The Michigan Daily is reporting that the Rich Rod Regime has another quitter Last years starting quarterback Steven Threet is said to be leaving the program after his glorious first year as a starter. Threet was able to throw the ball in Rich Rod's patented bubble screen, but had trouble running the ball and throwing down field (the three plays last year that they actualy tried that.
The Michigan Daily states:
The Real Story: Once Tate Forcier arrived on campus, you know that Rich Rod annointed him as the starter for next year, without ever actually seeing if the kid is capable of playing in big time college football. I have visions of Threet showing up to a video session and seeing Tate and Rich Rod laughing it up before he gets through the door and saying to him "Hey, Steve, go get me and the starter some more soda's will ya." Rich Rod has a way of letting starting quarterbacks get away from his program without an inkling of trying to keep them there. See Ryan Mallett.Redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Threet will transfer from Michigan,
according to a statement released early this morning.
"I have decided to transfer from the University of Michigan," Threet wrote
in the statement. "I have requested and received my release. I do not yet know
where I will continue my collegiate career, and have no further comment until
that decision is made."
Calls to Steven Threet’s cell phone last night from The Michigan Daily were
not returned. When contacted last night by the Daily, Threet’s father, Jewel
Threet, said his son would release a statement today and declined further
comment.
The Wolverines’ starter in 8 of 12 games last year, Threet transferred from
Georgia Tech prior to the 2007 season. He finished last season 102-of-200 for
1,105 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Michigan signed two quarterbacks, Tate Forcier and Denard Robinson, on
National Signing Day on Feb. 5. Forcier, a four-star recruit according to
rivals.com, enrolled early in January and will practice with the team this
spring.
Redshirt sophomores Nick Sheridan and David Cone are the only returning
quarterbacks on Michigan’s roster. Sheridan started four games last season.
Freshman Justin Feagin, who began last season at quarterback and moved to slot
receiver, will also return.
Phil Jacobs, Threet’s coach at Adrian High
School, said yesterday he didn’t know about Threet’s plan to transfer.
“He’s pretty much kept it to himself and his family,” Jacobs said yesterday
before the quarterback announced his intention to leave the Wolverines. “He’s
going to do what’s best and do the right thing. I’m supportive of the
kid.”
Threet enrolled at Georgia Tech in January 2007 but transferred after
spring practice. He cited the departure of Yellow Jacket offensive coordinator
Patrick Nix, who primarily recruited Threet, as the main reason for the
transfer.
Threet competed with Sheridan, a former walk-on, during spring and fall
practices for the starting job. Sheridan started in the season opener, but
Threet got the starting nod in the next game against Miami (Ohio).
"It's frustrating not to hit the passes to help the team win more than
anything," Threet said after the Miami game, in which he went 6-of-13 for 63
yards, including one 50-yard screen pass. "Some passes, some plays, I'd like to
have back. But that's the situation, so you just keep on working, and try and
come back next week and make the plays."
Threet's breakout start came against Notre Dame on Sept. 13. In South Bend,
he went 16-of-23 for 175 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
He
started seven more games but missed two of Michigan's final three games with a
shoulder injury. He didn't play at Minnesota and didn't make the trip to Ohio
State.
Threet said early last season that being Michigan's quarterback
wouldn't affect his laid-back personality.
"I feel that I can be focused, but be myself at the same time," Threet
said. "Me as a person, I can't be uptight. I don't like that feeling, so that's
not how I'm going to approach a game."
If Rich Rod was smart or cared about the UM program, he would have begged stole and killed to keep Threet there. If Tate doesn't pan out next year, who is he going to get to run his three plays, Nick Sheridan again. This program is a lot like the Titanic, and I mean that in the bad way not the "I'm king of the world kind of way."
Say what you want about Threet, and I will, the guy sucked eggs, but what you now have with him not there is an untested commodity.
Michigan fans are looking at last year and saying "It can't get any worse." Well guess what, it just did. Your starting quarterback just left the most historied football program in all of college football to probably go and play for a program like James Madison or Georgia Southern. That's the sad state that is Michigan Football. I wonder who's going to leave next? We should start taking a poll.
So far, just off the top of my head, the list of players is: Ryan Mallett, Justin Boren, Sam McGuffie, Steven Threet.
Should RichRod be fired? The Nudge say's absolutely. While Jon Gruden is still running around, see if he has any interest.
The Detroit Free Press sports writer Mark Snyder actually thinks this might be a good thing:
Q: Threet was the most experienced quarterback returning next
season and seemed to have as good a shot as anyone at being named the starter.
Why do you think he decided to transfer?
Snyder: Threet undoubtedly saw where he stood with this
coaching staff. They appreciated his toughness and his ability to fight through last season’s arm injuries and a concussion.
But if they believed in him leading this team, they would not have aggressively recruited two quarterbacks for next year's class.
While Rich Rodriguez would like to have Threet around to help teach the
offense to freshman Tate Forcier in the spring (and Forcier and freshman Denard Robinson in the summer), it was clear Threet was not likely to hold the job for long, even if he had made strides.
Q: What becomes of the quarterback spot now? Is Forcier the
automatic front-runner? Does Nick Sheridan (who started four games in 2008) move into the top of the depth chart?
Snyder: Forcier is the front-runner -- and probably was
before Threet's departure -- because he'll have all of spring practice to
prepare.His greatest skill in high school was his accuracy, which was a
challenge for Threet. Robinson brings more speed to the position, but isn't
likely to start as early without having the spring practice experience like
Forcier, who is already enrolled.
Q: Is there a silver lining to this news? Is it better
for the program in the long-run to get a Rich Rodriguez-style QB under center now rather than to bring one along slowly?
A: The silver lining would be that Michigan has another scholarship to
offer. As for quarterback, there are going to be struggles, but Rodriguez is
going to be extremely supportive of the quarterbacks he recruits. Forcier might be inexperienced, but I think his teammates will respect him, and he will mesh well into Rodriguez’s system. Those factors should help ease the blow of this news. As for that extra scholarship, Rodriguez said on signing day that there are a couple other players he might add to the class, most likely on defense.
