Sp- ot s~onday
Devin Gardner's final
Big House moments
Loss proves (again) that
enough is enough
By MAX COHEN his eyes, Gardner stood in front of
Daily Sports Editor Michigan's bench a few feet away
from the sidelines. He spoke with
Devin Gardner stood alone on no one.
Michigan's sideline for much of When the clock reached its
Maryland's final drive Saturday. resting place at 0:00, it was
It was his last game at Michigan as if a sense of finality had set
Stadium, the place where he's in. Gardner stared toward the
experienced success and failure, other sideline where players
the place where he's been celebrated, motionless.
knocked down time and time Then, redshirt junior offensive
again and stood back up every lineman Jack Miller walked over
single time. and leaned into Gardner's ear. The
Yet when the Terrapins teammates stood there for a few
possessed the ball for the final seconds, Miller whispering some
4:16 of the game, all Gardner final words of encouragement to
could do was watch. his quarterback.
With the final moments of his "I said I was proud of him,"
last home game passing by before Miller said. "I said he's done a lot
for a lot of guys on this team and
for this program, and I thought
he played really well today. Sure,
he had a couple things he wishes
he could have back, but I told him
I was proud of him."
Miller walked away from
Gardner, but redshirt freshman
offensive lineman David Dawson
and freshman wide receiver Moe
Ways came to console him. They
patted Gardner on the back.
Maryland players sought out
Gardner, too. They interrupted
his final walk to the tunnel
opposite Michigan's sideline
with brief hugs.
For one final time, Gardner
See GARDNER, Page 2B
ou sat a
the Cri
room S
said you
wouldn't
evaluate
the football
team until
the season
ended.
You, Jim
Hackett,
the interim
Athletic
Director,
explained
the program is
to be, but expr
coach Brady H
at the podium in continue to show improvement.
sler Center media Mr. Hackett, here is your
aturday and evaluation: With everything
on the line Saturday against
Maryland, the Wolverines
delivered a dud at home, 23-16.
And though a week remains
before the season ends, you
should already have prepared
the message you'll send.
Michigan is 5-6 and fourth in
the Big Ten East. It has found
ALEJANDRO rock bottom repeatedlythis
ZUNIGA year: with a shutout loss to
Notre Dame, a blowout home
loss to Minnesota, a road loss to
n't where it needs Rutgers, an embarrassing loss to
essed hope head Michigan State, and now this.
oke's squad would There will be no bowl game.
Rather, the Wolverines will win
two fewer games than they did
in 2013, which was one fewer
game than they did in2012,
which was three fewer games
than they did in 2011.
Enough.
Michigan has all the right
pieces. It has Devin Gardner,
once the No.1 quarterback
recruit in the nation, leading
the team as a fifth-year senior.
It has Devin Funchess, a 6-foot-
5 athletic beast who was once
tabbed a first-round NFL draft
pick. It has Jake Ryan, a fifth-
year senior middle linebacker
who has been named a finalist
See ENOUGH, Page 28
THE SADDEST PART
The Michigan football team is gearing
up for the biggest game of the year, but it
doesn't mean anything this season.
SportsMonday Column, Page 2B
PENN ST-EIGHT
The Michigan hockey team made a
statement with an 8-1 dismantling of Penn
State at Yost Ice Arena.
Breakthrough, Page 4B
I F