MSU @ UM "a flower that sprouted from a dump"

Submitted by steelymax on

I read this in the Chicago Tribune this morning and just wanted to share how the MSM outside the state is viewing this game.

No. 17 Michigan State (5-0) at No. 18 Michigan (5-0), a flower that sprouted from a dump.

It would have been maize-boggling a month ago to think this Big Ten Conference stinker in Ann Arbor would have implications beyond the campus police station or an NCAA appeals board.

He goes on to create an angle that equates MSU's double-digit arrests with Michigan's NCAA investigation (emphasis mine):

There was not an employee in America on a hotter seat than third-year Michigan man Rich Rodriguez, who seemed on the precipice of dismissal after misleading a storied franchise to a 5-7 record last year. If losing wasn't bad enough, Michigan was also cheating, breaking NCAA rules for practice-time limits.

Then he gives Rodriguez a backhanded compliment, using the word "genius" but ultimately saying Denard's emergence was a complete accident.

Rodriguez isn't in the clear yet — his team started 4-0 last year before collapsing — but he somehow located his career repair kit. His decision to start sophomore Denard Robinson at quarterback over last year's starter, Tate Forcier, has thus far proven to be a stroke of genius. Or, "Why didn't I think of this earlier!"

It was like stumbling into Jackie Robinson.

So in summary:

  1. This game sprouted from a dump
  2. Twenty minutes of stretching is the same as violent assault
  3. Rodriguez stumbled onto Denard

link (print view):

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/la-sp-1007-dufresne-20101007,0,4024179,print.column

BlockM

October 7th, 2010 at 10:55 AM ^

I don't think Rodriguez had a stroke of genius at all, except in recruiting DRob. It was painfully obvious last year that he should not be starting, and it appears that it was painfully obvious this spring and fall in practice that he should be. It takes a great football mind to put Denard into the kinds of situations where he can take full advantage of his speed and newfound passing ability, but it didn't take a genius to put him in the game.

moredamnsound

October 7th, 2010 at 11:03 AM ^

There's a book by Stephen Crane that says something along the lines of this quote. It's a story of how a girl grows up in the slums of NYC. Early on she's referred to as "a flower in a mud puddle" or something like that. Despite her being the best of a bad situation, she grows up to be a prostitute anyway.

Perhaps a good metaphor for Sparty, too bad we had to be included.

Also, I really don't care what this guy says. He doesn't seem that knowledgeable on the situation either. He makes it seem like RR just had Denard benched and the all of the sudden was like "OMG he should be playing!" When really Denard had to work hard to get the starting job.

BornInAA

October 7th, 2010 at 11:09 AM ^

is from an LA Times writer who is obviously very bitter about the current state of USC.

Funny how he points to Michigan's "extra practice time" as so scandalous but it pales to the USC mess.

See ya in the Rose Bowl - too bad USC won't be attending.

Feat of Clay

October 7th, 2010 at 11:24 AM ^

That's a great article, thanks for posting it.  It strikes me as odd that they didn't mention his Dad, because another Martin article I read made a big deal about how both of his parents, although not married, set aside differences so they could both be there for him in his life.  It's like two different takes on it.  But you're right, I'd much rather read this than the words of some moron who thinks Rich Rod just woke up one morning this fall and decided to give Denard a try on a whim.

tlh908

October 7th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^

I agree with the article that Rod stumbled upon Denard, if by stumbled you mean that he saw how awesome he has even in HS before everyone else did.

UMAmaizinBlue

October 7th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^

Are you sure this didn't come from The Onion? To me this just sounds like some guy with a grudge against Michigan sports, and he decided to make himself feel better by bashing two 5-0 teams. Did he graduate from U. of Chicago and is upset that his team hasn't had football for awhile?

 

Besides, "stroke of genius"? Isn't RichRod widely considered among coaches as a genius of the game? Denard was no accident, but that article is a train wreck, except I don't even want to watch.