If Denard is not able to "go" on Saturday . . . WHAT would be a fitting way for the fans/coaches/Michigan community to honor him after the game?
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Denard's Last Home Game
I think having him come back out after the players go into the locker room to a standing O would be pretty cool. One last waive to the fans and one last flash of the electric smile.
Doesn't fit with the whole team concept that Hoke is trying to encourage.
Just sayin' the guy deserves at least that much!
I suspect that Denard would tell you the same thing.
There are seniors who have labored in near-anonymity for 4 years. They deserve just as much recognition on this day as Denard.
My preference would be for Denard to be able to play, and to break the still-standing record that was set 44 years ago today.
Carry that man off the field after he takes a knee to end the game.
I don't know about carrying him off the field, but definitely give him the last knee to end the game. I know it will be extra dusty in the stadium if that happens.
Will there be more wet eyes in the Big House on Saturday then there was when Brock led the team out of the tunnel to open 2010?
Everyone in the stadium should have untied laces.
Also, would be great if the entire stadium (yes, I am looking at you people sitting in the expensive seats with your blue hair, gold buttoned blazers and pressed trousers) could get a good old fashioned: "DE-NARD CLAP CLAP DE-NARD CLAP CLAP" chant going for an extended period of time either before the game or before the end of halftime (or if he comes out and actually plays).
If you are doing something special for Denard, then you better be doing something special for the entire senior class. I would be upset if they singled Denard out. The TEAM!
to "Lets Get Teamed". ;-)
boom .... roasted!
...if you can see me up in the expensive seats. Maybe you should spend more time watching the game and less time eyeballing me!
/s
If everyone untied their shoelaces it would be like dominos at half time when everyone leaves for the bathroom.
Dave Brandon would approve
Have him carry Lloyd Brady off on his shoulders. I can think of no greater honor.
Not to clog up this thread, as this is not what you asked, but I don't get why so many are expecting Denard not to play. He may not be able to throw, but during the last two weeks pre-injury, Borges rarely allowed him to throw, anyway. If Denard cannot grip the ball with his throwing hand, bring back the 2-QB set, even if it is just interspersed, and get the fastest guy on the field some carries, short screens (bubble, laser or other), end arounds, etc.
This is THE DUMBEST IDEA IN EXISTENCE. Why in the world would they let our starting quarterback run the ball and get tackled when running the ball and getting tackled is what got him injured in the first place?
If his injury is still preventing him from throwing the ball after 2 weeks, and Gardner is getting the start, then Denard is NOT OUR STARTING QUARTERBACK.
When people suggested this idea for the Minny game and even NW, I agreed with the sentiment of just allowing Denard to sit on the bench and heal up to be healthy for the final games of the season. But now we are at the final two games of the season. What are we saving him for? If he is not able to play this week, then there is a chance that the injury is such that he won't be able to play next week in the FINAL game of the season (not including bowl 6 weeks away).
Serious question: if Denard looks like he will NOT be able to play this week, would you rather him wear a headset for the final two regular season games of his career or be on the field in a role where he may be able to contribute and hopefully help us beat Iowa and OSU?
...or maybe he could go but the coaches know we don't need him to win this week, so they'll roll with devin and give denard an extra week to heal. denard at 90% > denard at 80%.
You may be right. Like I said in response to Magnus, if they are saving him for OSU, I agree with both of you. My thought was based upon the premise that he would not be able to go against Iowa or OSU. If that is the case, what are we saving him for? The Capital One-Valueless-Scrimmage Bowl?
He is not making the decision. The doctors are. Denard is either cleared to play or not based on what they say; not Hoke. As far as the coaches are concerned, per Hoke, Denard's health is the most important factor.
So if he is cleared by the docs and then actually able to grip the ball, he will play and play QB. Otherwise he won't play; period, unless it is a victory formation kneeldown or the like.
All the rest of this supposition is just that and really meaningless in the end. Magnus is right.
Edit: "Saving him" will never enter into it.
If Denard isn't ready to play quarterback, I want him to heal...whether it's for Ohio State or for the bowl game.
Putting him out there to risk injuring his elbow further is dumb if it's not healthy enough for him to play QB. It's a terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible idea. The worst idea ever.
If he is healing for Ohio, then I agree with you. Having Denard in that game would be huge, so if there is a chance that he can play, we agree - rest him (maybe let him line up as a decoy on one or two plays if the game is closer than we would like, but otherwise, nothing where there is a risk).
BUT, if the medical staff has made a determination that Denard is not going to be full go for Ohio and is going to ride the pine with a headset on, I don't see the value of saving him to play in the capital one bowl.
And, I bet if you were to ask Denard, he would rather be out there contributing in some role, even as a decoy, than spectating.
^ What Magnus said. Additionally, if he can't grip the ball, aren't you at least a little bit concerned about fumbles???
First off, even without touching the ball, having Denard line up in the slot would be a very powerful decoy for at least 1-2 plays.
Second of all, the manner in which a football is gripped when running and when throwing are entirely different.
Third, my suggestion was based on the assumption that the coaches would not play denard at ANY position if (1) he couldn't hold onto the football and represented a fumble risk, or (2) there was any increased risk of injury.
So you want Denard to learn a completely new position in 1 week? That'll go well.
Re-read my post - I never said to play him at RB. I said to use him as part of a 2-QB set for jet sweeps, screens, etc.
If you will recall, we actually ran this set quite a few times in the first half of 2011, so he is familiar with it.
Ask the NFL's best receiver, Calvin Johnson, how easy it is to catch and hold a football when you have nerve damage.
As magnus said, this is the worst idea ever.
I said 2 posts above the one to which you responded:
"my suggestion was based on the assumption that the coaches would not play denard at ANY position if (1) he couldn't hold onto the football and represented a fumble risk, or (2) there was any increased risk of injury."
The premise was based upon the assumption that he could not throw but that the specific nerve damage that he sustained would not hamper him in the tasks required for the manner in which he would be used.
As for Megatron, you do know that his nerve damage was different than Denard's, right?
you're talking about the set that was mostly ineffective at moving the football? good idea, let's risk further injury to denard for 2 yards.
That set was effective a few times.
It was also run during the first few months of Borges / Hoke's tenure, when the coaches and players were trying to get a grasp of each other. It was also run with a Devin who is vastly different than the man who played in the NW game.
Also, you keep bringing up the risk of additional injury. You will note that I have said several times that in the scenerio I posited, it would only be something to consider if (1) Denard was able to grasp the ball such the fumbling wasn't an issue, and (2) there was no risk to Denard.
I obviously stand corrected on this issue after the Iowa game.
A legit concern, but remember that Denard carries the ball with his left hand almost exclusively. I would love to see him on the field if the "damage has been done" and the risk of furthering the injury is very low. But I'm not him, the staff or a doctor, so my wants-to-see-him-standing-next-to-gardner-for-a-play wishes mean little.
He carries the ball in his left hand even when he's going to his right, which has been the cause of several of his fumbles over the years.
From what I understand about his injury is that sudden impact to the nerve, if the nerve is exposed, can cause further damage. I've also heard refrence to your funny bone, so my guess is it has nothing to do with him not being able to grip the ball, which he may very well be doing just fine, but more to do with risking him impacting the nerve.
If Denard's ulnar nerve is so damaged that he can't even grip a football properly, do you really think it's a good idea to expose him to the threat of even greater damage?
Replace the "Go" and "Blue" in the student section pointing-back-and-forth chant with "shoe" and "lace" ?
Too bad the quarters are 15 minutes... in soccer they honor someone by cheering during the minute of the player's number... ie: when Aston Villa's captain Stiliyan Petrov (#19) was going through leukemia treatment, the entire stadium stood and cheered during the entire 19th minute of the game. It's pretty cool.
with banner of Denard's dreamy smile.
exceedingly large banner, like so...
Of this image
Lol.....Jesus. It's not a funeral.
But...I want denard....
It is to me.
Our Warrior has fallen.
dreamy....
Uhhhm, did I say that out loud. Nevermind, I am going to go arm wrestle somebody, and hunt something, something tough. Grunt.
as long as you leave your pants on we're good
Wait on second thought take those bad boys off.
I would approve of a giant Denard tifo in the student section, or a tifo for all the seniors.
is tifo not allowed in college football?
And the other seniors . . . they don't matter? Football's a one-man game now?
Bo would go ballistic over this idea. The team, the team, the team.
It is also Kennedy's last home game. I hope the first three quarters go so well for UM that Kennedy gets in for a few snaps.
Ending, of course, with a 7 yard TD pass to Brandon Moore for the last TD in the Big House for 2012.
Hopefully after that happens he busts some mad freestyles.
I say we honor Denard with Legend's Number 16 and patch in honor of the great Denard Robinson.
odds are out on the game now. Michigan -17. Not sure if they know something we don't about the QB situation.
There is no Quarterback situation. If Denard isn't available we have Vince Young, but better, ready to go. Normally you hear two quarterbacks = no quarterbacks but we have two good ones so who goes isn't as important as we thought two weeks ago.
I do not want to see Denard honored on Saturday in any way beyond what Kovacs, Roundtree, Roh, Demens, etc. get.
It's Senior Day, not Denard Day.
I'm not big on quoting coaches, but Schembechler said "The team, the team, the team." Let's keep it that way.
Denard has done a ton for our program, including being the ONLY aspect of M football receiving positive coverage from the media (i.e. what the recruits see) for the last 2 years of the RR era.
But, Kovaks, Tree, Roh, Demens and the others have worked just as hard, and have meant just as much, albeit in less media-hyped ways. Each of these guys could have taken the easy way out and transferred out of the shit-show that was Michigan football over the transition year(s). They all stayed and all deserve equal honor.
Don't forget to get in the stadium early for the senior day festivities occur prior to kickoff!
Regarding any sort of tribute, the blog "Holdin' The Rope" had an interesting piece on the waning days of Denard Robinson's collegiate career, and I think the author said it well:
"Michigan's 23 seniors will take the field to be honored on Saturday. Denard would likely tell you that he is no more important to Michigan than his fellow seniors. When Denard takes the field to be honored, a tinge of sadness will wash over hundreds of thousands of people, in the Big House and elsewhere. Fortunately, we have not yet reached the end. I suspect that we never will. A light burns, forever, its fuel inexhaustible. The sadness will subside, giving way to the ultimate tribute: everyone will smile."
It was that last sentence that sort of struck me. For a few years now, we've basked in the glow of his smile and the person and athlete behind it, and indeed, as we're smiling down on the seniors and giving them a well-deserved ovation, the smiles will certainly be inspired, in part, by Denard Robinson. It's a simple tribute which says a lot without words. Indeed, if they beat Iowa tomorrow, something this class has not done, it makes the day all that more poignant and special for everyone, including Denard Robinson.
In case you wanted to see how the exceedingly large banner plays out live. Imagine if we could do this with individually flowing dreads!
I love Denard as much as any Michigan fan. He is no doubt near or at the top of the list of the most electrifying players in the history of our program. That being said, I think we are all getting a little carried away here. We've had Desmond. We've had Woodson. We've had Carter. We've had Hart and Henne and Long. Believe it or not, they all played a last game at Michigan Stadium too. They were perhaps honored and applauded more vigorously than some of their lesser known classmates, but they were not idolized. I can't help but think Denard has taken on this godlike status because he has been so much fun and such a success who kept our program afloat through some tough times and ultimately thrive. I'll miss you Denard, but I can't help but look forward to the future Wolverine(s) who will join you near the top of that list.
I am guessing that if he is not going to play, and will only have one symbolic play, they will line him up at WR wearing the #1.
Maybe we should sacrifice 1000 bulls in his honor!!!!
Seriously do you people listen to yourself sometimes?
Denard Robinson is not Michigan football. We have had great players in the past, present, and we will in the future. They have all come through, they have all played their final games at Michigan Stadium, yet no one suggested the corronation that people are suggesting for Denard.
He is a great player and representative of this University, but so are the other 22 seniors who have given their blood, sweat and tears each day for the last 4-5 years to try to uphold the standards and traditions of Michigan Football. Each of these young men deserve our respect and admiration. They all deserve to be honored, on equal footing, not with one trumpeted above all others.
If you think Denard deserves special recognition, then I suppose you can clap harder and yell louder when his name is called. As for me, i'll be cheering just as hard for the other 22 guys, because although they weren't the face of the program for the past 3 years, they worked their asses off all the same to bring Michigan Football back.
So, do we use special knives and an altar for this bull sacrifice or what?
I'm a butcher so I would opt for my special meat cleaver
Sometimes, there's a man, well, he's the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that's Denard.
I think it would be pretty cool for them to make a video highlighting the achievements of all the outgoing seniors. That video could conclude with a scintillating highlights of the offensive team captain, to thunderous applause that bring tears to Denard's eyes.
I can't imagine how some of you reacted when Old Yeller died
Old Yeller DIES?!?!
I think that a fitting way for Robinson to be remembered by putting him in the final snap of the game. I think that is appropiate for the QB to relish the moment.