Tate- "All you need to know is I'm out"
I'm not going to attempt to analyze this on my own. Begin internal discussion and panic.
“All you need to know is I’m out.” - Tate Forcier
Less than a minute had passed since theMichigan football team beat Connecticut, 30-10, in the season opener and sophomore quarterback Tate Forcier appeared to make his decision.Through his words and his body language, he had no interest in remaining at Michigan. When asked if he had a minute, he responded with those eight words.
Those eight words said a lot.
As the rest of his teammates celebrated a win, Forcier looked like he lost. He spent most of the game sitting on the bench, a towel alternating between his shoulders and wrapped around his head as he watched fellow sophomore quarterback Denard Robinson run through, over and past a fairly hapless Connecticutdefense.
In those moments, Forcier looked like he wanted to be anywhere but Michigan. After the win, he went straight up the tunnel. He was the third person spotted out of the Michigan locker room, hugged a few people and began to walk off.
He blew off fans attempting to get autographs, instead jumping on his cell phone and searching for family and friends
Panic Mitigation!
The ever reliable TomVH did, in fact, post a conversation with Mike Forcier, so here's the link. Quotes and what not can be found there.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
D:
Robinson, don't get injured.
Angry Michigan Hating God, you've had enough fun already. Stop it.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
It may have been a mistake to play devin. Burned his redshirt and put the nail in the coffin on tate.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
Tate put the nail in his own coffin. He would be at least the #2 QB if he worked as hard as his teammates and carried himself the way the players were supposed too.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:27 PM ^
...the coaches and his teamates both with his work ethic and commitment. There are numerous quotes to that effect.
He lost some points over the summer, but he owned up to his mistakes and had a very good summer. Devin went in because they knew Denard's injury wasn't serious. Had it been serious, and they needed a QB for the rest of the game, Tate was the man. Instead, when DRob went down, they needed someone to run the same offense and keep the same momentum...DG was the fit for that. I do not honestly believe that if we needed a starter besided DRob, RR would turn to anyone but Tate.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^
Whatever we may think about putting Devin in over Tate, we have far fewer than all the facts necessary to make this judgment.
September 5th, 2010 at 1:35 AM ^
Right. It's perfectly possible Tate's been sulking since Rodriguez told him he wouldn't be starting last night and Rodriguez didn't want that energy on the field.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
well I am disappointed. To quote Dumb and Dumber, "do you realize what you've done?!"
September 4th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
In before mod deletion.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
Would I be panicking, exactly?
Although to be fair, you're not suggesting that anyone *should* panic, you're just guessing that it will happen. And you're probably right.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:21 PM ^
I tried to present this with minimum bias or pathetic analysis of my own, I can only assume someone's gonna troll and create panic. I, personally, think we should wait this out and not jump to conclusions.. maybe the friends and family can talk to him
September 4th, 2010 at 9:19 PM ^
The Team, The Team, The Team
September 4th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^
This is the quote that stood out to me:
If there’s a question about the sophomore’s demeanor, it is this. He rarely cheered an offensive play. In the fourth quarter, as Michigan ran out the clock, it appeared as if he could barely watch.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
kthxbai
September 4th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
He just meant "out" as in I'mm leaving the stadium. Relax.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
September 4th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
I'd say not much to panic about....it's pretty apparent Denard is 'The Man' and if he gets hurt, then Devin will be it.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^
Say it ain't so.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
Moved to the top. Ignore this.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
Thanks for the update. Glad to hear the situation is not as bad as the quote, glad to hear the family is taking the long view/high road on this. Having said all that not sure burning a redshirt for 1 play to show disciplinary action was the right move by RR. Tate will be needed in the B10 schedule if Dilithium is used 29 times a game and the running backs are not able to hit the line at full speed.
(ED: by the time i was done typing the tweet had moved to the top of the page, just glad I can get back on the the blog)
September 4th, 2010 at 9:42 PM ^
I would have had Tate as the #2 QB over Devin, and I would have planned to redshirt Devin. But the coaches know a *lot* more than we do.
Plus: if this is how Tate was going to respond to this, then I say good riddance. RichRod did the right thing.
EDIT: After reading Tate's father's comments, I should add a *huge* caveat to my comment above. The "if" was already in the sentence, but now consider it a very, very important qualifier.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^
Basically . . . what Mike Forcier is saying is that Tate wants to transfer, but Mike is trying to talk him out of it.
That's not promising.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
I was kind of bummed they played Devin, but looking after Tate's feelings shouldn't have influenced that decision. Interesting to see what happens
September 4th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^
I agree, Magnus. This is trouble, and bigger than some folks think. If he goes, and Denard gets banged up, we're back to a freshman QB again.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:46 PM ^
He will be fine. Tate was pissed he didn't get to play which is understandable coming from a 19 year old. Coaches and his parents will put things in perspective for him and hopefully he will grow from this. Long year and his number will be called at some point I am certain.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:48 PM ^
Talking him out of it is the best thing he can do for his kid. You don't want quitting to be a pattern in life. Tate also doesn't have Ryan Mallett type talent where he can transfer and start just about anywhere.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:51 PM ^
to many people are jumping on tate and shame on you for it.
Cmon tate there we'll be better days.
for all you that are going to say "oh its the forciers transferring is what they do." FUCK YOU
I am sure you are different from your brother or sister don't blame him or his family for the past.
Tate whether you are a reserve or starter you are better for being at Michigan. Push the starters and Earn what your are given.
for anyone else who wants to be a douche and says to transfer. you are an idiot, and I thought we as fans were better than that
September 5th, 2010 at 1:18 AM ^
thanks for putting that quite so clearly.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
That calls for more than a deletion. That should be a review of the poster's history and a possible time-out.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:00 PM ^
whatever. have you seen QBFORCE.com?!?!? It ain't normal. I wish dad would stay out of it and let Tate decide if he's going to be a man or not and be a good teammate or a sulking baby because he didn't get to play today. His brothers transferring only adds fuel to the fire and acknowledging that isn't being a troll, it's being a realist. There is some serious dysfunction and I think all 3 of those brothers have to be #1 or they take their ball and go home because that's how they were raised. Nothing any of them has done says otherwise.
I don't want him to go, we'll need him....but if he does he ain't worth having in the first place.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:28 PM ^
Go back to MLive.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:41 PM ^
If you were Jason Forcier and found yourself riding the pine behind Ryan Mallett and Chad Henne(NFL starter and future NFL player for sure)... you would have transferred too.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
Not that I'm defending his reaction, but let's be serious, that was a pretty big FU to him from the coaching staff. I know how pissed I'd be. I can certainly see myself running my mouth at the height of emotion. I'm not a Tate fan, but I do feel for the kid here.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
I don't understand how that's a big FU by the coaching staff for not playing Tate. I haven't been to a single practice, so I don't know how the QB's are doing. I trust our coaches want to win actual games and are putting the best players on the field.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:04 PM ^
Hmmmm...you have a sophomore who won 5 games and started 12 last year. Then you have a true freshman QB with amazing physical skills but who throws ridiculous interceptions against our crappy defense in practice.
There's no way around it - putting in Gardner was an FU/message/lesson intended for Forcier. It was political/disciplinary, not strictly due to "putting the best players on the field."
September 4th, 2010 at 10:35 PM ^
to all the freshman who havent been through an off season yet. Workouts are voluntary and so is playing time - is what RR always says.
Lloyd Carr used to throw transfer papers at players such as Perry, and Edwards (both first round picks).
This is not unprecedented and will say a lot about Tate on how he handles it.
It would be a huge blow to lose his skill set, but RR is the one whose job is on the line and you have to respect him for rewarding the hardwork and for putting his program over the players. I think RR has a real fondness for Tate, but feels he needs to break him so he can build him back up.
September 4th, 2010 at 11:47 PM ^
Maybe because he started all of our games last year, and won the first four in terrific fashion before he was injured playing superman vs. Indiana to win the game? Damn, man.
He probably didn't handle the news that Denard was starting very well, and the coaches don't want to condone his behavior. That'd be my guess anyway.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:52 PM ^
he's just another baby who doesn't deserve to wear the winged helmet.
September 5th, 2010 at 1:21 AM ^
I am sure he wasn't "another baby" last year when he beat ND and played well until...he tore his god damned labrum. Oh, and then that baby still played the season out.
Tate's an emotional kid; I think he'll grow from this...
End of the day the team will also need him this season. Raback that.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:58 PM ^
Rodriguez has been making it clear recently that he was not red-shirting Gardner - agree with it or not I think the decision was made before today. I hope Tate stays and works his way back in - we need him. It is just the first game - let's see where it goes from here.
His father's comments are very positive.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:53 PM ^
i certainly wish tate would stay, but i cant say i blame him if he leaves. if hes behind both denard and gardner as of now, i think it will be difficult for him to make up the ground on guys who are more natural fits for this system. And even if he did regain the starting roll, I doubt he would be able to hold onto it in future seasons, when the other quarterbacks have some more experience. The reality is that if he wants to have a shot at a future in the nfl, he needs to be somewhere that has an offense to fit his skillset.
I think this might end up hurting us later on in the season. Even though robinson had a successful day throwing the ball, tate might still be better equipped to face a defense that is better at containing a scrambling quarterback and has a better secondary.
im not certain putting gardner in the game was all that smart. first of all, i dont think id feel comfortable with him in the game in a meaningful situation. plus if denard can establish himself as the starter, and can maintain that position for the next 3 years, gardner wont be able to start until he is a senior.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
I find it helps to just take a deep breath, sit down in a cozy chair, and read. Might I suggest: 
September 4th, 2010 at 9:54 PM ^
From the "disciplinary" point of view, should we be thinking that Coach Rodriguez was making the statement "if you aren't committed over the summer, don't expect to play in the opener." ? Perhaps this isn't that Tate won't play, but that he was being held out of the first game. Hadn't considered that until I saw what Mike Forcier has said, but maybe I'm just slow.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
I figured this was the case as well.
Now, if Tate doesn't see the field against BG or UMASS, then I'd be worried.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
September 4th, 2010 at 9:57 PM ^
All I'm saying is Dad needs to be quiet...he just strikes me as an overbearing father who obsesses and lives vicariously through his kids and has too much influence in AA. This has nothing to do with him, so he should stay out of it.
September 4th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
He is entitled to his opinion and so are you. So, stop calling people names and grow up yourself. Kid is still a teenager.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:03 PM ^
All I'm saying is that you are an idiot.
September 4th, 2010 at 10:38 PM ^
statements to Tom? That is the definition of being a supportive father - one who is supporting both his son and the coaching staff.
Jason transferred because he wanted to play as did the other son. Both were buried on the depth chart. They never took any shots at the coaches or the team and in fact, Jason was a huge reason Tate chose M.
September 5th, 2010 at 12:59 AM ^
FACT: Chris Forcier took plenty of shots
September 4th, 2010 at 10:00 PM ^
the first thought that came to my mind and what I would ask everyone around me:
"over/under on days Forcier remains in the program, set at 2"
Oh well, can't blame the kid for wanting to actually play somewhere, he never looked like he was "all in" this season...best of luck to him