TMD on Denard/What's your #1 Denard Memory?

I'm with those who can't isolate a single moment. There are so many plays, so many stories, and they are all good. I think the striking thing for me is to look at the big picture, and see how I can't recall ONE . . . SINGLE . . . NEGATIVE . . . STORY.  

I suppose that is what is most memorable to me. I can't think of any time Denard was rude, or arrogant, or mean spirited, or unethical, or the like. He was always gracious, always had a smile on his face, always had time for fans, always competed to the best of his ability. Denard is human. He made mistakes, maybe the worst being his passing at the 2012 ND game. But he just didn't complain or blame anyone else, but himself.

I live in Chicago, and as a Bears fan, I'm tired of Cutler's attitude. Denard is the antithesis of Cutler. He doesn't have Cutler's arm, but he is much, much more enjoyable as a person. His consistency throughout is what I like the most. I loved seeing him represent Michigan at the Big 10 luncheon. I love seeing the GIF of him at Michigan Basketball last year. I loved his kneeling in the endzone after every touchdown. I loved his soft-spoken, shy, manner, and his joy at life. I will miss Denard a lot, and am very thankful he came to Michigan.

There is one minor quibble I have with some of the posters. While it is technically true that there will never be another Denard, I hope that we will continue to see more Michigan players with his humility, his joy, his time for others, his engagement in Michigan sports. These characteristics are good ones for all of us to emulate.

Like everyone else, I can't pick just one. Probably the entire ND and OSU games from last year. The OSU game is probably one of the greatest experiences of my life with my dad and brother in the student section with me.

On the flip side, though, for some reason the pick against Iowa that essentially killed any chances we had stands out to me just as it did the author of the article linked in the OP. As soon as I saw him collapse into Molk's arms something changed for me and how I watch college football. Denard wasn't great because of his athletic ability, he was great because he gave every single ounce he had on every play. These are kids. When they make mistakes, they're absolutely crushed, to a degree that I can't imagine watching from the stands or my couch at home. Who the hell am I to criticize. 

Love that kid.

First play of his career. My brother is a Hoosiers fan (don't ask why) I was just telling him how this guy is one of the fastest players in high school and than history was made. We love you Denard, I hope my Cowboys draft you!

When no one could stop him.

Part of me wants to say his 80 yard run against ND in 2010,  his under the lights peformance in 2011, his breakout performance against Nebraska in 2011 (we're hungry num num num), or his big 50 yard TD run against OSU in 2011.  But, in reality it's his having a positive, humble, cheer free attitude through the whole experience.  It's a dozen times he took a hit and his opponent stood there taunting him while Denard patted him on the helmet, it's the many times reports post-game asked him negative question after negative question and he never gave in or fired back but kept a smile on his face, it's his willingness to do anything the team asked of him including pass the torch to Devin and play another position, it's just him being a really good person all the time.  That's my best memory of him and something I will actually strive to be more like.

Good and bad... May be one of my favorite athletes of all time. Good luck where ever you end up Shoelace. You will be missed.

Not a Denard play necessarily a play but I dont think i'll forget his reaction to Gibbons winning FG in the Sugar Bowl.  Just pure joy and excitement, running around with his helmet off not sure where to go or who to go to.  Obviously, there's so many to chose  but this is one that will stick with me

Long run against ND

I have 2 of them, his first play when he picked up the fumble against Western Michigan and electrify the stadium. The other is hanging on my wall, his Heisman pose against Notre Dame.

My good friend is a pilot with Delta and we were talking on the phone when he noticed Denard moving quickly past him in the airport. I urged him to hang up, go chase him down, to hurry because he was The Shoelace you know and I would be anxiously waiting to hear about his conversation with him. He hung up laughing, the pressure was on him, and low and behold I get a call back about two minutes later! When I answered I heard my friend introducing himself to Denard exchanging his Alumni status when he tells Denard he has a friend and a big fan on the phone and would he say hi to me! Denard took the phone and I spoke with him, I congratulated him on his football season, wished him good luck in track and that we would be rooting for him! He couldn't have been more gracious with many thank-you's and thank-you sirs, just like we all know him to be in his interviews. This happening for my buddy and I started years of a comical exchange between the two of us whenever Denard would bust a big play it would cause us to yell out loud at games or call one another on the phone saying, "Hey that's our buddy our pal Denard, we know him, talk to him all the time!" It made for a ton of laughs and great memories all because a kind hearted talented kid took the time to chat with two 45+ year old guys in an airport and on a cellphone! Denard, our buddy ol'pal, I wish him all the best in the future in everything he does! :)

This has got to be one of the best runs I've ever seen, by anybody. Cutting that back and making a couple guys miss in quick succession, that's brilliance.

"That's six."



Not the greatest score, but God I still laugh when Millen says that around the 30 yard line.

I guess we're going to do plenty of Denard tributes. Maybe I ought to just collect the favorite vides. Anyway the Flash Dilithium from 2010 Spring Practice was the moment he went from wow that dude can run to wow that dude's going to break records and we will be awesome.

Also note which WolverineBlog lackey was responsible for posting it.

His B10 Speech..

"What you may not know is I once wasn't even the best athlete in my neighborhood, but I had to be one of the ones who made it out. Why? Choices."

1. First snap. Fumble results in 6.

2. 2010 ND.  Longest run from scrimmage in ND Stadium.

3. 2010 ND.  Denard demonstrates "dual threat" by taking three steps toward  LOS; Corner bites; Roundtree is wide open.  TD.

4. 2010 Indiana.  Big 10 Opener.  Second play from scrimmage with his legs; 1st play of the second half in the air.

5. 2010 Illinois. First play from scrimmage to Roundtree for the first of many TD's that day.

6. UTL:  With a ND pass-rusher using Denard's ankle to pull himself up off the turf , Denard's 70-yard strike to Jr.

7. UTL: 40 Yard run, the last 10 of which are earned with 5 or 6 Irish on his back.

8.  2012 MSU.  18 Seconds.  The Threat.

9. 2012 Iowa.  Highly anticipated return from injury; Denard runs for 10, breaks the Safety's ankles, then runs for 30 more.

10.  2012 Ohio. "The Two Stooges" TD run.

Two springs ago, my brother and I were at the annual spring coaches clinic.  Coaches were allowed to be on the sidelines to watch the first team offense in a live scrimmage against the first team defense.  I was standing at about the 10 yard line.  The ball was at the 15 yard line of the defense.   Denard rolled out toward us on a pass play with several defenders in hot pursuit both in front of him and behind him.  As he approched the LOS holding the ball with both hands, he quickly put it up and faked a pass thus freezing the defensive backs and the linebacker who was almost right in front of him.   Just as quickly, he pulled it down and blew by the linebacker as his ankles broke and slipped btween two other defenders into the end zone a second later.  I was not more than 15 feet from him when he did this.  It happened so quick it was astounding.  I turned to my brother and said "Holy Shit!."  It was not something that I could imagine a human being doing. But, Denard sure is a wonderful human being as many of the above comments and clips prove.  It's just that he has Dilithium inplants.