Gardner quote is just what this fanbase needed
From Tim's Recruiting Post:
"Devin thinks Tate looks very good, and he's not worried about competing against a possibly-entrenched starter. He'll compete to earn playing time, and if he doesn't get any of those minutes, he'll accept a redshirt."
I can't stress enough how timely this quote is for calming the worries of this fanbase. This kid obviously has a clear picture of how the system is supposed to work. He is not some prima donna expecting immediate starts as a freshman, and what a relief that is! Maybe now Michigan fans can get past worrying that their current QBs are too good, and just enjoy what they are witnessing.
Here's to years of Tate, Denard, and Devin leading Michigan to many, many victories!
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:21 PM ^
DG Tate and Denard should secure the QB spot for the next 4-5yrs. Now if we can get a few stud defensive players we can make the climb to elite status again.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:45 PM ^
I read that too, very pleased to see this kid does not expect the world to be handed to him.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
I don't know if this is what the fanbase needed. Personally, I don't need it. I was never worried about him and I won't ever be worried about him unless he says "decommit" What this fanbase needs is a win over Indiana over the weekend and what this fanbase wants is a Rilo Kiley weekend. Please remember what shavodrick said up until he decommitted.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:50 PM ^
I haven't been worried about Gardner because I am pleased with how Tate has been playing and feel that Denard is a fine backup. There have been many here though, that have been voicing concerns about Tate's success affecting Gardner's commitment. This could bring everyone together in support of Tate.
Time to kick some Hoosier butt.
September 24th, 2009 at 1:20 AM ^
Agreed. I'm just saying that you can not believe what 17 and 18 year old kids say, only what they do. Until they sign the LOI they haven't done anything. It's always nice to see a commit, highly ranked or not, to say something like that. We'll never know until what some call LOID. I can only worry about the here and now and that is Indiana.
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^
I assumed this kid was pretty solid, but you never know. Good to hear. I would probably like Gardner to secure the job unless Tate really improves from this year to next. I think that Devin is a little faster than Tate, but I'm tickled to death with the way Tate is playing, so it doesn't really matter at this point.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:34 PM ^
I think Tate has shown an enormous comfort and understanding of what this offense is trying to do. He may not compare to Gardner (or 'Lace) physically, but there's something to be said for a kid who knows where to put the ball on every play.
I'm not the slightest bit concerned that Tate isn't "fast," I think he's the best QB on the team, and probably will soon be among the best in the nation.
So you see where I'm going with this: I don't think Tate will get beaten out, even if DG is a little faster. Just my E-pinion.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:48 PM ^
I was trying to say I would prefer DG beat out Tate, only because of overall skill and execution, mostly because he is a little faster and bigger physically. I think Tate well exceeds most people's expectations, but at the same time, I hope DG can do the same. It's nice to be able to be in this situation and actually get to throw these scenarios out after getting used to the "deat QB tandom" scenarios of yester year.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:54 PM ^
Fair enough. The crappy thing for Tate is that people will look at all the super-athletic QBs and say "man, if that kid can learn to throw, and learn to execute the playbook, then he'll be awesome."
Unfortunately for Tate, it doesn't usually work the other way: "Man, he really knows what he's doing . . . If he can add a few inches and speed up a little, then he'd be awesome."
I guess what I'm saying is that Tate is "stuck," in the sense that people don't really see how he could improve. A player's physical limitations are what they are. Conversely, the ability to become a good quarterback is often viewed as something that can be learned.
Personally, I'm of the belief that an athlete can only refine his quarterbacking skills by a limited amount, just like a quarterback can only refine his athletic skills by a certain amount. It's not that I believe kids can't learn. Instead, I feel like there are tons of athletes who are always close to "getting it," but never quite get there. That suggests to me that there's something hard about being a quarterback, a certain something that goes beyond spending hours at practice and watching tons of film.
[EDIT: I say this to speak generally, by no means am I suggesting DG doesn't know how to play quarterback. In fact, aside from what I've read here, I really have no idea how good his quarterbacking skills are. But what I do know is that Tate "get it," and I just find it hard to believe that another kid could "get it even more."]
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:57 PM ^
The way I see it, we're playing true freshman right now out of necessity rather than preference. Eventually, we want to get this program back to a place where incoming freshman expect a year or two of development from the bench.
While it is a great recruiting tool for 17 and 18 year-olds to see freshman making an impact in front of 110,000 people, it is more a sign of lack of depth than open-mindedness. If an eventual 5-star quarterback can lead by example, accepting that he may not play immediately, it could do wonders when our depth charts return to their usual density of prospects.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:20 PM ^
It should be considered a luxury to be able to have DG redshirt next year and spend a couple of years developing. This is a much better situation than throwing another true freshmen in as a starter and hoping for the rare results we've seen from Tate so far.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:45 PM ^
Thank you for not typing pre-maddona.
Seems like Gardner has his head on straight.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:00 PM ^
let's not count our chickens. didn't Beaver/Newsome teach you anything?
I think he stays committed too, but let's not get too excited by a few comments. Those bozos said similar things before they left.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:09 PM ^
You mean Gardner's family may step in and "persuade" Devin to stay closer to home for college?
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:33 PM ^
The Gardner family might start in pretty heavy on the neg rectuiting of Michigan to keep this kid home. Let's hope his family doesn't have good family values either, so we don't look so bad. The Home School All Gardner team is calling his name. I'm thinking Home School Heisman freshman year if he decommits.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:46 PM ^
Living up to your blog I see. I'll bet you have a ton of friends.
I didn't realize that Tulsa was in Texas and State College became part of Virginia.
Served.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:18 PM ^
The families had major roles in their recruitments, and distance was a factor (moreso with one than the other). Just a little different than Gardner's situation. Sorry I hurt your feelings.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
I don't think that Beaver/Newsome should keep us from getting excited about all current and future recruits. They were the exception, not the norm. Gardner grew up a Michigan fan, regularly attends games, and is a totally different situation than those other two.
If we are not to get excited about Gardner, why even follow recruiting?
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:33 PM ^
Slight caveat: Gardner didn't grow up a Michigan fan. But the rest of your post is spot on.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:52 PM ^
I thought that I had read that he did. Who did he root for? Do we know?
September 24th, 2009 at 3:30 AM ^
Pretty sure he didn't grow up "rooting" for anybody. Before he burned the OSU letter on Facebook and committed to us, there was a lot of anxiety because he said he grew up "following" Ohio State because he liked the color red or some nonsense, and there were a bunch of rumors about him committing the instant he got a Buckeye offer.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:02 PM ^
it's that RichRod will play those who earn playing time regardless of what class they are in, whether they are a walk on or on scholarship. This is an idea situation for any kid who is confident in their ability and are not afraid of competition.
I would also think that the relationship Tate and Denard seem to have despite their competition would be a major plus to anyone coming into the program.
September 23rd, 2009 at 9:57 PM ^
I like the fact that RR is not promising these kids the moon. I would think that a lot of coaches out there would get him to commit by saying something to the extent of "you will be the starter within 2 years". Instead he (not that this is anything new I am just saying) offers them the ability to come in and compete. In my epinion it points to his character.
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:44 PM ^
College Vince Young Jr. is going to win us a national championship.
September 24th, 2009 at 12:25 PM ^
I think you mean "Devin Gardner Jr. won a National Championship for Texas."