Drew Sharp throws Denard under the bus

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-…-

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...