The QB Formerly Known as "Pat White"
I pray to God that Denard Robinson is not Pat White.
How many times following the Michigan/UConn game this past week did you hear a commentator refer to “Pat White” and “Denard Robinson” in the same sentence? Enough to make you mildly frustrated with the amount of times it was brought up? Join the club. I’ve read many articles on the game and you will be hard pressed to find writings that do not invoke the name of the former West Virginia quarterback. Don’t get me wrong, this is quite a compliment for Robinson. White averaged over 1,000 yards rushing per season in his time at WVU. He helped lift that program to new heights. However, with that in mind :
What NFL team did Pat White belong to when Denard Robinson took his first snap on Saturday?
The answer: White didn’t have a team. He was cut by the Dolphins mere HOURS before the first snap at the Big House. Apparently, the former WVU standout is having difficulty finding work as well. The headline “No one is interested in Pat White” splashed across the ticker on Pro Football Talk on Tuesday evening, and PFT even reported White’s NFL journey as a QB might end here. It’s ironic, especially when you consider the man taking the snaps behind center for the Miami Dolphins this season will be former Michigan quarterback (and Lloyd Carr recruit) Chad Henne.
Hellooo, Fantasy Sleeper Pick
I’m not here to stoke the fire that has become the “RichRod vs. Lloyd” debate. As far as winning that debate goes, you would have greater luck in convincing a group of straight men to watch “Eat, Pray, Love” by themselves. I’ll take my Week One win, give credit to this 2010 Michigan team, and be as happy as the next blue blood. But the question remains: Going forward, with more teams utilizing the spread, how much will “producing successful pro players” mean for recruits deciding on a university? Is the Pat White comparison one that you want for a Michigan guy? The two biggest offensive products from WVU in Rodriguez’s time were Steve Slaton and Pat White: White is now unemployed and Slaton has been reduced to kick returns/back up for journeyman Arian Foster.
Look, I understand the “college game” and the “pro game” are two entirely different animals. Some analysts will tell you that they are two entirely different sports. Will Denard Robinson be an NFL quarterback? All signs point to “No” based on his height and arm strength…but maybe he’s Antwaan Randle-El. Yes, the spread offense has proven to work well for Rich Rodriguez in the past; but don’t discount how much the specter of the NFL hangs over what goes on in college football. If you are being recruited to play college football, the natural next step is being given the opportunity to earn a living playing in the pros.
The man has a Super Bowl ring. Respect.
Many of the top tier programs use their NFL pedigree as a recruiting tool. Rich Rodriguez lacks that same pedigree. Michigan fans always knew this, but Pat White hitting the unemployment line at the same time “The Next Pat White” emerged onto the national scene really hammered it home for me. How much weight does it really carry? I don’t know, but it still bothers me to see these guys flame-out at the next level. I’m curious to see how much of a factor this becomes as the evolution of Michigan football continues.
As we hit Week Two, I hope Denard Robinson’s career path does not run parallel with Pat White’s NFL journey. Hopefully, this run-and-gun college success story has a happy ending.
Hope
October 6, 2010 at 9:50 pm |
Wonder what you folks think of “Shoelaces” today(Oct.6,2010?).