Hoken's Heroes

August 13th, 2010 at 4:40 PM ^

The team stashed them somewhere around campus and Tate's goal is to go find them...at least that's the most benign answer. I will REALLY be peeved if it comes out that Tate hasn't progress from last year.

Joined: 04/14/2009

MGoPoints: -97672

SouthernWolverineFan

August 13th, 2010 at 10:26 PM ^

he was reared to be a quarterback. he spent his entire life preparing for this moment...starting quarterback for university of michigan as a true freshman. he got rocket ship hype after incredible comeback against notre dame. gets his snap shot on front cover of sports illustrated. and the ridiculously premature espn analysis of 'who's the better freshman quarterback barkley or this comeback kid forcier?' the kid's future looked gotta wear shades bright.

then he got dinged up. team started losing. he lost something on his fastball, lost some confidence; mental decisions became deliberations and his whole game slow downed. was on the bench watching denard take final drive of iowa game. his mojo vanished. the horror of the collapse of a season.

those are some polar extremes. how a kid reacts to something like that bears a reflection of his fortitude. i was hoping (expecting) that he was going to be focused. study film. exercise and strengthen his shoulder, bond with teammates, mentally prepare for redemption and a break out sophmore campaign.

instead...he seems to have fattened up over the winter. perhaps enjoyed his freshman laurels. i dunno...but by the time the spring game came around he was playing with the 2s. rather than working harder and embracing the challenge, he seems to have lost his competitive fire. he missed some voluntary summer workouts. a senior leader for the team called him out in an interview with the press...and coach not so subtlely nods in agreement. the no wings on his helmet during practice is another not so subtle reminder that he either needs to get his shit together or he's going to be third on the depth chart and yet another forcier might be transferring from the program. unable to cut it.

i hope the years of training, dedication, and dreaming ignite his competitve spirit, and he battles back, sucks it up, and contributes any way he can this season. kid needs to hang out with moundros more and learn how to be a man, team mate and then a player.

c'mon tate, i'm rooting for you....get yer head outta yer ass.

Joined: 08/24/2009

MGoPoints: 126

Argyle

August 13th, 2010 at 4:03 PM ^

Lot's of shit talking on these boards. Leave the kid be. We'll know soon enough who'll start at quarterback. All three are talented and all three are contributing. For now, let's just relax and not read too much into the tweeted tea leaves.

Joined: 09/26/2009

MGoPoints: 1314

CapedBlueSader

August 13th, 2010 at 4:05 PM ^

I can't wait to walk into the Big house on Sept. 4th and see Tate and Denard in all of their glory. Both warming up getting ready to lead us to a season opening victory. I can only hope it ends with all of the players standing in front of the student section singing "Hail to the Victors!"

Joined: 06/24/2010

MGoPoints: 369

njv5352

August 13th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^

Just maybe this is some lingering effects from his surgery this past offseason.  RR did say that the last thing he wanted was to have injuries during the pre-season practices. I would be cautious if I were RR. We could use all the depth we have available.

Joined: 06/28/2010

MGoPoints: 472

michWolves2580

August 13th, 2010 at 4:06 PM ^

Complete list of people who had a solid blue helmet are Tate Forcier, Jerald Robinson, Jeremy Gallon,  and Austin White. Interesting that they are all offensive players, but dont want to read to much into it like RR said, maybe just a equipment problem. Cant really think of another reason, unless they messed up and RR doesn't think they earned the wings or whatever.

Joined: 12/16/2009

MGoPoints: 887

corncobb

August 13th, 2010 at 4:08 PM ^

The more I hear about the emergence of Denard as a passer and of DG's competetive nature, I can't help but be intrigued by the idea that Tate was a 'one hit wonder' last year. If you really think about it, if he isn't the main man, Forcier family history shows that he would bail (this is not wishful thinking). I know everything is pure speculation at this point, and everything pertaining to depth charts and 'who hasn't been training well in the off-season' is conjecture, but I can't help but let my mind wander.

I like what Tate brought last year. He got banged up early and that changed the course of the season IMHO,  but he had some truly brilliant moments even with the bad shoulder. If RR believes the other two guys have surpassed a healthy Tate, we have two really interesting options at the position. I want nothing but the best for everyone on the team, but I am so geared up for the season these types of things are all I think about. I know it will all work out before UConn obviously, but I am anxiously anticipating the answer.

Joined: 08/31/2009

MGoPoints: 1042

Firstbase

August 13th, 2010 at 4:18 PM ^

Sources close to the University of Michigan football team report that in a college football first, both Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson will take the first snap against the University of Connecticut this September 4th to demonstrate team unity. "We were like, sure coach! That's a great idea," offered Forcier. Robinson stated, "Yeah. We're both gonna run a sneak, but we're not sayin' which side of the line we're favoring. Let UConn guess." 

Michigan head coach Rich Rodriquez added, "Molk (the Michigan center) is gonna have to learn to widen his stance a bit. We're hoping it doesn't stress his injured knee too much, but we think it will unite the team like nothing else will. All that matters is The Team, The Team, The Team. We're excited to see this formation in use in a real game." 

The play has been designated the "Siamese bootleg" and is yet another first for the University of Michigan's prolific football program. 

Lloyd Carr was unavailable for comment, but is expected to eventually say, "Tremendous," when asked.

Joined: 09/30/2009

MGoPoints: 9369

Bodogblog

August 13th, 2010 at 4:29 PM ^

Forcier was a true freshman last year, with a bad shoulder, suspect OL, and injured running backs.  The kid coming in and doing what he did was clutch, nothing but

Think about what could have been w/out our man Tate: Nick Sheridan? Kevin Newsome if he had come here and was forced to play?  How about a full season of Denard Robinson playing full time?  He wasn't anywhere near ready

No one blamed Denard last year for not being ready to be the starter.  Let's cease with this kind of nonsense on Tate.  If he came in less than prepared, RR will take care of it, and his playing time will suffer.  But don't re-write the square pegs of last year's football history to fit your round holes

Joined: 06/08/2010

MGoPoints: 26674

BlockM

August 13th, 2010 at 4:13 PM ^

Ugh. This whole premise is ridiculous. BTN never said he wasn't AT practice, it said he missed most of it, which would seem to imply that he wasn't at 100%. It's not like he was in his dorm room playing video games or locked in a shed on the practice field or anything.

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 40730

joeyb

August 13th, 2010 at 4:25 PM ^

http://www.bigtennetwork.com/brentyarina/index.asp

WHO'S UNDER CENTER?: Rich Rodriguez gave us the obvious answer when we asked about his quarterback situation: "It's still an open race," he said. It's easy to see why he feels that way after attending Friday's practice. Michigan, you can argue, has three worthy candidates. Sophomore Denard Robinson, already a feared runner, has improved immensely as a passer and much-heralded recruit Devin Gardner looked like the real deal, while Tate Forcier, last year's starter, missed most of the day. As a result, Robinson and Gardner received the bulk of the snaps, and based on the results, it wouldn't be a surprise if both saw action in the season opener.

They aren't trying to stir anything up. They just don't know how to do research to find out that he was banged up and sat on the sidelines. This isn't any sort of big deal.

Joined: 10/12/2008

MGoPoints: 16845

BiSB

August 13th, 2010 at 4:28 PM ^

1) Just yesterday, RR and Schilling were saying that Tate was doing all of the right things in practice, so the odds are that it is a physical thing and not a JT Turner I'm-taking-my-ball-and-going-home type of situation.

2) Tate participated in practice to an extent, so whatever the problem is, it isn't a devistating physical injury/illness.

So what are we left with?  If I had to put money on something, I'd bet that this is just a case where he's dinged, banged, or sick.

Joined: 08/15/2009

MGoPoints: 46071

learmanj

August 13th, 2010 at 5:56 PM ^

How about this for speculation?  Maybe Tate sat out because Rich Rod didn't want to show off just how much Tate has improved.  Maybe Tate is the secret weapon right in front of everyone's face.  If true, this would be very telling.

Joined: 08/28/2009

MGoPoints: 1954