For recap of the player and Rich Rod press conferences, check out Tim’s rundown on mgoblog. It’s Michigan State and there was clearly a media buzz in the air. About twice as many video cameras were on hand. The press conferences go like this: At just after noon, Rich Rod sits down for about 20 minutes in the back of the Junge Center and answers questions off camera. Then he moves over to the front for a cameras-on presser, usually a little shorter (because everyone’s already asked him 20 minutes of questions!). Then there’s a delay, then media relations brings in players to speak & usually 4-6 guys hit podium one after another. A few shots. Here’s Rich Rod seated at the pre-presser at his seat in "the squared circle": Obi Ezeh was very relaxed and put the defense’s troubles in perspective: Likewise with Kovacs, who had a huge game last year against State: Captain Steve Schilling scored big points with his "Offense" shirt. It reads "SCORE" on the back. Make we can get Underground to print up some "Defense" and "Don’t SCORE" shirts for Obi and crew: Denard eyed the Pizza House pizzas stacked up in the back of the room and nothing was going to stop him from getting there: Update. Speaking of Denard, check out this…
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Denard: Please Don’t Loop, Swoop or Pull
I was up in East Lansing for the Wisconsin game but tuned into the radio broadcast and this morning I watched the replay. (I broke down and ordered the expanded sports package on Comcast to get ESPNU). It’s remarkable stuff to watch to be sure and like you, I’m still very worried about what’s going to happen in the next few weeks with this defense. Miscellanea: * I expected it to be close, definitely closer than the spread, but not quite like that. I read this Saturday morning and remember thinking it was silly for Sharp to be so specific in his prediction, but, pretty much: Drew Sharp MICHIGAN 41, INDIANA 38 This is a game that goes down to the last possession. The Hoosiers score a touchdown with less than a minute remaining, but that gives Denard Robinson enough time for another miraculous drive. * Love the MS Paint giant shoe sign: Lon Horwedel – A2.com * After the final pass of the game was broken up, cameras panned over to their obligatory shot of the winning coach. Greg Robinson grabbed Rich Rod to tell him something and it was kind of weird: * The other interesting sideline moment came just minutes earlier, after Taylor Lewan was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after Denard scored the game-winner. While ESPNU provided…
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Feeling Alright
Denard is doing just fine. A few observations: He ran over to the student section after the game. Obviously he was feeling above average during The Victors (above). When Gardner scored at the end of the game, he met him near the sideline and jumped (pretty high) to do a butt bump or whatever you call that. Rich Rod said he’s fine after the game, not planning to do any further tests. Further, RR said he could have put Denard back in the game if he needed to. Consider what Denard did today in the nine minutes of elapsed game time that he played: 189 total yards Two TDs That’s 21 yards per minute and a individually Yostian 1.33 points per minute.
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Denard’s Golden Pants
A pretty good shot of the game-winning touchdown Saturday from mgoblue.com. They also have a few thoughts from Denard on the play along with commentary from the photographer Eric Bronson: But upon closer inspection….damn our new athletic director is pretty slick. BRANDON!!! <shakes fist toward direction of State Street>: P.S. Speaking of shots of Denard, if you were hoping he’d grace the cover of Sports Illustrated this week, or perhaps a corner like Tate Forcier did last year after Notre Dame, no go. But there will be a Michigan Man on the cover.
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Denard Robinson (audio from Sept-13 press conference)
The man of the hour and here’s the audio: [display_podcast] The thing about Denard is that he’s highly likeable. He’s clearly humble, there’s a bit of an ‘aw shucks’ thing going on and that huge smile just tops it off. I think that extends outside the Michigan fan base too. As you do, I know quite a few State fans who really couldn’t stand Tate especially after the "I don’t get nervous" comment. I saw it differently of course, but I guess I understand. There were several questions about his workload running the ball, both at Rich Rod and Denard. One interesting fact. He was of course a quarterback in high school but most schools recruited him as a receiver or cornerback but did you know Denard only rushed for 462 yards his senior year at Deerfield Beach (while throwing for 1809)? So he’s just seven yards away (read: 1 carry) from beating his rushing totals from his entire high school senior year. P.S. They handled out an updated copy of the Michigan record book at the press conference today, haha, that’s never a bad thing.
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Laced
My perspective of the Denard Robinson show yesterday at Notre Dame Stadium. (Yes, Denard wears both a home jersey and a leather helmet in my mind’s eye).
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Denard Robinson – Media Day
I spent a little time with Denard Sunday and most the questions and answers were pretty dry. My impression watching him—he feels like he’s the guy and exudes confidence. A few of the solid quotes including my favorite from the day*: How has he gotten better? "I think I’m more calm. I’m getting used to the offense, and that’s really helping me out." On his thoughts last year: "There was just a whole bunch going through my head and everything was coming by so fast. Everything has slowed down." On whether he thinks more than one quarterback will be starting this season. "Oh yeah, oh yeah. Because all of us are playing real good football right now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Devin on the field and Tate on the field in one of these games. They could start the first game, we really don’t know." On Devin’s progress. "He calmed down. Everything was fast to him at first when he came in. He took it all in and he’s using it now." *On where he was with the read option last season: "Man. <laughs>. Last year I was like, ‘All right, I’m not reading, I’m just running’ – that’s what I was thinking. Now I can read it." Related: The Standard Fare Will Hagerup – Media Day Devin…
