Gardner Sportsmanship, True Michigan Man

Submitted by OccaM on

I think Devin Gardner's legacy will go down as what could have been on the field with better coaching. But off the field, he will be hard to replace. Kudos to him. Saw this on Freep as well.

 

ChuckieWoodson

November 29th, 2014 at 4:20 PM ^

but true.  Worst thing in the world is wasted potential - that's all I see what I look at the raw talent on this team, underutilized.

Hats off to Devin, class act.  Wish him the best and thanks for being a warrior and hanging in there despite it all.

BlueHills

November 29th, 2014 at 4:40 PM ^

His potential as a human being has not gone to waste because he was poorly coached.

It has surfaced despite the fact that he was poorly coached. His time at Michigan was clearly well-spent. What a superb person he became!

KRK

November 29th, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^

He was a great kid when he got here. He stood up to all the critics and owned up to mistakes and the adversity may have made him a better person but he would have come out of any university and been a great representative. I give no credit to this program for making him who he was because he would have been that way no matter where he went. We just got to see the best of him because of all the nonsense. This program owes him everything.




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MotleyBlue

November 30th, 2014 at 11:12 AM ^

Absolutely. Devin has been a class act the whole way for this team. He deserves so much respect for the way he carried himself through the ups and downs of his career. His head was always held high, and he never allowed his character to suffer despite what was going on around him. Yes, a class act in every way. Thank you DG.

BayWolves

November 29th, 2014 at 4:21 PM ^

I will always like and respect Devin. Too bad his develop,net was short hanged by the coaching staff. He could have been so much better if he had the right and consistent coaching for his entire career at Michigan. Class act and I hope he has a future in the nfl maybe at receiver.




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Perkis-Size Me

November 29th, 2014 at 4:23 PM ^

I hate to say his legacy will be tarnished with "what could've been," but he's got the kind of heart and mental toughness every player on our team should hope to emulate.

That sounds a lot like searching for moral victories, but whatever. Gardner deserved better from these coaches. His play was very questionable at times, but he still deserved better.

Thanks for all the time and effort you gave, Gardner. I hope you get your shot in the NFL. You deserve it.




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Nofx1728

November 29th, 2014 at 4:24 PM ^

But no doubt in my mind if Gardner played 5 years with RR he would have been up for heisman multiple years. All the talent squandered. Regressed every year under this staff

Wendyk5

November 29th, 2014 at 4:25 PM ^

He's an inspiring young man (almost said kid, but realized he really isn't a kid anymore). All of these lessons of perseverance will serve him well in life. He never left and he never gave up, and many would have bailed in his situation. I hope he holds his head up high after this game and realizes he represented all of us well. 

aiglick

November 29th, 2014 at 5:56 PM ^

He has been a great representative.

Most if not all of us are disappointed in this season. These ideas are not mutually exclusive. I hope this team continues to act classy and win a lot more. I do know Devin will be successful in whatever he does which is the most important thing.

Still fans also do not need your contempt and have acted fairly classly. If people have directly messaged these players to act nastily I agree those fans should think about those actions. This does not describe most of the fan base who is rightly disappointed due to the onfield performance. This is very normal and ok to be sad and maybe even a little angry. We can't change things and the ability is there so hopefully they improve.

S and G Buckeye

November 29th, 2014 at 8:34 PM ^

I wasn't referring only to UM fans or OSU fans. Every team has those who are an embarrassment to their school and program. Devin showed great character in his gesture toward JT. As an OSU fan, I felt a great deal of pride in a college athlete showing the people in the stands that you don't need to be an obstinate ass to others. I have repeatedly told OSU fans to be respectful to other fans. Somehow there is this feeling that all fans of a different team are to be catagorized in certain way. Wouldn't it be great to be known as the university of quality fans?

Mgoscottie

November 29th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^

I buy my son a picture from football of a key moment for Christmas.  Last year I ended up taking one of Burke putting up a 3 over Withey in basketball over a Gardner ND pic.  This year is completely barren though.

Former_DC_Buck

November 29th, 2014 at 8:55 PM ^

That would be a great pic.  I showed it to my 11 year old and told him this is why not everything Michigan is bad and that while we want win, in the end it is game, and there are other, more important things.  He's gotten on the Michigan evil bandwagon of late.  Which is funny, because for a time he used to make positive Michigan comments, I think to try to goad me in to responding.  That's how kids down here rebel, don't ya know.  I never bit and so he now is in the gung-ho OSU fan stage.   

OccaM

November 29th, 2014 at 4:26 PM ^

We were very fortunate to have Denard Robinson and Devin Gardner back to back. At times, it seemed like they won despite the subpar coaching. Think about how much darker this era would have been without them. Not to mention the pure class off the field. 

Sione's Flow

November 29th, 2014 at 4:32 PM ^

This picture shows what a "Michigan Man" truly is. Devin Gardner deserved so much better in his career here. Whether it was waiting behind Denard or dealing with an OC, who changed the blocking scheme week to week, he battled.

DaBoss90

November 29th, 2014 at 4:33 PM ^

We can bemoan what he "might" (emphasis on might) have been with better coaching, or we can celebrate the fact that regardless of coaching, he has consistently shown the type of class that we associate with the real meaning of "Michigan man."  Devin does not need to prove anything else to anyone.

LSAClassOf2000

November 29th, 2014 at 4:36 PM ^

When I saw him run out there to try to comfort Barrett (they showed it on ABC briefly), I had to stand and applaud even in the confines of my family room - that was the act of someone who is a standup guy indeed. I will always feel  little sad that he seemed underutilized as a player, but there is no question that he respresents his university very well. 

Former_DC_Buck

November 29th, 2014 at 4:41 PM ^

And the OSU radio guys made mention of it and commented that it was a classy thing to do.  I've always liked him, his toughness on the field and stuff I've heard off the field have always made him easy to like considering who he plays for.  This just reinforces my impression of him.