November 16th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
I think having him come back out after the players go into the locker room to a standing O would be pretty cool. One last waive to the fans and one last flash of the electric smile.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:29 AM ^
Doesn't fit with the whole team concept that Hoke is trying to encourage.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:30 AM ^
Just sayin' the guy deserves at least that much!
November 16th, 2012 at 2:04 PM ^
I suspect that Denard would tell you the same thing.
There are seniors who have labored in near-anonymity for 4 years. They deserve just as much recognition on this day as Denard.
My preference would be for Denard to be able to play, and to break the still-standing record that was set 44 years ago today.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:28 AM ^
Carry that man off the field after he takes a knee to end the game.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^
I don't know about carrying him off the field, but definitely give him the last knee to end the game. I know it will be extra dusty in the stadium if that happens.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:52 AM ^
Will there be more wet eyes in the Big House on Saturday then there was when Brock led the team out of the tunnel to open 2010?
November 16th, 2012 at 11:14 AM ^
Yes; we'll never have another player like lace again.
November 16th, 2012 at 2:06 PM ^
played his last game. It may take a year of three, to be sure.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:28 AM ^
Everyone in the stadium should have untied laces.
Also, would be great if the entire stadium (yes, I am looking at you people sitting in the expensive seats with your blue hair, gold buttoned blazers and pressed trousers) could get a good old fashioned: "DE-NARD CLAP CLAP DE-NARD CLAP CLAP" chant going for an extended period of time either before the game or before the end of halftime (or if he comes out and actually plays).
November 16th, 2012 at 10:32 AM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 12:38 PM ^
to "Lets Get Teamed". ;-)
November 16th, 2012 at 1:09 PM ^
boom .... roasted!
November 16th, 2012 at 11:12 AM ^
...if you can see me up in the expensive seats. Maybe you should spend more time watching the game and less time eyeballing me!
/s
November 16th, 2012 at 11:47 AM ^
If everyone untied their shoelaces it would be like dominos at half time when everyone leaves for the bathroom.
November 16th, 2012 at 4:14 PM ^
Dave Brandon would approve
November 16th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^
Have him carry Lloyd Brady off on his shoulders. I can think of no greater honor.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^
Not to clog up this thread, as this is not what you asked, but I don't get why so many are expecting Denard not to play. He may not be able to throw, but during the last two weeks pre-injury, Borges rarely allowed him to throw, anyway. If Denard cannot grip the ball with his throwing hand, bring back the 2-QB set, even if it is just interspersed, and get the fastest guy on the field some carries, short screens (bubble, laser or other), end arounds, etc.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:44 AM ^
This is THE DUMBEST IDEA IN EXISTENCE. Why in the world would they let our starting quarterback run the ball and get tackled when running the ball and getting tackled is what got him injured in the first place?
November 16th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
If his injury is still preventing him from throwing the ball after 2 weeks, and Gardner is getting the start, then Denard is NOT OUR STARTING QUARTERBACK.
When people suggested this idea for the Minny game and even NW, I agreed with the sentiment of just allowing Denard to sit on the bench and heal up to be healthy for the final games of the season. But now we are at the final two games of the season. What are we saving him for? If he is not able to play this week, then there is a chance that the injury is such that he won't be able to play next week in the FINAL game of the season (not including bowl 6 weeks away).
Serious question: if Denard looks like he will NOT be able to play this week, would you rather him wear a headset for the final two regular season games of his career or be on the field in a role where he may be able to contribute and hopefully help us beat Iowa and OSU?
November 16th, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^
...or maybe he could go but the coaches know we don't need him to win this week, so they'll roll with devin and give denard an extra week to heal. denard at 90% > denard at 80%.
November 16th, 2012 at 11:20 AM ^
You may be right. Like I said in response to Magnus, if they are saving him for OSU, I agree with both of you. My thought was based upon the premise that he would not be able to go against Iowa or OSU. If that is the case, what are we saving him for? The Capital One-Valueless-Scrimmage Bowl?
November 16th, 2012 at 2:32 PM ^
He is not making the decision. The doctors are. Denard is either cleared to play or not based on what they say; not Hoke. As far as the coaches are concerned, per Hoke, Denard's health is the most important factor.
So if he is cleared by the docs and then actually able to grip the ball, he will play and play QB. Otherwise he won't play; period, unless it is a victory formation kneeldown or the like.
All the rest of this supposition is just that and really meaningless in the end. Magnus is right.
Edit: "Saving him" will never enter into it.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:59 AM ^
If Denard isn't ready to play quarterback, I want him to heal...whether it's for Ohio State or for the bowl game.
Putting him out there to risk injuring his elbow further is dumb if it's not healthy enough for him to play QB. It's a terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible idea. The worst idea ever.
November 16th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
If he is healing for Ohio, then I agree with you. Having Denard in that game would be huge, so if there is a chance that he can play, we agree - rest him (maybe let him line up as a decoy on one or two plays if the game is closer than we would like, but otherwise, nothing where there is a risk).
BUT, if the medical staff has made a determination that Denard is not going to be full go for Ohio and is going to ride the pine with a headset on, I don't see the value of saving him to play in the capital one bowl.
And, I bet if you were to ask Denard, he would rather be out there contributing in some role, even as a decoy, than spectating.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:55 AM ^
^ What Magnus said. Additionally, if he can't grip the ball, aren't you at least a little bit concerned about fumbles???
November 16th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
First off, even without touching the ball, having Denard line up in the slot would be a very powerful decoy for at least 1-2 plays.
Second of all, the manner in which a football is gripped when running and when throwing are entirely different.
Third, my suggestion was based on the assumption that the coaches would not play denard at ANY position if (1) he couldn't hold onto the football and represented a fumble risk, or (2) there was any increased risk of injury.
November 16th, 2012 at 11:05 AM ^
So you want Denard to learn a completely new position in 1 week? That'll go well.
November 16th, 2012 at 11:18 AM ^
Re-read my post - I never said to play him at RB. I said to use him as part of a 2-QB set for jet sweeps, screens, etc.
If you will recall, we actually ran this set quite a few times in the first half of 2011, so he is familiar with it.
November 16th, 2012 at 12:21 PM ^
Ask the NFL's best receiver, Calvin Johnson, how easy it is to catch and hold a football when you have nerve damage.
As magnus said, this is the worst idea ever.
November 16th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
I said 2 posts above the one to which you responded:
"my suggestion was based on the assumption that the coaches would not play denard at ANY position if (1) he couldn't hold onto the football and represented a fumble risk, or (2) there was any increased risk of injury."
The premise was based upon the assumption that he could not throw but that the specific nerve damage that he sustained would not hamper him in the tasks required for the manner in which he would be used.
As for Megatron, you do know that his nerve damage was different than Denard's, right?
November 16th, 2012 at 1:48 PM ^
you're talking about the set that was mostly ineffective at moving the football? good idea, let's risk further injury to denard for 2 yards.
November 16th, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^
That set was effective a few times.
It was also run during the first few months of Borges / Hoke's tenure, when the coaches and players were trying to get a grasp of each other. It was also run with a Devin who is vastly different than the man who played in the NW game.
Also, you keep bringing up the risk of additional injury. You will note that I have said several times that in the scenerio I posited, it would only be something to consider if (1) Denard was able to grasp the ball such the fumbling wasn't an issue, and (2) there was no risk to Denard.
November 19th, 2012 at 2:29 PM ^
I obviously stand corrected on this issue after the Iowa game.
November 16th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
A legit concern, but remember that Denard carries the ball with his left hand almost exclusively. I would love to see him on the field if the "damage has been done" and the risk of furthering the injury is very low. But I'm not him, the staff or a doctor, so my wants-to-see-him-standing-next-to-gardner-for-a-play wishes mean little.
November 16th, 2012 at 11:03 AM ^
He carries the ball in his left hand even when he's going to his right, which has been the cause of several of his fumbles over the years.
November 16th, 2012 at 2:17 PM ^
From what I understand about his injury is that sudden impact to the nerve, if the nerve is exposed, can cause further damage. I've also heard refrence to your funny bone, so my guess is it has nothing to do with him not being able to grip the ball, which he may very well be doing just fine, but more to do with risking him impacting the nerve.
November 16th, 2012 at 4:09 PM ^
If Denard's ulnar nerve is so damaged that he can't even grip a football properly, do you really think it's a good idea to expose him to the threat of even greater damage?
November 16th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^
Replace the "Go" and "Blue" in the student section pointing-back-and-forth chant with "shoe" and "lace" ?
Too bad the quarters are 15 minutes... in soccer they honor someone by cheering during the minute of the player's number... ie: when Aston Villa's captain Stiliyan Petrov (#19) was going through leukemia treatment, the entire stadium stood and cheered during the entire 19th minute of the game. It's pretty cool.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:32 AM ^
with banner of Denard's dreamy smile.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:36 AM ^
exceedingly large banner, like so...
Of this image
November 16th, 2012 at 10:40 AM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 10:48 AM ^
November 16th, 2012 at 5:45 PM ^
It is to me.
Our Warrior has fallen.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:42 AM ^
dreamy....
Uhhhm, did I say that out loud. Nevermind, I am going to go arm wrestle somebody, and hunt something, something tough. Grunt.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
as long as you leave your pants on we're good
Wait on second thought take those bad boys off.
November 16th, 2012 at 11:24 AM ^
I would approve of a giant Denard tifo in the student section, or a tifo for all the seniors.
is tifo not allowed in college football?
November 16th, 2012 at 4:23 PM ^
And the other seniors . . . they don't matter? Football's a one-man game now?
Bo would go ballistic over this idea. The team, the team, the team.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:37 AM ^
It is also Kennedy's last home game. I hope the first three quarters go so well for UM that Kennedy gets in for a few snaps.
Ending, of course, with a 7 yard TD pass to Brandon Moore for the last TD in the Big House for 2012.
November 16th, 2012 at 10:39 AM ^
Hopefully after that happens he busts some mad freestyles.