sdentuco

January 20th, 2011 at 12:45 AM ^

I wish he could have stayed because he was a good back up.  Was it determined that it was academics after all? I know his dad said that wasn’t the issue.

MGoJen

January 20th, 2011 at 12:45 AM ^

I've posted several times about Tate being my favorite player.  I fell in love with his moxy shortly after witnessing Forcier to Mathews.  I met him on fan day 2010 and got a picture with him as he signed my #5 jersey.  I told him how much I admire him and how I'm so happy he's a Wolverine.

I was deeply disappointed in his behavior at the UCONN game and then quite impressed with what appeared to be his personal transformation.  The comeback he staged during the Iowa game, though ultimately falling short,  brought me literally to tears.  In my eyes he had made mistakes but redeemed himself and was still able to stage his late-game heroics-- the team was better for it.

After the news broke shortly before the Gator Bowl that he was being sent home and possibly no longer on the team, I was no longer hurt or sympathetic but disgusted.  While I loved Tate and believed he had amazing talent, I had had absolutely enough.  I felt betrayed that he had just days earlier sat down to an interview explaining how far he's come, how much he's learned and how dedicated he is to this team.

These Twitter comments further elucidate how Tate Forcier is not about Michigan or this team but about Tate Forcier.  Even if Michigan had decided to cut ties with him, there's a classy way to leave: silently.  After he was sent home before the Gator Bowl, I literally took my cherished #5 autograph jersey off of my wall and hid it in a downstairs closet.  I haven't retrieved it since because I'm truly upset at how things have turned out.  The tremendous hope and potential contained in that laser pass to Mathews has tarnished, but only because of decisions Forcier himself has made.  I don't know the whole story, but with public outbursts like this Twitter mess, I truly don't believe he deserves to be a Wolverine.  I'm past being sad and disappointed; I think I'm finally over it.

The Shredder

January 20th, 2011 at 12:52 AM ^

Hey in there Jen.

 

 

I think the problem was that his family thought he could be this football super QB if he trained 24 hours a day while being home school. In the end he never was given good school habits.... The home school system let him down.

Magnus

January 20th, 2011 at 12:54 AM ^

This is why I try not to fall in love with current players.  You never know how 19- or 20-year-olds are going to act.

I'd rather wear the jersey number of an old-time guy like Wheatley or Woodson or Desmond Howard, someone who has done good for the program and hasn't been an embarrassment.

MGoJen

January 20th, 2011 at 1:03 AM ^

My autographed #20 Nike still hangs proudly in my room--Mike Hart is hands down my favorite Wolverine of all time.

As for falling in love with current players--I wanted so badly to believe that Tate embodied hope in some real way--hope for RR, hope for our program, hope that we'd get back to winning decisively again.  Lesson learned.

bdsisme

January 20th, 2011 at 12:52 AM ^

Wait, so he starts off by being apologetic and saying he's found the Lord, but then slowly transitions into saying that Michigan gave up on him and that he is being forced to go elsewhere?

bsand2053

January 20th, 2011 at 1:04 AM ^

Whole lot of judging and holier than thou going on in this thread.  As for me, I choose to accept the fact that I don't know the whole situation.  I wish Tate the best, and thank him for busting his ass for Michigan.  I've never seen a player leave it all on the field like the MSU loss in 09, and the ND 09 game was literally one of the best moments of my life.  He had his faults, as do I, but I will always remember him for those games and the passion he showed on the field.

 

Aequitas

January 20th, 2011 at 9:01 AM ^

"Whole lot of judging and holier than thou going on in this thread.  As for me, I choose to accept the fact that I don't know the whole situation.  I wish Tate the best, and thank him for busting his ass for Michigan.  I've never seen a player leave it all on the field like the MSU loss in 09, and the ND 09 game was literally one of the best moments of my life.  He had his faults, as do I, but I will always remember him for those games and the passion he showed on the field."

That was so much better said than what I've been posting.  I whole-heartedly agree, bsand.

Tate made mistakes and probably still has some maturing to do, but he gave us all some pretty great moments to remember and that's what I'll focus on.

Mister X

January 20th, 2011 at 1:17 AM ^

Sounds like he's gone and we all know and have discussed at length the
drama/attitude/academic issues that have dogged him the past two years. 
It's unfortunate that things apparently aren't working out, when it appears
that they so easily could have. 

Given that, let's take a moment to reflect on his contributions over the past two years.  In 2009 we owe him the jockstrap juke and victory against ND, the monsoon drive against State and the early impression that Michigan was "back" in what would have otherwise been another horrific season. 

In 2010 we had a capable stand-in for the numerous times Denard
was injured.  Going forward we'll have Gardner another year because he can plausibly medical redshirt 2010 thanks to Tate.  As bad as the past two years have been, think about how much worse they would have been without Tate.

I'm as disappointed as anyone at the apparent waste of a viably good QB here, but let's give Tate his due before we shoo him on his way.



 

Dhani Bowtie

January 20th, 2011 at 2:35 AM ^

As someone who grew up as a Michigan addict but didn't have the resources to attend this great University, I am embarrassed by Tate's comments. He was given every opportunity to succeed and at the end of the day he failed the standard "Michigan Man" test, he can't hang at Michigan academically. I regret purchasing my "5" jersey. Tate, I will forget you.

Hoke-A-Hey

January 20th, 2011 at 3:30 AM ^

A Michigan education is a top tier degree. It amazes me how someone with a free ride at Michigan could care so little about his education. If I were ever fortunate to go to Michigan for free I would owe it to myself to get the most out of it. Looks like Tate got nothing out of it off the field and not a whole lot of it on it either. Thank you for the contributions you made and good luck in the future.

WorldwideTJRob

January 20th, 2011 at 4:57 AM ^

IMO Tate sealed his own fate with the "All you have to do is show up and get an A."  comment. I dont believe it sat well with MSC and the big wigs at the school, I for one do wish him the best though.

LSAClassOf2000

January 20th, 2011 at 5:42 AM ^

I really wanted to stay. I was not giving up on Michigan, but in the end, it was made clear they had given up on me.

A very uncool line indeed. From the sound of things, it's all you, Tate, not the University. If you had taken the academic side of it more seriously, I very much doubt it would have come to this. Either that, or you were told you weren't part of the future of football here. The point is simple - be honest with those who have supported you.

Wolverine318

January 20th, 2011 at 7:08 AM ^

He could have gone through his initial plan to get his crap together at WCC...but he chose the melodramatic route. Not Surprise Hoke most likely told him to go take a hike. 

Zissou40

January 20th, 2011 at 9:13 AM ^

I am thrilled by this news. The whole Forcier thing never sat well with me. Besides the fact that his family has their own website called QB Force, his blowup after he didn't see the field during the UCONN game made me lose all faith in him. However, Michigan needs to get a QB in the next few weeks!

Zissou40

January 20th, 2011 at 9:14 AM ^

I am thrilled by this news. The whole Forcier thing never sat well with me. Besides the fact that his family has their own website called QB Force, his blowup after he didn't see the field during the UCONN game made me lose all faith in him. However, Michigan needs to get a QB in the next few weeks!

Zissou40

January 20th, 2011 at 9:14 AM ^

I am thrilled by this news. The whole Forcier thing never sat well with me. Besides the fact that his family has their own website called QB Force, his blowup after he didn't see the field during the UCONN game made me lose all faith in him. However, Michigan needs to get a QB in the next few weeks!

Steve in PA

January 20th, 2011 at 11:49 AM ^

Enough with the drama.  

He came, couldn't be the best on the field, couldn't cut it in the classroom, and now is leaving.  Goodbye and good luck, but why the drama except to stroke his (and dad's) ego.

I wish him well.  Now, can we get done having group hugs, start winning some football games, and actually talk about players that will be attending the University of Michigan this fall?

Steve in PA

January 20th, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^

I take his newfound emotional maturity as seriously as I took his newfound academic intensity from the articles right before the bowl game.  You know, the articles where he talked about how hard he was working to get good grades...right before he got sent back to AA because his grades sucked.

My grandfather told me that people won't remember your intentions, they remember your actions.  It sounds like life is giving Tate his first dose of "tough love".

Hair Raid Offense

January 20th, 2011 at 2:50 PM ^

Not to be a dick but I'm kinda glad he's gone. He was just such a little asshole and a prick and a distraction to the team. With him leaving it's like it's just one less tie to the RR era. Time to move on.

phork

January 20th, 2011 at 8:38 PM ^

I am happy for you guys that he is gone.  Guys like this become a cancer.  UM had given up on him?  Wait..  Didn't he bomb academically?  Didn't he miss his finals?  I must have missed something.