It's Ohio State week, and the least of Michigan's concerns in August—who will be quarterback?—has become the hottest of hot-stove issues for the Wolverine coaching staff.
In one corner, Denard Robinson. The man who has single-handedly unnerved defensive coordinators throughout the Big 10 (and in South Bend), riding the day-to-day status of the nerve-damaged elbow of his throwing arm. The man who has gained over 10,000 yards of offense in his college football career, despite injuries that kept him on the bench for parts of two seasons and a flashy flash-in-the-pan freshman named Tate Forcier who benched him for part of another.
In the other, Devon Gardner. The talk of Spring Games past, the understudy who, having yet to take a day's worth of snaps, was given the starting nod three weeks ago in Minneapolis and has yet to look back since. Who in last week's 42-17 rout of Iowa threw for over 300 yards, scoring three touchdowns through the air and three more on the ground. The man who represents the future of Michigan football, if not for the distant future (his redshirt status for 2014 is still uncertain) for next season at least.
Just two short months ago, Denard was throwing to Devon. On Saturday, Devon was handing off to Denard. Yet as crazy as it seems that this swap has worked for the Wolverine offense, as unlikely as this late-season controversy has been for head coach Brady Hoke, it's been overshadowed by each player's outright lack of concern concerning his own campaign for the job. It's all a sign of the selflessness drilled into them by Brady Hoke and his staff.
One can only wonder how things would have turned out in Lincoln last month if, instead of Russell Bellomy, Gardner took over and ran the offense. Even without having any reps, his presence alone would have added another dynamic to a team sorely in need of something dynamic.
Suddenly the post-Shoelace future for the Wolverines doesn't look so iffy. In fact, given the imminent arrival of five-star recruit Shane Morris to the team next fall, it now appears to be a strength.
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