Rashan Gary, True Michigan Man - Appreciation Thread

Submitted by Mike Damone on November 4th, 2018 at 1:49 PM

Earlier this year, an injured Nick Bosa, captain of THE Ohio State University, with a potential chance to come back and help his team, chose instead to quit the team, quit school, and start getting ready for the draft, where he is sure to be a Top 5 pick.  Can't argue with it financially, makes sense.  But he also could have chosen to basically do the same thing while staying in school, and meeting his obligation as team captain to provide much needed leadership in the locker room and on the sidelines.  I have no doubt that somewhere, Woody Hayes is fuming about Nick Bosa, perhaps looking for another Clemson player to cold cock.  Woody would have said you owe it to your team to do your best and lead your team.  Instead - Nick Bosa chose to do what was easier for Nick Bosa. 

Yesterday, Rashan Gary, a consensus Top 10-15 pick in the upcoming draft, took the field after being injured very early in the season.  He could have chosen to take the same path as Nick Bosa.  One may argue that by playing, he can improve his draft stock.  I would argue he has much more to lose either through mediocre performance or getting injured than by choosing to sit out the rest of the season.  With insured health by sitting out, is combine numbers would have been (and will be anyways) ridiculous, insuring a very high 1st round spot in the draft.

His stats weren't great yesterday.  One Michigan reporter stated that he had very little impact.  I disagree.  He was deep in the Penn State backfield several times, and I am certain he caused chaos and attention that helped others.

Regardless - by taking the field yesterday, Rashan Gary became a true Michigan man who deserves our admiration and respect.  There were too many threads and posters even on this blog who questioned whether he would come back.  But just as his mama said - Rashan is a Wolverine, and is there to meet his commitment and support his school, coaches and team.  He said he would play when he was feeling healthy enough to do so.  His mother said the same thing.  He has stood by his word.

Somewhere up in "football's valhalla" - Bob Ufer and Bo Schembechler are smiling, as they watched this Michigan Man take the field yesterday.  Here's to Rashan Gary having a great run in the next few games, helping us beat OSU, win the BIG, and creating some havoc in the playoffs.

Go Blue!!!

MGoBoard
Football

Section 1.8

November 4th, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^

You have this exactly right.  Gary was ferocious for the first 2-3 series.  Dominant, high-energy; wreaking havoc even if the announcers weren't calling his name much.

And then, we saw almost nothing of him.  I hope he is physically good.

 

Joined: 01/04/2018

MGoPoints: 1167

mgeoffriau

November 4th, 2018 at 2:01 PM ^

I mean...I'm glad he played yesterday, and I'm hopeful he'll be healthy enough to finish out the year, help the team, and improve his draft stock.

But I have to reject the idea that he somehow just became a Michigan Man yesterday. By all accounts, he's studied in the classroom, practiced hard, mentored and led younger players, and made a huge impact on the field. We can debate the reasons why he has yet to have the world-conquering kind of season you'd hope to see out of the #1 overall recruit, but that's the only context in which you can utter the word "disappointing" with regard to Rashan Gary.

Playing in yesterday's game has little to do with Gary's status as the mythical "Michigan Man."

Joined: 01/01/2013

MGoPoints: 9443

northernmich

November 4th, 2018 at 2:02 PM ^

I eat my words about Rashan. I assumed he was done and was gonna shut it down. But I was wrong, that first snap of the game he was so fast into McSorleys lap I couldn’t believe it (unfortunately it was a completion and a big gain for PSU) but man he was nice to have back. He’s gonna be huge in the big games the rest of the year. What a great Michigan man.

Joined: 10/12/2018

MGoPoints: 3032

snarling wolverine

November 4th, 2018 at 2:11 PM ^

There were so many people making the asinine claim that "Rashan has shut it down, just like Bosa, hey it's all good, respect the decision man." 

Let's try to learn from this.  If they say a guy's hurt, he's probably hurt.  

Joined: 12/14/2011

MGoPoints: 98778

LabattsBleu

November 4th, 2018 at 2:17 PM ^

too much idle speculation previously on Rashan imo.

kid was injured; everyone knew that. And he has been nursing the same issue since last year - also common knowledge.

Anything beyond that was posters guessing and unfortunately some ppl took it and ran with it.

i think most posters though he'd be back at some point this year...This year has the potential to leave a Legacy for this entire group. I doubt any one would skip out on finishing strong if they were 100% healthy.

most important game since 2006 imo... i think Rashan would be playing in that game even if he were injured.

Joined: 10/06/2012

MGoPoints: 16413

gopoohgo

November 4th, 2018 at 2:41 PM ^

He didn't take too many snaps in the 2nd half.  

 

Corresponding decrease in pressure from the  DLine.  

 

Gary demands a double, giving others solo protection.  

 

We are infinitely better with Rashan in the lineup 

Joined: 09/12/2011

MGoPoints: 10660

LDNfan

November 4th, 2018 at 2:42 PM ^

Here's an idea...

Why don't we just start giving these young men the benefit of the doubt before rushing to negative judgment? 

The whole assumption that he was ready to quit on the team was dead wrong from the jump but far too many here and elsewhere were willing to run with it. 

Maybe then we wouldn't need a thread like this to counter that BS. 

There are a ton of examples on THIS team of guys fans had basically given up on after last year and the ND game..but NOW...Runyan, JBB, Mettelus, Kinnel etc. are all good. Well there were always 'all good' but maybe they just needed more time, different/better coaching, better/different conditioning, a new girlfriend, a different dorm room...who the hell knows. But they were on this team and that should be enough to give them room, time and space to grow, improve and fulfill their potential w the full support of the fans. 

Joined: 09/28/2014

MGoPoints: 10630