We Need a Devin Gardner Appreciation Thread

Submitted by SC Wolverine on

This season has gone down the tubes, but the saddest thing I have seen was Devin Gardner putting his face on the turf after the fumble at Iowa and then his post-game press conference. The guy is hurting in his heart and Michigan fans need to step up and put a hand on his shoulder.  Sure, this season has fallen way short of our hopes and what many of us hoped would be a great season for Devin has instead turned into a massive learning experience.  But this is a terrific young man and Michigan fans need to step up and give him some love.  Our QB is really down -- probably the coaches are too -- and we need to pick him up with some appreciation.  So let's keep all snarkiness out of this thread and instead remember some of the great things about Devin.  If you have nothing good to say, then please say nothing.  But our team is really down right now and Devin is taking it hard.  Let's try to pick him up a bit.

MLaw06

November 25th, 2013 at 10:27 AM ^

Seriously.  DG has given it his all.  It's always tough being QB1 - all the blame or all the glory... but through it all, DG is still coming back every week to fight. 

Besides... there's really not much more he could do w/ a porous OL...

MGoPAR

November 24th, 2013 at 5:15 PM ^

True blue and the best option we have right now. He has never turned on his teammates or coaches. Just tries to do his best and keeps on fighting. So classy in post game pressers despite the clear pain he is in.

Eat Your Wheatlies

November 24th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^

The kid has been beaten, battered, and criticized, but he never throws his teammates under the bus. I've never questioned his effort. It wasn't all that long ago that it seemed we had a very talented QB and leader on our hands...he's shown us flashes. Maybe a new OC can bring out the best in him. 

Also, I hope he asks for his old number back in the offseason.

 

Oscar Goldman

November 24th, 2013 at 7:48 PM ^

1. great name/picture

2. Devin is a very talented QB - he has produced at a very high level a number of times.

3. I have no doubt he can still do great things if someone is brought in to fix things.

 

BTW, I hope DG sees some of this positive stuff out there.  For every hack that rips him, I bet there are a lot more who admire his class, toughness and heart.  Is he perfect? No, but he is OUR QB, and one that deserves all of our support.

MgoRayO3313

November 24th, 2013 at 5:18 PM ^

I'll show some love to Devin. The guy has been under fire all season. Anyone who saw this guy play at Inkster high could see that he was an outstanding athlete, but his qb skills were very raw and unrefined. Since good ole' Al has been coaching him up the last several years I can tell his footwork and decision making has improved tenfold.



Subpar protection, terrible scheme/situations, and a awesome qb coach have really prepared him for success.



We should have left Borges in Iowa city, if not happy valley or east Lansing.

Muttley

November 24th, 2013 at 10:50 PM ^

Not many M fans noticed how bad our O-Line play was in that game.

Devin made a number of quick reads or ran for his life to keep plays alive.

It wasn't long before opposing coordinators noticed.  Blitz and take away the quick throws.  And after the beating he's taken, Devin doesn't look as elusive.  I got to believe he has lost a step and is playing through some condition that is slowing his foot speed.

elhead

November 24th, 2013 at 5:20 PM ^

If Devin G were at Baylor or Oregon as offered he might well be a Heisman candidate right now. I wish him the best the rest of this year and next. Go Blue!!!

Michigan248

November 24th, 2013 at 5:34 PM ^

I think Devin is a great kid. I dont like the idea of bashing college athletes, but Devin needs to be benched at some point, he makes way too many mental mistakes to play quarterback.

Wendyk5

November 24th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^

No one can do it on their own. He needs help, and I don't mean from his teammates. I have great respect for him, and I wish him the best. He has awesome heart, and deserves way better support. 

SFBlue

November 24th, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^

I hope he has a better situation next year.  I suppose the silver lining is that I can't imagine the line being worse (although without Scofield/Lewan it could be as bad, right?). 

Vasav

November 24th, 2013 at 6:18 PM ^

I imagine most of us on this board have been in a similar situation - been a kid, playing a game that meant more to you than anything, and lost and just felt like crap afterwards. But there's not many of us who've had millions of fans scrutinizing our play like these kids, making it feel even more important. My heart goes out ot not just Devin but to Team 134 - all of them are playing hard, all of them are hurting like this kid is. As the QB Devin takes a lot more of the flack, and so there's a bit more going out to him from me. Whatever else happens, I know these guys are going to go out there and make me proud by giving the Buckeyes everything they're made of.

MGoStrength

November 24th, 2013 at 7:10 PM ^

Thanks for posting the video as I have been looking for it.  This is like the opposite of the Hemmingway interview after the Sugar Bowl win.  I feel bad for the kid.  I hope he learns from the struggles this season, is able to use it to fuel his work towards next year, helps to lead the team to become more resiliant and tough in the future, and has a great season next year. Even more so I hope he has a coordinator and position coach that can help get the most of his ability very soon. 

flysociety3

November 24th, 2013 at 6:05 PM ^

I don't think this thread is necessary at all... Cool, good for Devin that he tries hard? Trying hard hasn't really looked good, unfortunately...

Even though he's a super nice guy, he's still a huge problem in the offense as well....

 

tybert

November 24th, 2013 at 6:08 PM ^

Nothing but respect for how he played WR and then moved to QB after injury.

I think the guy may not be the right guy for QB in 2014, given his head is probably filled with terrible coaching tips and Shane-Falco fears and flashbacks after this season.

The new OC and new QB coach (heaven help us if we don't have two new guys to replace over-sized Al) need to figure out in Spring ball if Morris is the right guy going forward as a SOPH and have Devin go back to WR.

Do we burn ANOTHER year of Morris' eligibility hoping that Devin can develop or just make the switch?

 

gustave ferbert

November 24th, 2013 at 6:08 PM ^

He's never uttered a word about any injuries he has.  He has his arm in a sling and all he can do is take sincere responsibility for believing he lost the game yesterday.  I'm proud of the kid and that he is one of ours. . . 

tybert

November 24th, 2013 at 6:10 PM ^

Even though we lost at OSU, he didn't play poorly. And played well in loss to S. Carolina. If we had to play Bellamy, we'd have lost at least two more games.

But as Hoke says "the expectation is to the posiiton" or something like that. And I can't see this guy ever recovering mentally.

goblue2008

November 24th, 2013 at 6:13 PM ^

To Devin. Despite the beating he's taken he goes out there and gives it his best. This coaching staff needs to beg for his forgiveness for failing him. they let him down. Smh

w2j2

November 24th, 2013 at 6:15 PM ^

We are not being told about it, but when I watch Gardner, I see a guy who is in constant pain, and getting beat up more on every play.

He is a true warrior to keep going out there and taking hits for his team.

Red is Blue

November 24th, 2013 at 7:45 PM ^

Quite possible I'm seeing something that isn't there, but it seems like his teammates go out of their way to help DG get up. Getting up by himself may be difficult because of injury or his teammates really appreciate his efforts or both.

michiganman01

November 24th, 2013 at 6:36 PM ^

can do these kind of things to people. Now if we had never seen Gardner do what he did in 2012 and vs ND, I would want him to be benched as well. However it is clearly on Al Borges if you have been watching UM Football 2013. To make matters worse for AB, Denard also got worse under Borges. Now sure, Gardner needs to be a bit more mentally tougher because you cant play scared when there are opportunities but 70% of the heat he has gotten this year is unfair. The Devin Gardner we thought would lead this team to a B1G 10 Champ and have a B1G POY type season is still out there somewhere. 

The Geek

November 24th, 2013 at 7:00 PM ^

So much hope entering this season for this squad... It seems like yesterday I was watching BTN following Spring practice and Gerry DiNardo was gushing over this team. 

 

MGoStrength

November 24th, 2013 at 7:03 PM ^

I don't blame Devin for much and I feel bad for him.  He's given his best effort and that is all anyone can ask.  But, it's not as if he's reading this blog. How exactly do we show love for him?  I'm not gonna send him a Tweet or friend request him on FB just to say "Cheer up pal".