Team 132 awards : Denard MVP...
This has been a thoroughly enjoying season and now it is time for awards. If I miss any categories please let me know.
Team MVP: Denard Robinson
Offensive MVP: Fitzgerald Toussaint
Defensive MVP: Ryan Van Bergen
Special Teams MVP: Terrence Robinson
Senior of the year: Mike Martin
Junior of the year: JT Floyd
Sophomore of the year: Fitzgerald Toussaint
Redshirt Freshman of the year: Jake Ryan
Freshman of the year: Blake Countess
Defensive POY: Jake Ryan tip to Brandon Herron intercepting and going 90+ yards for a TD
Offensive POY: Denard pass to Jeremy Gallon to set up winning score against ND
Special Teams POY: Terrence Robinson fumble forcing hit to kick off the 3rd quarter vs Neb.
Most satisfying moment of the year: Courtney Avery's INT' to clinch the OSU victory.
EDIT: Spirit award: Molk, Huyge, Koger, Martin, Van Bergen, Woolfolk, and all the seniors who led this team to a tremendous season.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:04 PM ^
So Denard is the Team MVP but not the offensive MVP?
I have to give the Team MVP to Martin/RVB (hard to pick). Not to discount Denard's role, but those two leading the defense forward has been huge. At least one of them has been on in every game, whereas Denard had some struggles in games.
Offensive MVP to Denard though.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:30 PM ^
I just wanted to spread the wealth. I could have given Denard most of the awards and made up about 50 more he was deserving of. I don't know what this teams record is without Denard, but I think we lose at least two more.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:32 PM ^
But sans RVB and MM we lose 4 more since everyone will power run on that interior line and their play won't help shield the younger linebackers. Ergo I consider them more valuable. Denard to Gardner is a talent dropoff, but our DT depth chart was: MM, RVB, DOOM
November 28th, 2011 at 4:05 PM ^
It's close but the pass to roundtree to beat ND should be up there for offensive POY.
<br>Nothing quite like seeing him elevate and come down in bounds and the crowd going nuts.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:21 PM ^
That play wasn't even feasible without Gallon's play. That play took us from probable Hail Mary/Trick Play to win to Corner-to-win/FG-to-tie.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:31 PM ^
That gallons play was spectacular and key to the touch down. Just personally the touchdown pass is more deserving because it sealed the win on the most electric game of the year.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:48 PM ^
...Waterboy.
November 28th, 2011 at 5:12 PM ^
Locked up by Fickell
November 28th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
I agree. I don't even want to imagine what this year would look like without Denard. Thank god Hoke talked him into staying! Can you imagine...shutter.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:41 PM ^
Hoke didn't talk him into staying. Denard wanted too, and even preemptively offered to change positions.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:06 PM ^
Denard deserves a special "debt of gratitude" award for keeping the team together during the coaching change. I know how we all love our Heisman winners, but Denard is my favorite player in over fifty years of watching Michigan football.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
Team MVP: Kevin Koger, David Molk, Ryan Van Bergan, Mike Martin & all of the seniors
Offensive MVP: Denard Robinson
Defensive MVP: Mike Martin
Special Teams MVP: Brendon Gibbons (Terrence Robinson, Jeremy Gallon and Josh Furman are close)
Senior of the year: David Molk
Junior of the year: Denard Robinson
Sophomore of the year: Fitzgerald Toussaint
Redshirt Freshman of the year: Jake Ryan
Freshman of the year: Blake Countess
Defensive POY: Courtney Avery's INT' to clinch the OSU victory.
Offensive POY: Denard's game-winning pass vs. Notre Dame
Special Teams POY: Terrence Robinson fumble forcing hit to kick off the 3rd quarter vs Neb.
Most satisfying moment of the year: The hiring of Brady Hoke
November 28th, 2011 at 4:16 PM ^
I'd give Molk offensive POY
November 28th, 2011 at 4:25 PM ^
I love the awards and I loved this season. In 30 years of following Michigan, this was by far the most over achieving team I can recall. Couple this with what they have overcome over the last several years, and if there was an award for my favorite UM team of all time, this would be it.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:40 PM ^
most improved: GIBBONS!!! thank god we can kick field goals now
November 28th, 2011 at 4:40 PM ^
Special Teams Mvp has to go to Delonte Hollowell.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:41 PM ^
Is definately the play of the year. Other than that I think you could go a couple of different ways but I would say that it is pretty accurate. The RR TD though has to be the top play of the year without even a comparison.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
Wait, when did Rich Rod score a... Oh I see what you did there.
November 28th, 2011 at 5:34 PM ^
I like the Gallon wheel route play before it even better. Michigan down 3, with 28 seconds to go, back on their own twenty yard line. Denard under center. Ball is snapped, clock is ticking down, and Michigan looks dead to rights, needing to drive 80 yards for a touchdown or somewhat fewer yards to have a chance of a then suspect unit kicking a field goal to send the game into overtime against a team that had looked far superior to Michigan all night. Denard steps up into the pocket, Junior Hemingway is in double coverage thirty yards downfield. Then, streaking down the sideline, WIDE OPEN IS GALLON! THEY LEFT HIM ALONE!!! Denard fires, hits Gallon in stride, and Gallon runs sideline to sideline, going for 62 yards in total. Gallon? Are you kidding me? The guy who incited cries of "HOLD ON TO THE DAMN BALL!" every time he came out on special teams last year? The short guy, a Rich Rod slot ninja who never quite panned out, just caught a 62-yard pass from under center? It was 100% Pure Columbian Awesome.
November 28th, 2011 at 6:28 PM ^
I'd give that one the nod as well. What was great was that Gallon had the presence of mind to keep going upfield instead of just sprinting out of bounds, as so many receivers will do. And then he made it all the way to the other sideline, so we didn't have to burn a timeout. Incredible play.
Denard's 41-yard TD against OSU is up there, too. A huge play that gave us a lift when we were down 7-0, and showed we could match OSU's big-play potential.
November 28th, 2011 at 4:45 PM ^
I don't think Denard is the team MVP. I think it is someone on the Defense. Van Bergen had a great year and made big plays at the right times.
November 28th, 2011 at 5:04 PM ^
Team MVP: The Team, The Team, The Team. It cant get any simpler than that. Everyone performed outstanding this year and The Team as a whole went way past expectations. Everyone deserves credit, not just single players
November 28th, 2011 at 5:27 PM ^
I didn't see him in your list. I'd give him defensive MVP. One of the big differences between this year and last was big plays. Kovacs limited the big plays by always cleaning up whenever the front seven let something get past them. In the past two games, he was brought up into the box to stop the run games, and Burkhead and Herron were held to ~30 some yards each. With him in the box, the secondary suffered against ohio, but I think that was the plan; force Miller to beat you with his arm.
November 28th, 2011 at 5:55 PM ^
at the very least, kovacs should be junior of the yr. props to jt floyd for exceeding most likely everyone's expectations. but kovacs was all-big10 caliber this yr
November 28th, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^
the kid was crucial this season on well timed hits and blitzes...my dad called him sucktacular at the start of the season...he REALLY fit well in this new defensive scheme and stepped up bigtime...I could see him playing on Sundays at the pace he grew in performance this season...kid really did great.
November 28th, 2011 at 5:58 PM ^
The Avery INT to seal the Ohio was extremely satisfying but for most satisfying moment, I'd go with our beatdown of Nebraska because it showed we're capable of dominating ranked opponents again.
November 28th, 2011 at 7:26 PM ^
I think RVB is my MVP. Martin is more talented, but RVB is probably smarterand a better leader, which helped everyone else on the line. I am confident we will find someone to anchor the line next year in place of Martin. I'm not confident that we will replace the leader of the DL. I'd go as far as leader of the defense, but I think Kovacs will be the leader of the defense next year.
November 28th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
Denard has the glossy stats and did provide leadership, but RVB, Mike Martin and the rest of the seniors kept 132 together. They all deserve it. Having to single one guy out, RVB is it.
November 28th, 2011 at 7:40 PM ^
He was unbelievable these last two games.... His throws and runs were perfect. Love the kid
November 28th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
Replace Toussaint with Molk for O MVP and you have your list.
November 28th, 2011 at 8:58 PM ^
Consistent, fantastic. Offensive POY. When Dernard was bad, he was really bad. What an electrifying player though, very excited for the bowl game and next season. Toussaint comes on brilliantly the 2nd half, but Molk is steady, calm, the killer from the first snap.
RVB or Martin defensively, maybe RVB based on conisitency again...though Kovacs was unreal and up for every snap, absolutely an impact player and a fantastic tackler. Tough call...I'll go with RVB, as he was actually calling their stunts by the end of the year. Fantastic.
Play of the year, Gallon's was great but it is a breakdown, nothing compares to the winning play v ND. Set the tone of optimism for the season.
Overall great seaon, what a joy to watch this team redeem itself.
November 28th, 2011 at 9:30 PM ^
THE TEAM Offensive MVP:Denard Robinson Defensive MVP:Mike Martin Special Teams MVP:Brandon Gibbons Senior of the year:David Molk Junior of the year:Jordan Kovacs Sophomore of the year:Fitzgerald Toussaint Redshirt Freshman of the year:Jake Ryan Freshman of the year:Blake Countess Defensive POY:There was alot of them!!! Offensive POY: Denard Robinson to Roy Roundtree against Norte Shame Special Teams POY:Brandon Gibbons field goal against ohio,it change the game,ohio had to score a TD to win!!! Most satisfying moment of the year: Courtney Avery's INT' to clinch the OSU victory.Spirit award:THE TEAM!!! WHAT A YEAR GO BLUE!!!