Examining Devin Gardner's Legacy After Michigan's Loss to Ohio State
Devin Gardner’s—and Michigan’s—42-28 loss to Ohio State was the finale of what can only be described as an incredibly inconsistent run for a guy who had the talent but couldn’t put it together when it mattered most.
His tenure at Michigan is difficult, yet easy in some ways, to analyze. Simply put, his impact was felt just about everywhere within the university’s community—everywhere but on the football field.
A champion volunteer and local hero, Gardner could be often found at the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, brightening the day of someone far less fortunate than he.
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A friend and companion, the Wolverines' fifth-year senior quarterback spent hours reading to, playing with and being someone for kids who faced situations much bigger than anything he encountered on Saturday.
But it’s all over for No. 98. At least when it comes to football in Ann Arbor.
Gardner will be remembered for losing games, throwing interceptions, getting sacked and buckling under pressure, but he’ll also be remembered for his sportsmanship, leadership and demeanor.
It’s all a matter of perspective.
There is no right or wrong way to view Gardner, who, for better or worse, played through several injuries and against mountains of adversity for nearly two straight seasons.
His legacy is full of gray area.
| 2012 | 1,219 | 11 | 5 | 3-2 |
| 2013 | 2,960 | 21 | 11 | 7-5 |
| 2014 | 1,896 | 10 | 15 | 5-6 (did not start vs. Minnesota) |
On the Field
Gardner didn’t beat Michigan State or Ohio State. He went 1-1 versus Notre Dame. This season, he threw for 106 yards and lost, 23-16, to Maryland on senior day. He also threw for 109 yards during a 10-9 road win over Northwestern.
But in 2013, Gardner set a program record with 503 passing yards during a 63-47 victory over Indiana. And despite a 42-41 loss to the Buckeyes, he strung together a memorable 451-yard performance that was oh-so close to something really special during the 2013 finale.
And he did it on a broken foot.
He’s looked great, and he’s looked painfully mediocre.
If that’s not enough to drive someone crazy, then what is? Inconsistent doesn’t begin to describe Gardner, a 6’4”, 220-pounder with crazy amounts of athleticism but minimal amounts of execution.
However, he’s had some of his best moments in defeat, making it all the more difficult to knock what Gardner’s done between the lines for coach Brady Hoke.
Case in point: During “The Game,” Buckeyes star quarterback J.T. Barrett went down with an ankle injury.
In hindsight, that was a moment that Michigan knew it had to seize—doing so would turn the tides, and it did for a few minutes. However, before planning on how to pounce on a wounded team, Gardner took the time to speak with Barrett, who was on his back, writhing in pain.
“I’ve talked to him a little bit through the season, and you hate to see a player, especially a guy like him—a great guy, a high character guy, a hard worker [get injured],” Gardner said. “He’s been called upon and he didn’t know he was going to get a shot, and he’s executed and done it humbly. It’s like having a little brother out there get hurt.”
He referred to the other team’s star quarterback as a “brother.” Not a “foe.” Not an “adversary.” A “brother”—again displaying a level of class and sportsmanship that makes it difficult to knock him, even if he’s throwing interceptions at a nationally relevant rate. His 14 picks entering play on Saturday ranked No. 8 among FBS quarterbacks.
Off the Field
It took Gardner just three years to obtain a degree in Afro-American studies from one of the most prestigious institutions in the country. He could have stopped there, as a four-year piece of paper from Michigan is quite valuable—but he chose to get a Master’s in social work.
And considering his selfless nature, that’d be a perfect fit. It's not hard to imagine him devising a game plan for someone in need of a helping hand.
College football is in the rear-view mirror, and at the end of the day, it’s just football—it’s 11 guys lining up for one common goal, and that’s to win. For some guys, that’s all they have. For others, those like Gardner, it’s a mere stepping stone for something bigger.
He may or may not play beyond Michigan. But he doesn't have to—he's already on his way to success in life. Looking back at his senior year, Gardner leaves knowing that he did what he could on the field. But he also leaves knowing that he did what he had to—what his heart told him to do—away from it.
“Everybody faces this point in their lives,” he said. “You do everything you’re supposed to do, you work hard, and what do you do once it doesn’t work out the way you thought it would?
You just continue to do the things you do: work hard and be a good guy, and these guys, I’m pretty sure they share the same sentiment. They’re going to continue to work hard and do the things they need to do.”
Follow Bleacher Report’s Michigan Wolverines football writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81
Quotes were obtained via Ohio State press release sent to the writer.
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