Aneurysm of Leadership: Devin Gardner
I know we already had an "appreciation thread," but did we witness something this team sorely needed last night?
Is it POSSIBLE that we just witnessed something we saw Novack do to the middling Michigan basketball team back in 2011?
For reference: http://mgoblog.com/content/aneurysm-leadership
Because Michigan followed up a series of promising performances against elite teams with road duds against Indiana and Northwestern, beating Michigan State won't mean anything outside of the thing itself. Michigan's not likely to get even an NIT bid because of the win. Before my fiancée fell asleep for the second half she remarked that even though Michigan was in front "they make everything seem so hard," and they do.
Michigan is aimless. The announcers kept talking about Michigan taking a lot of time off the shot clock like that was a special strategy for this game when they're almost as slow (327th) as they are young (337th) and played at the exact same pace against South Carolina Upstate. When it's going well they're "deliberate," but to my eyes it's a team that doesn't really know what it's doing. They're forced to improvise when time gets low after chucking it around the perimeter for 20 seconds. It's almost exactly what Amaker teams did down to pulling the big out of the lane to provide a low-threat passing option as the ball cycles around the three point line.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
The moment that stuck out to me last night was in the fourth quarter, where players on the sideline were jumping up and down. You could feel that, even though things weren't over, Michigan was going to find a way to win. It's been a long time since we've seen the football team with that kind of energy late in the game.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:26 AM ^
The sideline has been doing that all season, at least for home games. Most defensive third downs our sideline has been jumping up and down waving towels.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:53 AM ^
I did like the energy I saw from the players, but I in no way felt that Michigan was going to find a way to win. I was wrong, but I'd say PSU just did more wrong than Michigan. I'll take a "we weren't as bad as them" win any day now, though.
October 12th, 2014 at 2:56 PM ^
but consider that Penn State is having offensive issues of their own; their inadequacies enabled us to win this game as much as our 16 points did. Not to mention being at home under the lights. I was happy for them but if the team is standing tall and valiant and are still in the game deep into the 4th quarter in EL in two weeks, then I'll believe a great moment is taking place.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:20 AM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 11:24 AM ^
MY TOE ITCHES REALLY BAD WILL SOMEONE TAKE OFF MY SHOE
October 12th, 2014 at 12:49 PM ^
and I can verify this.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:25 AM ^
Pretty sure it ends with "SO IF YOU WANT IT, COME WITH ME."
October 12th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^
the "ME"
October 12th, 2014 at 11:33 AM ^
Looks like he starts off with "If I can do it...", and then he finishes with [then you better sack the fuck up and come with me].
October 12th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^
I'm guessing there were a smattering of "mans" in there based on his post-game interview.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ^
Is there video? My friend will give it a try.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
This was my favorite part of the game. This is something that the team needed, and Im finally glad our senior leader looked like a senior leader. The defense definitely fed off his energy. I hope this continues the rest of the season.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:23 AM ^
Errr, no. Only five players on a basketball court at one time. And two of which we had were future NBA draft picks at positions that dominate the ball (PG and wing). Alot easier to turn it around in basketball. And let's not forget that the basketball turned the season around and made it to the NCAA Tournament, which was a big deal considering where our program had been since the mid 90s. But it's not like they turned it around and won the conference. Could we turn it arond and make a bowl game? I guess. But it's still not good, especially for a program of our stature and talent.
October 12th, 2014 at 3:48 PM ^
I think you are missing the point.
At the time of Novak's freakout, our basketball team was 11-9 and absolutely no one was predicting an NCAA appearance. Brian (as noted above) didn't even think we could make the NIT!
BTW, that team played at a near-B1G champion clip from then onward, going 8-3 in league play and one of the losses was on a last-second banked-in 3 by Wisconsin.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:26 AM ^
I was absolutely thrilled to see DG step up and be a leader. That was Pure MICH
October 12th, 2014 at 11:27 AM ^
Notice that 'Leaders' comes first; perhaps this is the type of development the football team needed to take the amount of talent they have and focus it on winning games.
Tim
October 12th, 2014 at 11:29 AM ^
Get back with me in 5-6 weeks
October 12th, 2014 at 11:37 AM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 11:31 AM ^
What's cool is if you sync up the Novak clip with the Gardner .gif, they're both screaming at the same time in the same way in stereo. Gave me chills.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:32 AM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 1:24 PM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 11:41 AM ^
Crazy Eyes!
October 12th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^
As a 5th year player I expect nothing less from Gardner. Now keep getting better.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:43 AM ^
at that moment was huge---he showed the kind of energy, when imploring the defense to come up bigat crunch time, that was absolutely needed from the 5th-year senior. While I have no doubt DG tries to show that leadership all the time, that one moment there will forever stand out.
October 12th, 2014 at 11:55 AM ^
This is the first instance of passion and holding teammates accountable I've seen this year. Way to step up Devin. In a weird way I think his injury got him out of his own head about his performance.
October 12th, 2014 at 12:13 PM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
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October 12th, 2014 at 12:16 PM ^
How about we slap a captain on this kid and let him lead the fucking team for his last year? He's been absolutely shit on through his entire tenure. It's blatantly obvious he fits the role when he has the opportunity to play how he wants to play.
What is there to lose? Hoke having to admit that he's handing over some of the offensive guidance to a player? Don't get me started on turnovers, because watching these guys when they were coached by RR (Denard and Devin) that they were both just thrown into shit that didn't give them the best chances to put their talents out there, that they were being coached into playing a system they weren't designed to play.
Let him play, let him be the fire under the asses, let the motherfucker who took ohio down to the wire on a broken foot through sheer willpower have a fucking chance at leaving this instution on his own merits... not that of an inept coach who doesn't give a shit about anything except saving his own ass no matter who sacrificies their own bodies in the process.
October 12th, 2014 at 12:33 PM ^
5th year senior QB should be the captain - stop f'ing with him
October 12th, 2014 at 12:38 PM ^
Ya know, maybe Devin would make a good coach someday.... not taking anything away from his athleticism right now, but you want a Michigan man? Here's one from Detroit, a proven LEADER when given the chance, and someone who is caring as much about his education as about football while he's on the team....
October 12th, 2014 at 1:21 PM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 7:32 PM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
How many times have you seen us be down and Devin is just sitting, or just staring with a lost look in his eyes? So many times I've seen him retreat to the bench and sit quietly. Great to see him fired up like that.
A bunch of you are so frustrated that you're hating on anything the team does right now. Gardner's rant above. Hagerup's note. I say good for them, I'm happy to see this team fight.
October 12th, 2014 at 1:10 PM ^
Let's talk again in 5-6 weeks. If Devin can legitimately put the team on his back, go to EL, and come out with a W, then you'll have my attention. Right now, all I'm really wondering is if he'll leave EL with all his appendages still in the same place.
October 12th, 2014 at 3:36 PM ^
Sure, put it on Devin's shoulders... he's supposed to be the one getting developed as a player by competent coaches.
I'd like to see how others would perform if they were put in his shoes.
Oh, we already have seen how they perform (insert Morris/Bellomy)
Shut up.
October 12th, 2014 at 1:25 PM ^
I think that moment showed me the life that I've wanted to see on the sidelines all year from this team. For over a month now, it just seems like there was some urgency missing from the mix whenever they were out there, but to see Devin fired up and trying to rally people on the sideline last night was exactly what they needed. Once in a while, an "aneurysm of leadership" works some wonders, as we know.
October 12th, 2014 at 1:40 PM ^
Some of you are absolute assholes.
October 12th, 2014 at 2:01 PM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^
There are some assholes in this thread, but don't rag on an entire fanbase because of it - especially one that filled up a 110,000-seat stadium to see a 2-4 team play yesterday.
October 12th, 2014 at 2:19 PM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 3:17 PM ^
To answer the OP's original question. No, this isn't a Novak situation. Novak was coached by the best coach in the B1G in John Beilein. Gardner is coached by the worst coach in the 'power 5' Brady Hoke.
October 12th, 2014 at 3:38 PM ^
exactly, dg could have bailed and probably would be doing better somewhere else when RR left.... ya'll need to support this kid, cause he fucking fights for your asses every single week.
October 12th, 2014 at 4:52 PM ^
I showed this GIF to a friend of mine who is a professional lip reader. She said Devin's words were:
"You have bled with Wallace! Now bleed with me!!!!!!"
October 12th, 2014 at 8:48 PM ^
I really feel for Gardner and the career he could have had, but there is no way in hell you can compare that to Novak's freak out against a rival at a turning point under what was already an unquestionably good coach.
October 12th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^
And I thought to myself, "about fucking time!" Just think if you had 90+ guys that fired up and sick and tired of playing like a wet noodle.
But there lies a problem. Is it too little too late?
October 12th, 2014 at 9:46 PM ^
October 12th, 2014 at 10:13 PM ^
I love that guy. He drives me nuts sometimes, but man I hope he can finnish strong. I'm ready for Hoke to move on, but I want nothing but great things for Gardner. He's given so much.