Denard w/ teammates post-game in locker room
As per Sam Webb, Denard addressed the entire team in the locker room after the game, and apparently took sole responsibility for the loss, and apologized for his performance and vowed to work as hard as possible to never allow that to happen again.
I'm sorry, but this kid is something else. Not only is he extraordinary on the field, but for this kid - and he is a kid as a sophomore - to take on this kind of leadership role after such an emotional and gut-wrenching loss, I can't begin to tell you how special I think he's going to be for us in the future. As Sam Webb said, he's got "it".
Chins up. Beat Iowa. Let's go Blue.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:57 AM ^
you find out what people are made of.
In this case, dilithium.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^
You are really fuckin ON!
Go Blue
October 11th, 2010 at 10:07 AM ^
That's my point. Nobody should be down on the season over one bad game. And that's what it was.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:12 AM ^
As a usual optimist, it is hard not to have a feeling of "here we go again." I'm having a hard time trying to remain optimistic about where our program is heading, and it makes me sick to my stomach to see weasels like Tressel and Dantonio taking over the conference.
I just want to beat a damn rival. I'm almost at the point where I'd accept 3-9 if the 3 are ND, MSU, and OSU.
It's really painful for those of us who live in the state of Michigan to deal with this crap.
October 11th, 2010 at 2:14 PM ^
Hate having to live in Michigan and hear all the Spartan fans running their mouths on top of them being the king in basketball even if it is short lived. The one thing that makes me really sick is they are #9 in BCS rankings and do not have to play OSU. They have this thing on tv that says we have not beaten these teams since 2007. I would take 3-9 with the wins being over ND, MSU,and OSU all day. That said Go BLUE and go dilithium !
October 11th, 2010 at 7:15 PM ^
I just want to beat a damn rival.
I'm assuming you meant that to be plural and not singular, because we've beaten ND two years running.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:51 AM ^
And no one should crucify Denard. He didn't play way, deserves some of the blame, just like he got a lot of the credit, but one bad game didn't make him a bad QB.
But the just one game thing people are having problems with is that it was a game that might have been the biggest on the schedule for Rich and the team, and they weren't ready for it. They not only lost, but badly. And if you could hold it in a bubble with one loss, that would be great, but that was one of the more winnable tough games left. The worry is that not winning that one with a better Iowa team coming to town turns a 1-1 before the bye in 0-2, and after 3 weeks of being down and out, who knows how a trip to Happy Valley goes? Go there 1-1, and you're still pretty confident of a win there. Which can still happen....but if we thought MSU's defense was tough on our offense, wait till we see Iowa's, who's defense is actually, you know, good. Then Illinois suddenly doesn't look automatic, Wisconsin, who knows, and the big gapping hole at the end of the season....
It wasn't the whole season, by any stretch. But that one game meant a lot, and could have fixed a lot of ills, in all sorts of ways.
October 11th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
While it might be hard to believe. MSU just might be better that Iowa. I will give you that Iowa's Defense is better, but I would certainly take MSU's offense over Iowa. My point being that while we looked at the schedule at the beginning of the season and we saw a 3 game span of MSU, IOWA, and @ PSU, most people pegged the MSU game as the easiest game of the three. Right now, looking at how the season is unfolding, I would say that is the complete opposite.
Iowa will certainly be tough, but I still have confidence, especially after the MSU game, that our Offense can move the ball on anyone, we just need to take care of the ball like we did in the first 5 games.
I stated before the MSU game and I am going to bang that drum again, we win the turnover battle, we will win the game.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:08 AM ^
Wow! I just love this kid. I hope this puts to rest some of the "bring back Tate" chatter I've been reading on this blog. This kid is a true leader (albeit in soft spoken way). And offense is so much more explosive with Denard at the helm. It's not even close...
October 11th, 2010 at 10:13 AM ^
Watch out Iowa, Denard is poised to have an outstanding game.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
You, sir, are a man.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:28 AM ^
Oh and don't forget that MSU was going "hurt" Denard because he couldn't take the hits. You get better, or you get worse, but you don't stay the same, history suggests that Denard will get better.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:31 AM ^
We will learn more about this team next week than we have during any this season. Tough team, coming off a poor performance, fighting for bowl eligibility, etc. The Iowa game will be... telling.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^
You finally put a block M in your avatar. Looks good. I agree that next week will be telling (jokes aside). Denard can make speeches like that but it's what he does out on the field and during the week that matters.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:02 AM ^
IMO, this game con give us a huge boost as we can prove to ourselves and the nation that last week's performance will be the exception, not the norm, for the rest of the season. We win, and we've got an excellent shot at 9 wins.
We lose, and 7-5 might just rear its ugly head
October 11th, 2010 at 10:32 AM ^
After hearing this and watching Denard's post game presser, I have full confidence in him. He has shown me a side of him after this loss, and it demonstrates his leadership and integrity. Go Blue.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:05 AM ^
might I trouble you for a link?
October 11th, 2010 at 10:34 AM ^
Good attitude from Denard. He's a good leader and I'm optimistic about a better performance next week. Hopefully we have some more wrinkles to add to the offense. Too many mistakes from lots of people on offense and not enough discipline. Exactly what you'd expect from a young team. Hopefully that gets better.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
So often, we hear from coaches and/or players who try to say the "right" thing. Frequently, it's just crap. But Denard is for real!!! We are lucky to have the opportunity to see him blossom into a true "Michigan Man."
GOBLUE!!
October 11th, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^
Character has a game plan to improve in the off season by busting it's butt, sacrificing and toiling extra hours to get better. Character shows humility after exhibiting athlectic prowness that shows it is clearly a cut above most other players. Character kneels down and says a quiet prayer then gently hands the ball to the referee after scoring. Character is gracious in a win and humble in defeat - extending praise to one's foes. Character takes responsibility for not playing up to expectation and shields blame from teammates. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to handle this loss, but Character has shown me the way, with teary eyes I feel great now because I know deep inside Character only comes by once in a while. We will love and enjoy Character while it is with us, as it has brought immense joy to all of us - thank God for Character, thank God for Michigan.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^
Gotta love this kid. I remarked (to myself, as I had watched the game by my lonesome in a semi-voluntary isolation to protect the young children and other weak people in my family) at the beginning of the game that Denard actually looked nervous. He couldn't get comfortable, and that killed us.
A true mark of a champion is to take responsibility for his own actions and then come back stronger, showing that he learned from his mistakes in preparation or execution.
Go Blue! Beat the Hawkeyes!
PS - I will be travelling around Iowa today through Wednesday, proudly sporting my Michigan ball cap. Hail to the Victors!
October 11th, 2010 at 10:39 AM ^
love Denards attitude, but he has one hell of a task trying to take out Iowa.. Yes the game is at home, but we are def gonna need some help from our defense with turnovers if we are gonna expect to win saturday.
I know our offense can move the ball, but hopefully we can pull it out
October 11th, 2010 at 10:44 AM ^
We will need a great performance all-around to beat Iowa. Anything less and we're 5-2.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:49 AM ^
Denard still makes me all warm and tingly inside.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:51 AM ^
.......that cost our offense, and by extension, the team. I think everyone expected our defense to give up a lot of points, but not many of us expected our offense to kill themselves like they did.
If Denard had been on like he has been prior to this game, there is a point in the first half we could have been up 21-7, and probably ended up the first half up by 11 points. The second half could have seen 3-4 TD's more and we end up on the winning side.
Denard has taken the loss on his shoulders, and that is admirable for someone so young to do. I just hope he doesn't let it into his head that he needs to force things to happen, like he did in the second half. I don't think he will, and game film will show him where his misreads were. Our offense against Iowa can roll if they execute well like they have most of the year.
October 11th, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^
But didn't Tate do the same thing after osu last year?
Going 11-1 would help, but I don't think I will get over this loss for a long time
October 11th, 2010 at 11:02 AM ^
If you mean take responsibility for the loss, yes. If you mean promise to work extra hard to stop it from happening next time, no. I mean... that was our last game. Tate promised to work extra hard to get the win BEFORE the game, and that's actually what cost us. He wanted to bad to win that he tried to make plays that weren't there.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:06 AM ^
some talking head in the media how he was going to work harder than ever in the offseason every single day and motivate his teammates so that something like OSU would never happen again. I have a lot of things I'd like to type after this sentence but I won't.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:19 AM ^
It is not surprising that all the hype and emotion building through the first 5 weeks impacted Denard's play on Saturday. Obviously, he wanted to make plays so much he forced things a bit at times early. That doesn't bother me though. He is a competitor and he will learn from this. One thing is clear about Denard so far, he learns and he gets better. Denard will be better than great going forward. I am actually looking forward to Saturday.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:50 AM ^
If nobody blocks or tackles, it isn't the quarterback's fault. Sorry, kids.
October 11th, 2010 at 11:54 AM ^
Denard had plenty of reasons to be tight:
1) His 6th start
2) True sophomore
3) Ridiculous Heisman hype
4) Equally ridiculous numbers in first 5 games
5) Playing in the most important game of Rich Rod's career at UM
He definitely had his worst game of the year on Saturday. It's just too bad it had to come against those guys from EL. Nice to hear about him taking responsibility in the locker room and show some leadership.
October 11th, 2010 at 7:29 PM ^
Definitely encouraging hearing about this. This kid has his head on straight.
October 11th, 2010 at 8:03 PM ^
The Iowa game is going to be very difficult. It's probably our toughest game before OSU. If we lose to Iowa, there better not be any idiots saying, "Well, so much for Denard's speech." I'm sure he's going to be ready to go, but it's going to be a tough game.