Drew Sharp throws Denard under the bus

Submitted by CaptainBlue on


Robinson, from Deerfield Beach, Fla., knows that should Rodriguez be fired, it's likely his successor would shelve the principal elements of the spread offense U-M employs. That's obviously frustrating, but if Robinson is truly serious about being a team leader he cannot leave mixed signals. He can't stand there one second shepherding the masses to the next challenge of this program and then in the next instance suggest that he might be more about the system than the program.

 

http://www.freep.com/print/article/20110102/COL08/101020670/Will-U-M-s-…-

(Yes, that is the print version so they won't get clicks.)

Honestly? I know that Drew Sharp's name makes most of us cringe, and this might not even be worth reading, but I can't understand how he could write this piece.

Sure, Denard didn't give a "of course I'm coming back to Michigan," but who in their right mind could expect the kid to have 100% certainty about anything right now? Do I think he'll leave? No, I don't. But still, there is no certainty in the program right now: his coach is likely to be gone, his backup is quite possibly gone, and his own playing style is uncertain until a new coach is selected.

What I'm saying is, Denard Robinson, the same young man who singlehandedly led this 2010 Michigan team to a winning record by beating both school and national records, has never said anything but the "right" thing. After every game, they'll ask about his incredible feats, he'll defer the credit to the O-line and the coaches. He does everything right. He's not the media darling in the sense that he rambles and gives juicy details, but he makes everyone smile when he gets interviewed because he is such a nervous, humble, calm young man.

Forget whether or not he is returning, there was no way he was throwing his coach (who was sitting next to him in the press conference) under the bus and giving a decision. I don't think he'll leave, but I think he deserves time to think too, and it's people like Drew Sharp who destroy kids' confidence and desire to just play the game they love.

Look at the records he's set; look at what this season would have been without him; look at the extra month and a half that the team got because of this one athlete; look at the 20-year-old that turned this program around in a season better than Rich Rodriguez did in three years. The team didn't deserve 7 wins, but Denard won them 7. Appreciate that, give him his time, he is going to continue to be a special player and an even better leader of this team.

But will Robinson share that same commitment in another week if his coach doesn't come back for next year?

Please don't call out this kid's dedication and commitment.

I apologize if this link was already posted, but I looked through the past few sections and didn't see anything...

BlockM

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^

If there's one person that should be immune from this type of bullshit it's Denard. I don't care if he goes to OSU, I'll cheer for him. (Please don't go to OSU and make me live up to that, Denard.) He's the epitome of what a college football player should be.

justingoblue

January 4th, 2011 at 3:12 AM ^

Yea, it's pretty easy to sit there as a grown ass man with a career and talk down about commitment from Denard. Apparently he's forgetting that literally his entire future is at stake, and in a precarious position right now.

This kid has nothing but commitment, but does anyone really want to see Denard hinder his prospects at being able to keep playing, go to the next level and take care of his family? Denard is right up there with my favorite athletes currently playing, and there's nothing more that I like seeing than the maize and blue 16 he wears, but you can't fault a twenty year old amateur for looking out for his long-term interests.

After what he accomplished for Michigan this year, he at least deserves that understanding.

Magnus

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:47 PM ^

"No comment" is the right response to any question about the coaching situation.

Drew Sharp was recently fired from one of his jobs.  Maybe he should take the hint.

Plegerize

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:07 PM ^

Certainly does not surprise me.

This is the same asshole who called a 17 year old kid a criminal, saying his 40 time was achieved by running from the cops.

I hate to feed his trollism and thus will make this the last thing I say about him:

Drew Sharp is an idiot and I wait for his unemployment to celebrate.

Plegerize

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:36 PM ^

I'm referencing the Demar Dorsey commitment last winter and the Freep's response to his commitment.

Sharp went onto a talk radio show and started to discuss Demar Dorsey as a criminal and as someone who didn't deserve a chance to come to Michigan to play, and was real rude about it.

Look it up sometime, I was shocked that a professional writer, columnist albeit, would discuss a college athlete like he did.

Wolverine318

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:51 PM ^

Douche Sharp is just jealous Rich Rod is going to get a nice severance package from Michigan where all he got was a wedgie on the way out from his radio gig. 

In the great words of Rich Rod from the animated evaluation video Drew Sharp is a Hater hater hater and not all in. 

wlubd

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^

I could come up with something clever to say but Sharp isn't worth the energy it would take to do so. I'll just stick to something simple we can all agree on.

What an asshat.

rockediny

January 4th, 2011 at 12:38 AM ^

what exactly is an asshat? Is it something that actually exist? A hat for your ass? I'm assuming you would be clothed, making it quite useless. You won't need an asshat to protect your ass from the sun. How would you even wear it!!!!!??? I need answers now!!!

p.s. just found out what a doucebag is, apparently it's just a bag of douche.

samber2009

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^

IME, Denard has earned the right to make a decision that is best for him without any judgment from anyone.  I think he is the ultimate team player, and to assume he cares about the system more than the program seems crazy.  I really think Denard will stay because he knows he will be valuable to the team, and that is most important to him. Sharp is just trying to stir shit up because he has nothing better to do. 

aaamichfan

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:03 PM ^

To be honest, this is probably the most reasonable Drew Sharp piece I've read in about four years(not saying much). He's still being a dickhead, but it doesn't seem like he went out of his way to incite anger.

foreverbluemaize

January 3rd, 2011 at 10:57 PM ^

I was always amazed at his high level of humilty and I think Drew just always manages to show what an asshole he is. Denard we all love you and hope that you can overlook the ramblings of an idiot.

tenerson

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:00 PM ^

You pick on our coach, fine, he's the figurehead, he's a big boy and he gets paid a lot of money to coach and take the heat or the praise, however, when you go after Denard, you will feel the wrath. I don't what kind of wrath but there will be a wrath.

bing24

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:06 PM ^

This guy is seriously Rob Parker reincarnated. Nothing but slander journalism to detract attention from his lack of journalistic skills. He writes nothing positive, EVER. It's only a matter of time before he puts his foot in mouth just as Parker's ugly ass did and he's shipped out of town...Just can't come soon enough!

Denard is a class act and a great face to our program...GO BLUE Denard, and please don't listen to ass clowns like this!

profitgoblue

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:11 PM ^

Seriously. If he hasn't alienated every single Michigan fan in the reading area, he's damn well come close. And assuming Michigan fans constitute 40% of the readership, that's a lot of lost readers for the Free Press. Why would they continue to pay this idiot?

estrombe2015

January 3rd, 2011 at 11:51 PM ^

I honestly cannot read to one more word that he or an other freep writer puts in an article.  Denard is a great guy, something that he is entirely unfamiliarly with, and has handled himself with incredible poise this whole season, despite pretty much being our whole team.  He has worked his butt off this last year to earn the starting job over Forcier and has shied away from all of the accolades he has received since then.  He has deserved everything he has gotten and then some.  For Sharp to call this kid "more about the system than the team" is ludicrous.