One Hoosier Journalist is sold on Denard...
...So much he's already in line to vote DROB for Heisman just as long as he shows up for the rest of the games.
Still a bit premature IMO. I think Denard has to do more than just show up but keep UM in the game even if they lose. But man oh man, I have to remind myself we are watching a one in a million performance by a kid who no one (except Rich Rod) ever thought would be playing QB in college
http://www.indystar.com/article/20101003/SPORTS15/10030357/Michigan-s-R…
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^
All Heisman talk is "premature" in a sense, but it is the way things are done now. The more a player is talked about early in the season, the more "leverage" he has when the voting is done. When Kanell said that a last-minute drive would do a lot to help Denard in the Heisman voting yesterday, just before Denard led that drive, it probably helped his cause a little.
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:49 AM ^
One week from today, Michigan's season will be half-over. It's too early to pick a winner, certainly, but it's a legitimate time to start thinking about candidates; legitimate contenders have announced their presence by now.
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:22 AM ^
How depressing.
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^
Ah, but you forget
we're playing 13 games this season ;)
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:32 AM ^
we are going bowling this year.. (or we better) I think if D Rob stays healthy he will be in NY for the heisman for sure
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:17 PM ^
okay, 44 percent over...
I guess if I were to include the Spring Game (my annual welcome to the season) then things are really looking up.
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
it looks half full to me?
October 3rd, 2010 at 12:58 PM ^
It is half full.
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:20 PM ^
Your avatar really jumps out to me. I keep waiting for it to say "uh.. are you listening to me? or just staring at me?"
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^
I'd say Denard should be on the radar. He had a great performance in a rivalry against Notre Dame and set some records there. Now to really sell himself though he needs a stud performance against a conference rival that has a decent defense. Tearing up PSU, tOSU, Wisconsin or Iowa for 200 on the ground and 200 in the air would be huge. If he can manage to post good numbers against those four and absolutely tear at least one of them up I'd say you have to put in the top 3 for Heisman.
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:07 AM ^
"If he can manage to post good numbers against those four and absolutely tear at least one of them up I'd say you have to put in the top 3 for Heisman. "
Top 3? If he does what you stated, he wins by a landslide. He's not just "on the radar"...he's the front-runner.
October 3rd, 2010 at 12:32 PM ^
I'm pretty sure we'll have 7 more games after next week.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
After next week, six games are history, with six to be played before the voting. All the bowls happen afterward.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:23 AM ^
Heisman voters can actually cast their ballots as early as the first week of November. That almost cost Woodson the Heisman in '97- the early vote was for Manning and the late vote was for Woodson. I don't know why they don't make them all wait until the end of the season.
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^
Well written article. For some reason, I like effusive post-game articles like that even more when they're about a guy from Michigan rather than, say, Ben Chappell.
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:33 AM ^
He seems to have that impact on people. I feel like teams keep saying things until the Denarding happens to them.
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:34 AM ^
He is a pretty good writer. He usually covers the Colts. I tend to enjoy his opinion pieces.
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:23 PM ^
Agreed - I'm a Colts fan and always enjoy his writing. He is very level-headed and doesn't tend to be overly effusive in his praise, so these comments mean more coming from him than most.
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:44 AM ^
It's nice to read an article that says "God's Heisman vote goes to Denard."
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^
There's only 1 thing I do prematurely....
And that 1 thing is giving the Heisman to Denard.
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^
but my favorite part was "When the Wolverines got the ball back with 1:15 remaining and the score tied at 35, was there any doubt how this script was going to end?" No, there was no doubt, not because we're Michigan and they're Indiana, but because we have the best player in all of college football.
October 3rd, 2010 at 1:17 PM ^
I was a little annoyed that we gave up that TD, but I knew Denard would lead us down the field. I think the last time I had that supreme confidence was with Brady his senior year - and Denard's only a sophomore!
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:24 AM ^
Said IU safety Mitchell Evans: "There's just no way you can replicate that kind of speed in practice.''
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:29 AM ^
...but they weren't creative enough to put a dread locked wig on a grey hound with a football attached to the dog and chase the dog around a dog track. That would have helped them replicate Denard's speed.
BTW, I am in no way saying Denard is a dog. Just explaing that's the only way to replicate Denard's speed.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:34 PM ^
BTW, I am in no way saying Denard is a dog. Just explaing that's the only way to replicate Denard's speed.
But you ARE advocating strapping wigs and footballs on dogs!? MONSTER!
/s
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^
"If Mark Ingram, Kellen Moore, Andrew Luck, Terrelle Pryor or any other Heisman hopeful wants a real shot at the trophy, he'd better cure cancer and forge a lasting peace in the Mideast. Because if Robinson stays healthy, he's going to strike that Heisman pose."
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:40 AM ^
The stats Denard is putting up are completely mind-boggling. I keep looking around thinking something must be wrong in the calculations, that a player just can't be this good.
He is still leading the nation in rushing yardage and is the 2nd highest rated passer in the Big Ten (behind Dan Persa, of all people). It is like he is a combination of LaMichael James (Denard gets more yards per carry even though he has the opportunity to be sacked) and a ridiculously efficient QB. He's on pace to rush for 2,000 yards and pass for 2,000 yards.
I keep thinking the Heisman talk is premature but when you look around the country he Denard remains the clearcut frontrunner.
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^
Tom Brady and Desmond Howard.
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:50 AM ^
We aren't even done with half the season yet and he has over 1000 yards passing and over 900 yards rushing... simply amazing.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:06 AM ^
about 6 or 9 minutes of the first quarter of the BG Game. Imagine if he didn't get hurt and played the first half of that game for giggles.
#$%^ ME! That's just amazing to ponder.
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
No one seems to be sold on Denard until they actually play him. Here's hoping he puts up gaudy numbers on absolutely everyone this season. It will be fun to watch the RCMB go from "Oh, there's no way he does that against a good D" to "The only reason they won is because they didn't spread the ball around. What a selfish player."
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:33 PM ^
If I know Spartan fans, they'll probably say something like, "Yeah, he had a big game, but we suck so it doesn't count. OSU is totally going to stop him."
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:41 AM ^
An award created by sports writers is of course talked/written about the entire season. That's the whole point really. So I'm not wondering IF the sports writers will stop talking about Denard, I'm wondering when the SEC fans start complaining that Ingram isn't getting the attention he deserves.
You have got to believe that the sports writers are literally drooling over the prospect of having the Heisman battle culminate at The Game. Certainly a Heisman candidate has to have the stats, but the flourish that the sports writers love is success in the key matchups of the season.
I almost feel like spending some time digging up Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson Heisman articles for a comparison. Looking specifically at the milestones, ND, MSU, OSU.
and then realize that Two Heisman Candidates will be battling it out in The Game. Nothing will be hyped more than that, and that high pitched whine you are just beginning to hear is the SEC fan nation. I love it.
October 3rd, 2010 at 12:06 PM ^
put in his pre-season predictions that Denard would rush for around 800 yards........
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
October 3rd, 2010 at 1:22 PM ^
thing is, IMHO, if Denard stays healthy, we should finish 10-2. if he stays healthy, and we finish 10-2, he will have put up staggering numbers. This defense will cost us games, it's simply a matter of time. I'm sure Denard will have a game where he puts up insane numbers in a loss.
I don't see teams suddenly figuring out how to stop him cold. i'm sure there will be games where he struggles to get 100 yards. The problem for defenses is that with his ability, there's either room for him to run or wide open receivers. he's only getting better in the pass game. it really is scary.
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^
This defense will cost us games
What if it doesn't?
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
then we go undefeated
October 3rd, 2010 at 2:21 PM ^
were to win the Heisman in his sophmore year? I would hope and pray he would find it in himself to stick around 50 years after his senior season.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:56 PM ^
I think this defense might allow Denard to win the Heisman.
October 4th, 2010 at 1:23 AM ^
"I guess you're goin' with me to the endzone, cuz' you ain't takin' my ball!"
