COLUMN: Thank You Denard

By CHRIS ZADOROZNY, Sports Editor

How can you sum up four years of greatness? With two words, and only one name; Denard Robinson. The senior is going to go out as one of the best players to put on a Michigan football uniform.

In his four years he’s broken numerous records, starting his career with a fumble for a touchdown, and finishing it with a loss of three yards on a rushing play. Not exactly the way you would think a great player would go out in his college career. Heck, he didn’t even win his final game in a Michigan uniform.

That doesn’t matter though. Denard was one of the most elusive, awe-inspiring, and epic college football players. He had his ups and downs, just like any player does. His best season didn’t come in 2012, it came when he was a sophomore, but more records were broken the more games he played.

Denard Robinson (Chris Zadorozny)

His career started as a backup to Tate Forcier, who has since transferred, dropped out because of academics, signed with a CFL team and was cut by them over the summer. Even though he didn’t start as quarterback in the Michigan program, it became evident that he was very skilled, and very fast.

Under former head coach Rich Rodriguez, he didn’t start, but played in all 12 games. Forcier ended up not being the player that Rodriguez wanted in his offense. In his first full year as starting quarterback in 2010, he became a dominant quarterback that Michigan was hoping for.

Unfortunately, he never had the arm strength to become a really good quarterback, more along the lines of a wildcat type quarterback with his legs being able to carry the offense. But that’s not how the offense was made. Denard helped carry the the team to the 2011 Gator Bowl against Mississippi State. The Wolverines fell to the Bulldogs in the Wolverines worst loss ever in a bowl game.

That did it for Rodriguez. Weeks later, Michigan brought in Brady Hoke, former defensive coordinator under Lloyd Carr to be the head coach. Rumors were abound that Denard would leave the program, but he stayed committed to the program that gave him a shot at playing quarterback.

Denard was able to flourish under Hoke’s system, not so much as a great quarterback, but as a leader, as a captain, as the player we all love to watch and admire. In 2011, he threw the most touchdowns one season in his career, along with the most rushing touchdowns. He started the first ever night game in Michigan Stadium history, and when he found Roy Roundtree with just two seconds left in the game to score the game-winning touchdown, Michigan fans erupted with joy.

He took the Wolverines to a BCS Sugar Bowl berth that year, and helped defeat the Virginia Tech Hokies in overtime. This past season, well, it wasn’t great. He started the year, but had probably the worst game of his career in South Bend, throwing four first half interceptions along with losing a fumble. He was able to regain his footing during the season, but sprained his elbow in Lincoln against Nebraska and was never the same since.

Backup quarterback Devin Gardner started the rest of the season, and Denard was relegated to do whatever Coach Hoke wanted. Running back, wide receiver, quarterback, he was a go-to player for Hoke.

Among the records broken by Robinson include: most rushing yards by a quarterback in the NCAA (4,495 yards), most rushing yards by a quarterback in the Big Ten (single-game, single-season, and career), single-season total offense in the Big Ten and in Michigan history, and passing yards in a single half in Michigan history, among many others.

Denard was never the same player each week, but he did what was needed of his team. He was a true leader, a true captain, a true Michigan man. Good luck Denard in all of your future endeavors. Michigan will never forget you, as we hope you never forget us.

Wolverines fall in final seconds of Outback Bowl thriller

By CHRIS ZADOROZNY, Sports Editor

After winning the 2012 Sugar Bowl, the Michigan Wolverines had a less than stellar 2012 season. They finished 8-4, with a matchup set in Tampa against SEC powerhouse, the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Once again, the Big Ten had a big slate of games on New Year’s Day, which for Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany has been atrocious.The SEC is the football powerhouse now, and Michigan is on its way back to its dominance, but not quite there just yet.

They are close, though. Even though they fell to the Gamecocks 33-28 in a closer game than many probably expected, they almost won. Yes, it’s a cliche, but they held the Gamecocks to just 17 first downs and only 85 total rushing yards on 17 attempts.

Outback Bowl

In the end , it was the big plays that hurt the Wolverines. A 56-yard touchdown reception, a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown, a 70-yard reception, a 31-yard touchdown reception, and the game winning, 32-yard touchdown reception.

These five plays were the largest of the game, and unfortunately, missed tackles and blown coverage doomed the Wolverines from the start. The weak and crumbling secondary was blown apart on four of these plays, and surprisingly, wasn’t attacked more by the Gamecock offense.

Without top senior cornerback J.T. Floyd, along with senior linebacker Brandin Hawthorne, and punter Will Hagerup, the Wolverines held their own. Early on, it wasn’t looking good, especially for the secondary, but eventually, became decently better throughout the game.

It just wasn’t enough. Even with 11 seconds left in the game, it’s not over until the clock strikes zero. That’s how the game ended though, just like it started. With a big play, a big pass, a touchdown.

Gamecock quarterback Connor Shaw started the game, but didn’t finish it, he was hurt on the final drive of the game. He threw two of South Carolina’s touchdowns. The first one, was a 56-yard pass to Damiere Byrd, four plays into the game.

Michigan followed that drive up with a Devin Gardner interception. Not how the Wolverines wanted to start this bowl game.

They would end up having Brendan Gibbons kick a 39-yard field goal to cut the lead to four, with only five minutes into the game. That short lead didn’t last long for the Gamecocks as they found the endzone again. This time, star punt returner and wide receiver Ace Sanders returned a 63-yard punt for a touchdown, taking away any momentum the Wolverines thought they had.

The Big House (Chris Zadorozny)

That’s how the first quarter would end, 14-3 South Carolina. As Michigan fans went to grab their food and drinks during the short quarter change, most must’ve thought the game was going to be a blowout. Not so.

Gardner found the endzone a few plays into the second quarter, a short 5-yard shovel pass to Drew “The White Receiver” Dileo. A now 11 point lead was reduced to just four points. That couldn’t even last a drive though. A huge 70-yard pass from backup quarterback Dylan Thompson to Nick Jones put the Gamecocks deep in Michigan territory. The following play, Thompson found Sanders four-yards into the endzone to retake the 11-point lead.

Gibbons would later kick a field goal late in the second quarter to cut the lead to 21-13 and that’s how the first half would end. The lead cut slightly, but still, Michigan on the losing end.

Luckily, the Wolverines would get the ball to start the second half, but they couldn’t gain a first down on the first drive. On the luckier side of things though, the Gamecocks first drive resulted in a 33-yard field goal attempt, that missed wide right. Michigan replied with a field goal of their own, an Outback Bowl record, 52-yard field goal by Matt Wile.

Michigan was now down 21-16. A touchdown would by Michigan would give them the lead. That’s exactly what happened as Gardner found wide receiver Jeremy Gallon for a 10-yard touchdown reception. The Wolverines would fail on the two-point conversion. Michigan 22 South Carolina 21. It would be Michigan’s first lead of the game, going into the fourth quarter.

An attempted field goal for the Gamecocks was blocked, giving the Wolverines a chance to increase their lead. Unfortunately, South Carolina star linebacker Jadevon Clowney destroyed running back Vincent Smith on bone-crushing hit, resulting in a fumble, and a turnover in the Gamecocks favor.

Shaw found Sanders again for a 31-yard touchdown reception to retake the lead, 27-22. They too failed on their two-point conversion. Late in the fourth quarter, with the clock winding down, Gardner again found Gallon in the endzone for a 17-yard touchdown reception to take a 28-27 lead. Once again, the two-point conversion failed.

As the clock ticked further and further down, the Michigan defense couldn’t hold the potent South Carolina offense. Eventually, Thompson found Bruce Ellington for a 32-yard game winning touchdown reception with 11 seconds left on the clock. Michigan had no chance to comeback this time. No Notre Dame moment.

It was all over, the end for senior Denard Robinson, who didn’t have much of an impact in the game. Not the way we all thought his great career would end. In the end though, Michigan competed with one of the SEC’s best teams, despite mistakes all around, a depleted secondary, and barely using Denard, the Wolverines still came within an earshot of defeating the Gamecocks in warm, sunny Tampa.

Wolverines headed to Tampa for the Outback Bowl

By CHRIS ZADOROZNY, Sports Editor

After a week of speculation, hope, disappointment, and hope again, the Wolverines finally found out on Sunday afternoon what bowl game they were going to. The University of Michigan will play the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) on New Year’s Day in Tampa, Florida.

The Outback Bowl is a matchup of two good teams, No. 19 Michigan and No. 11 South Carolina, in one of five B1G 10 bowl games on New Year’s Day.

Michigan was originally projected to go to the Capital One Bowl, also on New Year’s Day, as Nebraska was projected to pick a part a weak Wisconsin Badger team in the B1G 10 Championship game on Saturday.

It was the exact opposite as the Nebraska defense looked like something out of the Tecmo Bowl video game on Nintendo, losing 70-31.
Because Nebraska had lost, it was looking like Northwestern would hop over the Cornhuskers for the Capital One Bowl, which would make Michigan ineligible for the Outback Bowl (more losses than Nebraska), and push them down the ladder to the Gator Bowl.

That didn’t happen, as Nebraska was still picked for the Capital One Bowl despite the blowout. It was Northwestern and Michigan going head-to-head in the Outback Bowl war room, and the deciding factor was the win Michigan had over Northwestern this year that propelled them to win the bid.

The opponent for Michigan is the Gamecocks, and they finished with a 10-2 record, despite losing it’s top running back, Marcus Lattimore to a gruesome leg injury. Their best win on the season came against No. 14 Clemson in the season finale.

Michigan will travel to Tampa for the first time since 2002. They have played in three other Outback Bowls; 1997 against Alabama (lost 17-14), 1994 against North Carolina State (won 42-7), and 1988 against Alabama (won 28-24).

The Wolverines will be allotted 11,000-12,000 tickets for the game. The bowl game is Florida is very appealing for the Wolverines, especially start senior quarterback/running back, etc., Denard Robinson, as he is from Florida.

Tickets went on sale on Monday and you can purchase them at www.mgoblue.com. For continuing updates on the Outback Bowl matchup, go to www.michiganjournal.org.

To read the original article that appeared in the eleventh edition of The Michigan Journal, on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, go to www.michiganjournal.org

COLUMN: Buckeyes may have perfect season, but imperfect fans

By CHRIS ZADOROZNY, Sports Editor

The oldest rivalry in sports exists between two fantastic academic schools, the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University.

Wolverines. Buckeyes. Pick one, and only one, because you cannot be in between. The hatred both sides share for each other can be misconstrued as love, (yeah right!), because as the old saying goes, “…keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

Fans, parents, teachers, and students alike share a mutual hate for the other school. Whether it’s “That School Up North,” or “That team in Ohio,” the rivalry continues, even with new coaches on both sides.

Brady Hoke, now in his second season with the Wolverines, and undefeated at home, has yet to beat a ranked team on the road, and traveled to the Horseshoe for the first time, into a sea of scarlet and gray.

MORE: Turnovers cost Michigan, fall to OSU in ‘The Game’

Urban Meyer, in his first season with the Buckeyes, has completely turned the program around, not even a year after being sanctioned by the NCAA all while losing famed coach Jim Tressel.

Driving down to Columbus for the first time was an experience all in itself. The closer you get to Columbus, the more scarlet and gray you see, and the more hostile the environment feels if you’re a Michigan fan.

I have heard many stories, a few from my uncle who was involved in a few fights back in the day when he went down there, instigated by Buckeye fans, or so how the story goes.

I expected to have beer thrown on me, drenched with liquids of all sorts, and rotten eggs all over my car. That didn’t happen, and for one good reason…because we parked in a structure.

Before we arrived in Columbus, Tommy Alexander (photographer extraordinaire) and I stopped at a McDonald’s about an hour outside the city to grab a bite to eat before driving the rest of the way.

While there, we briefly chatted with an older woman, who was very respectful and nice to us, even though we told her we were from Michigan. She was worried that Tommy would be too cold on the field because he didn’t have an extra coat (it was in the car).

I was very happy our first encounter down there, was nice, but the nice-ness went away seconds after the game ended.

The clock ticked down, second-by-second, and as I stood there in disappointment, really hoping the Wolverines would come down to Columbus and ruin the Buckeyes season, state police troopers started lining up to block the students from rushing the field.

I felt relieved because it’s obvious they would storm the field, as this was their last home game, and they just won, “The Game.”

The police did nothing and let the students rush the field, prematurely nonetheless, so quickly, that the coaches couldn’t even shake hands, something Brady Hoke loudly said after the press conference, that “it’s not a big deal….it’s not a story.”

As the Wolverines slowly jogged off the field to the locker room, one last time as a team this season (of course we have a bowl game), students and fans alike ran “past” them. While jumping with joy onto the field, they just couldn’t resist the urge to flip off many of the Wolverines, attempting to tackle them, shouting “f*** you,” in their face, and the obvious, pushing and shoving them. They even went as far to push and shove me for their own pleasure.

They didn’t care, their team just capped a perfect season, with an asterisk by beating their arch-rival. Turnovers cost the Wolverines. The Buckeyes capitalized and won fair and square. Instead of just celebrating the win, the fans decided to be asses, jerks, idiots, and downright stupid.

I walked away from the experience hoping Michigan would win, hoping for a great experience at OSU, only to be disappointed in the fans more than the team I was there to cover. There’s a reason that Ohio State is chasing Michigan, not only historically in football (Michigan 58-44-6), but academicallytoo.

Michigan is ranked #29 in the country by the National University Rankings, while Ohio State University is ranked #56.

The Buckeyes have no class, no manners, they cheer for a cheater, and even had no idea how to spell. Michigan first started the Ohio script spelling in the Horseshoe in 1932, even though the Ohio StateLibrary says different.

So enjoy your perfect season, as you thanked Jim Tressel for his 2002 National Championship during a timeout on Saturday, yet he’s the entire reason you aren’t going to a bowl game. In the meantime, Michigan will enjoy a bowl game in sunny Florida on New Year’s Day.

To read the original post that appeared online only in The Michigan Journal, on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, go to www.michiganjournal.org

Turnovers cost Michigan, fall to OSU in “The Game”

By CHRIS ZADOROZNY, Sports Editor

The #19 Michigan Wolverines had a shot to ruin a perfect season in their arch-rival’s stadium and an outside shot at a BCS bowl. That didn’t happen, and probably won’t now as the Wolverines turned the ball over four times, falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 26-21 in Columbus.

BLOG: Ohio State defeats Michigan

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“Too many turnovers. We had three (actually four) turnovers in the second half,” said senior captain Denard Robinson. “In order for you to win this game, you gotta have control of the ball.”

As for the result, Michigan didn’t start or end well. On the first drive of the game, the Buckeyes scored, taking the early lead, but Michigan wasn’t going to let it stand.

Carlos Hyde took the ball for the Buckeyes and encompassed 146 yards on 26 carries for that lone touchdown. He may have had one touchdown on the day, but he accounted for many short yardage plays, on second and third downs, pushing the Wolverine defense to the brink.

“In the end, we had too many four and five yard runs bleed through their (offensive line),” said Head Coach Brady Hoke.

“At the end of the day, we didn’t execute,” said senior safety Jordan Kovacs, who seemed the most upset after his regular season career comes to an end with a loss.

The Michigan offense was looking good on their second drive after a quick three and out.

Surprisingly, Robinson started for the Wolverines at quarterback, but it was a wishy-washy switch throughout the game, as Gardner would come in and Robinson would come out.

We didn’t see much of the Gardner-Robinson package in the backfield, which some say, hurt the Wolverines chances of beating the Buckeyes.

The largest crowd in “The Game’s” history, 105,899 were able to witness the first perfect season for Ohio State since 2006, the last time they went to the National Championship.

When they went that year, they lost. This year, this is it for them. The Buckeyes season is now over. Michigan still has another game to play. All of the Buckeye fans can thank Jim Tressel for the NCAA bowl ban, after allegations came forward that players sold memorabilia for tattoos and other items.

Tressel and the 2002 Championship team were honored during the game. The crowd cheered as he was lifted up and given a standing ovation. All of that, for a man who’s the reason their season ended Saturday.

Quarterback Braxton Miller of the Buckeyes was hit hard and often, being sacked four times for losses. The first hit came from Jibreel Black, on the blind side.

Jake Ryan contributed on one, as well as a fumble on the same hit. It was like a bowling ball hitting a pin at the end of the lane as you can hear the sound of the pin getting shattered.

“It hurt,” said Roy Roundtree, when asked about the loss, who caught a 75-yard touchdown reception that tied the game at seven (after the PAT). All momentum was taken away after that score, but a long drive by the Buckeyes ran that momentum back up at home.

The first quarter ended with a Drew Basil 41-yard field goal, who was the difference on the scoreboard today. He kicked four of five field goals which helped the Buckeyes to the win.

Michigan responded to the field goal in the second quarter with a touchdown, re-taking the lead. Gardner found the end zone from two yards out after a 25-yard drive.

The defense found themselves on the next OSU drive, but the offense couldn’t follow suit right after. It looked like the Buckeyes were going to go into halftime with the lead after a 14-yard pass from Braxton Miller to Philly Brown.

That didn’t happen, and on two plays, Robinson accounted for 75-yards in two plays, the important one being a 67-yard touchdown run in just :50 seconds.

The lead was still in favor of the Wolverines even though Basil kicked a 52-yard field goal at halftime.

From then on, the game started to shift. The Buckeyes went into the locker room with the last points of the first half.

The only points of the third quarter came from Basil’s foot, a 28-yard field on their first possession of the quarter. Basil would miss a 39-yard field goal on their very next drive, but it wasn’t the lone difference.

A final field goal in the fourth quarter again by Basil, this time a 25-yarder, capped the game, as Michigan couldn’t find the rhythm that they had earlier in the first half.

As the clock wound down the final seconds of the game, fans rushed the field, pushing and shoving many of the Wolverines players, flipping them off, trying to tackle them, showing no class whatsoever. Hoke couldn’t get to Urban Meyer to shake hands, who mentioned to the media that “…it’s not a story,” after the press conference.

That kind of epitomized the day, as the Buckeyes accounted for nine penalties on the day for 74 yards, while Michigan only had five for 54 yards. It was a yellow-flag ridden game, the way a rivalry, especially this one, should be played.

Michigan will meet on Monday at 4:00pm, and then go from there, as they await their bowl bid in the postseason. As for Ohio State, they head into their offseason, with a perfect season, 12-0, without a precious bowl game, quite possibly would’ve went to the National Championship, if it wasn’t for Tressel.

Stay tuned to MichiganJournal.org for updates on the Wolverines postseason, and as always, Go Blue!

To read the original article that appeared online only in The Michigan Journal, on Saturday, November 24, 2012, go to www.michiganjournal.org