Tate's Decision to Stay a Wolverine: The Backstory
What made Tate Foricer decide not to transfer when so many were telling him to pull the trigger? Loyaly, and the realization that even though he was no longer the starter, there would be opportunities to play. In a telephone interview with his hometown San Diego-Tribune, Foricer was frank and open.
“It’s hard to go from starting to backing up. A lot of people told me to leave. I wanted to leave. But it was just too hard. I didn’t want to leave the (coaching) staff or these players. I felt I was going to be a part of something great.”
“Two quarterbacks have to play in this offense. It might not happen every game, but you’re going to get your chance. I’m not banking on Denard getting injured. Nothing like that. But in this offense, you never know what can happen.”
“A lot of people would think me and Denard would have something against each other because he starts, but Denard is a good guy. We hang out. And he works hard. What’s hard for me is he’s having so much success and there’s nothing you can do about it except stay ready.”
“I’ve learned to be way more humble. I look back at freshman year, and I was a little cocky. I was getting too caught up in seeing myself on TV every week. I think that would happen to anybody who would go from being a regular kid in high school to a national stage like that. It was crazy.”
The headline "Forcier Found Michigan Ties too Strong" and the closing tell the story:
This season has brought Forcier a new reality and a new perspective. If he is not yet part of something great, he continues to grow.
Let's hope this continues to be the case.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:11 PM ^
It'll be interesting to watch him back up Denard AND Devin the next two years.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:20 PM ^
I understand that he handled his demotion poorly, but damn. Even Stanley Jackson and Steve Bellisari didn't get this sort of hatred.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:24 PM ^
It's not hate for Tate. Not at all. That's not why i posted why I did. The truth is that Denard and Devin will likely be better quarterbacks, in Michigan's offense, than Tate will be in 2011 and 2012. Denard is great, and Devin might eventually be better. I'm not sure Tate fits into this situation.
November 28th, 2010 at 8:08 PM ^
Hate Stanley Jackson? I'll just go ahead and speak for Andre Weathers in saying we can do no such thing.
November 28th, 2010 at 10:00 PM ^
how is this hate? -38 points? fuckin chill- that's just what he thinks- disagree if you want to.
November 30th, 2010 at 2:01 PM ^
I'd say your comment, ("It'll be interesting to watch him back up Denard AND Devin the next two years."), while technically possible, is far douchier than anything Tate's done or said.
Denard's a classy, humble kid, but that doesn't give you an excuse to be an asshat to Tate.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
I know what it is like to lose something you tried your hardest to keep.
It is brutal.
But you have to decide what is really important and move forward.
Tate has handled that situation about as well as anyone could. My hat's off to him.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
Tate Forcier = Michigan Man
November 28th, 2010 at 8:15 PM ^
I thought that if he came through it all and stayed to play, we would be blessed with one bad-ass qb.. I stand by that.
November 30th, 2010 at 2:03 PM ^
I think part of Tate's problem is just being too amped sometimes. He's got to find a way to harness the nervous excitement.
His best football is still ahead of him and I'm grateful that he stayed.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:16 PM ^
That's a great interview, thanks for flagging. He shows a lot of humility and maturity -- and honesty, admitting that he wanted to leave, and how hard it is to be on the sidelines.
RR has been smart about giving him playing time in each game, so he can feel like he's part of things.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:18 PM ^
Comrade.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:27 PM ^
Wow. I'm quite impressed. This makes me like him a lot more.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:31 PM ^
A lot of people told me to leave.
These people need to be forced to run the stadium steps until they puke or pass out.
November 28th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
He's growing as a person; isn't that what college is about?
As for people telling him to leave: idiots.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^
Great coaching is assisting in player development on & off the field. Tate is handling the situation & himself well. Glad he's a Michigan Wolverine!
November 28th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^
That's great to hear. I knew things had turned around with him after the Illinois win - which made us bowl eligible - to hear Tate's comments then. He didn't talk about himself or his performance - he was first happy to help get the Seniors to a Bowl game, then he said "I have 2 more years" and there'll be more bowl games.
There's a lot for Dave Brandon to consider, but this is one of them: all things considered, I don't think I'd trade our QBs for any set of QBs in the country.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:43 PM ^
Tater Nutz brought something to the table even Denard couldn't. It almost seems he is more elusive in the pocket without running. Maybe it is moxie, or true grit. Not sure, but glad to see him stick around. RR should work in some plays where he and Denard are on the field at the same time.
O, yea. I always think of this with Tater Nutz:
November 28th, 2010 at 7:48 PM ^
Will get rewarded when he becomes the starter in Jim Harbaugh's offense in 2011 (zing!).
Legit question, though - who's the likely starter in the event Jim Harbaugh is the MIchigan coach next year? I am NOT assuming he will OR calling for RichRod's head by asking this question, just thinking through an option. I actually think Tate's probably the guy (Harbaugh recruited him for Stanford, more traditional QB, etc.).
November 28th, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
Mallett
November 28th, 2010 at 8:58 PM ^
I think it's open and Tate has a much better chance to start then he does now. Ultimately Devin might be the guy if he stays he has the running ability and he can throw. He also has much better touch then Denard. Who knows what will happen if Harbaugh becomes coach.
It is a sensitive topic to think about the future here. I'm just going to wait and see i'll support the team either way.
November 28th, 2010 at 10:57 PM ^
I am pretty confident that he will try to use Denard as his QB. He would know that he has one of the top 3 weapons in college football and not using him would be idotic. If for some reason he decides that they can do better with Devin or Tate and use Denard somewhere else, fine, but I doubt that would happen. If it did, I would bet on Devin. I think he could be very similar to Andrew Luck in that he isn't the runner Denard is but he can run and he can throw it well. Andrew Luck isn't a statue QB. he isn't Danard, but they do use some option principles. It's not like Kirk Ferentz is coming in here, or at least I hope not.
November 28th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
I've always thought that he got an unfair rap. People who meet Denard Robinson tend to be very impressed by how nice a kid he is, and I certainly believe it. That doesn't mean, however, that Tate is a douchebag. While I found the youtube video of the two QBs arguing very funny, I also thought that it was a little unfair, a little presumptuous, and kind of mean. And even if Tate was upset about losing the starting job, do you really think that you wouldn't quietly feel the same way if you were in his shoes, even if at the same time you were happy for Denard and believed in a team effort? The kid has swagger, sure, but I found it healthy.
Besides, does this tidbit really make Tate seem that douchy?
And when the scare-tactic movie “Paranormal Activity,” a surprising hit among the college crowd, came out, he went with some friends only to find out that it was sold out.
“He’s not the type to go up to the manager and say, ‘Do you know who I am? I’m the Michigan quarterback,’ or whatever,” Jason said. “He’ll go home and check another time or make other plans. He doesn’t think he should be getting special treatment or anything. He’s just another regular kid.”
November 28th, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
First off, if Jason is Jason Forcier, well, that's some convenient window-dressing on behalf of his brother.
Second off, this website:
http://www.qbforce.com/tate/michigan/Michigan-splash.htm
accomplishes more than his words ever could. "Loyal fans....Good Media Reporting.....Mistakes, Pain, Shame and Critics."
November 28th, 2010 at 9:18 PM ^
You do realize that his dad runs that website, right? Poor kid.
November 29th, 2010 at 12:53 AM ^
I noticed that, JG, but I'll still take his word for it, even with a grain of salt.
November 30th, 2010 at 2:08 PM ^
"well, that's some convenient window-dressing on behalf of his brother"
Wow, dude. Really?
All the stuff going down lately and you have to keep running your suck about a kid that made a gutsy choice to stay and ride it out, rather than take the easy route and start somewhere else?
November 28th, 2010 at 7:57 PM ^
"What’s hard for me is he’s having so much success and there’s nothing you can do about it except stay ready."
Not at all a fan of this quote. I hope it just came out wrong.
"I was getting too caught up in seeing myself on TV every week. I think that would happen to anybody who would go from being a regular kid in high school to a national stage like that."
Except for like, you know, Denard.
November 28th, 2010 at 8:57 PM ^
what he went through, with the benefit of hindsight and greater maturity. Not only reasonable, but evidence the kid has some depth, I'd say.
November 28th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
Guess what, he is a kid. I shudder when I remember some of the things I said/did at that age. Denard may just be a bit more grounded. They had different upbringings and learned different lessons from their parents. Ultimately, I hope they both mature in their own way; they are both receiving a unique education/experience in Ann Arbor that will stay with them a lifetime.
All that said, I feel none of the apprehension one would normally feel when the back-up QB comes in. Tate plays with confidence and competence when he comes in, notwithstanding some turnovers, etc. That says a lot about our QB situation. Hopefully DG will be able to contribute as well.
November 28th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
is that he's realizing it, even that It may have taken him being removed from the spotlight to do so. Whatever shows up on the field, the coaches are apparently doing what we hope they would off the field. RRod isn't fond of divas, but he recognizes the difference between a diva and a kid who needs help to grow up. He got his wings back, and he's mature enough to stay and learn even when he doesn't get the ball.
November 28th, 2010 at 10:36 PM ^
before this season started as well as last season. Tate was a pretty cocky guy who thinks that he's an amazing QB. I thought to myself that if Tate doesn't watch out for himself, it could come back to bite him in the butt which it did. I've seen Tate again this season and he's much more mature and a lot less cocky. Pretty safe to say that he has been humbled by the process. I would expect Tate to work his butt off this off-season because he knows that it's an open competition. Denard, on the other hand, is quiet and humble yet confident in his ability to play QB. I came away impressed with Denard's temperment and he is still the same person now as he is a year ago. The QB competition will be fierce this off-season.
Devin is similar to Denard with regards to temperment and personality. Expect Devin to make a big push for the starting job next season.
November 29th, 2010 at 12:27 AM ^
and if that is Devin so be it. But man, it sure would be nice to start an experienced upperclassman at QB. Remember what that used to be like?
November 29th, 2010 at 4:22 AM ^
is nice to have an experienced QB. Tate has a year of starting experience under his belt. Ditto with Denard. You know RR, he's going to play the best player. Last year, it was Tate. This year, it's Denard. Hopefully, next year, it'd be Denard. It's a good problem to have for RR because he has two QBs that he can win with plus an another QB who has a higher ceiling than both Tate and Denard. RR learned his lesson that he can't get caught with his pants down when Pat White went down with an injury. Illinois game was a great example because Denard got hurt and Tate took over. The offense didn't miss a beat sans a couple of turnovers.
November 28th, 2010 at 8:27 PM ^
Good interview by Tate. I am very impressed with Tate given his well-documented success early on last year to his challenges this summer to having to begin the year as the #3 QB. I can't imagine the pressure on him by family/friends/media to "make the move" away from Michigan, and yet he stayed, work hard, matured and helped the Team throughout this fall. Well done, and thanks, Tate.
November 28th, 2010 at 8:37 PM ^
of Denard on the bench. It was just as hard this year watching Tate sit out much of the season. I was hoping that Tate's skills would be used more and Denard at times would be in the WR position(even if only used as a decoy). With Coach Rod's offense, the QB gets alot of hits and to ask Denard to keep getting up play after play is( IMO) asking to much. While I'm sure a young player like Denard is willing to take the hits, I think Coach Rod should of used Tate more to give Denard a break. This would allow both players a break and defenses would have more to prepare for-just my opinion.
November 28th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
I do wonder whether Denard will be constantly plagued by injuries because of the pounding he takes in our run oriented spread. He is extremely tough, but anyone will wear down over a long season with constant hits and a target on his back.
November 28th, 2010 at 11:28 PM ^
I wouldn't think so if Dee becomes the RB that everyone is hoping for. Having someone that explosive at RB takes a lot of the running load off the QB, thus less hits and a healthier Denard.
November 29th, 2010 at 12:23 AM ^
plus more running room when he does carry it. Next year opposing defenses will have to "pick their poison"
November 28th, 2010 at 8:38 PM ^
Boren just got family valu'd.
November 29th, 2010 at 7:07 AM ^
November 28th, 2010 at 8:53 PM ^
I'd much rather have Tate at QB for my alma matre's football team than an unlikeable, incoherent wack-job like Pryor. This interview was a nice read and I certainly hope the best for Tate and his education.
November 28th, 2010 at 8:55 PM ^
everyone hates on him for his frustration yet he's made touch decisions (and tough plays) at difficult times. compare that to the selfish actions of some players, whether on the team, left behind on game days or gone entirely, and i have a ton more respect for him than i did before.
November 28th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
God, Tate throws a great swing pass.
November 29th, 2010 at 1:39 AM ^
one of the worst sport show tandems, her and rob parker. Almost as bad as valenti and foster.
November 28th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
November 28th, 2010 at 10:32 PM ^
It's good to see his maturation over the last 4-5 months. He's a team player. To be honest, I used to think he was a bit of a douche, but I love this kid now.
November 29th, 2010 at 12:41 AM ^
Thanks for posting this. It's nice to read his thoughts and his reasons to stay. With this system we definitely need him. His candor, dedication and loyalty are great qualities of a real leader and certainly one of the best.
November 29th, 2010 at 1:36 AM ^
I've heard some stories about Tate's crazy partying during the summer, while Denard was putting in the work. Still glad to see he's matured a bit.