 AM ^

I wouldn't call Brandon a failure - he has been CEO of a couple of rather large companies, and was quite successful at Dominoes.  However, as an AD, he failed.  Miserably.  No arguement with that...

Denard is probably my favorite player ever, and I have deep, vague recollections of watching Dennis Franklin play.  That smile was (and still is) infectious - like Ebola, only better!  He was the only player on the team that bounced up and ran back to the huddle (well, what should have been the huddle if his teammates had been hustling) after every hit he took in that forgettable RichRod closeout game.  The only player that really gave everything he had that whole game.  He wouldn't play QB for Harbaugh (though I think Gardner would have), but Bo would have given his left nut to have DRob run that option...

MGoCombs

February 11th, 2016 at 10:15 AM ^

Well in his defense, it was a tough economic time, but that probably could have been a good thing for Dominos if played well. I think the problem was he failed to adapt to a changing market and consumer at Dominos. When Dominos started offering online/app ordering, new menu items like sandwiches and chicken, etc., the company turned around (after his tenure).

What's funny though is he had the exact opposite problem at Michigan. I think he saw his mistake at Dominos and thought he was truly bringing Michigan into the future.




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1VaBlue1

February 11th, 2016 at 11:36 AM ^

It's a breath of fresh air to come in here from out in the cold (Detroit paper comments - yuck) and see the love for DRob.  Nothing pisses me off so much as some dummass moron saying he was a waste and a horrible QB.  He'll never be compared fairly so long as he's compared to Carr's QB's.  But in RR's read option, he was a sight to behold - any play, anywhere on the field.  He was the perfect QB for RR, and Devin would have been a close second.  Hoke...  Makes my spine shudder just thinking about it.