The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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step in being a more vocal, serious leader." Gardner himself admits it felt "weird" not having Robinson in Michigan practices this spring. It's easy to see from the way he carried himself in the Wolverines' spring scrimmage, though, he's getting used to that dynamic in a hurry. "It felt like it was my team," Gardner said. "We did really well this spring." Gardner performed well in Michigan's only outdoor practice of the spring — the windy, frigid (30s to knew what was going to happen. We planned to call that play yesterday. Coach [Al] Borges said, 'Just get it up and give it a chance.' That's what I did and he performed." Gardner has performed throughout, to the praise of both coaches and players. Robinson served as a pied piper for the Wolverines over the course of three seasons, and while Gardner throws the ball better, he knew he needed to prove himself in other ways. The final handful of contests last fall, and his further advancement through winter and Head coach Brady Hoke on Devin Gardner spring, played a big role in getting that "I am proud that he has figured out being done. the Michigan quarterback is something "I feel like I imspecial. His work ethic, intelligence and proved as a leader," Gardner said. "I those things are good. He is a football junkie. He has done a nice job of wrapping feel like I improved every aspect of my his arms around his responsibility." game. I got faster, stronger, I'm throwlow 40s), rain- and snow-spattered ing accurate balls and I'm making spring game. An estimated 18,000 great decisions. brave souls showed up for the con"The guys, they love me. We have test, and only two of them — Hoke people at our practice, and they come and strength and conditioning coach up to me and they say, 'Man, the Aaron Wellman — appeared in team, it seems like they all love you.' shorts. That's refreshing for me to hear. If While the latter two delivered someone can see it from the outside, the toughness message, Gardner that's amazing." sent a different one on the very first Winning always decreases tensions play. His 33-yard sideline bomb to and increases love all around. Gardsophomore wideout Amara Darboh ner saw a 2012 Michigan team come made it clear the era of the pass-first, so close to achieving a breakthrough run-when-necessary quarterback at entry into the Big Ten title contest. Michigan has returned. It's time to get that done, he assured. "I knew Darboh was going to "I feel like we've worked hard to catch the ball," Gardner said. "We get to that point, and I feel like we're