Michigan football coach Brady Hoke stated to the media this week that starting QB Devin Gardner was injured with ‘turf toe’ and starting PK Brendan Gibbons was going to miss the bowl game due to ‘family issues’.
Both of those statements were lies, according to four sources close to the Michigan program. Additionally, these lies (when there isn’t a reason to lie at all) are not winning Hoke any favors with the local media, who have overwhelmingly supported the 3rd year coach – more on that at the end of the story.
What's the real story? Here's what I know:
Devin Gardner has a broken foot, with three fractured bones. The injury occurred on November 30th during the Ohio State game, when he hurt his foot right before halftime. Gardner will not play at all against Kansas State, and hasn't been active on the football field since the end of the 42-41 loss to the Buckeyes. What is Hoke trying to accomplish with this situation? All he has to say is "we don't comment on injuries".
Gibbons, on the other hand, is a murkier story. I can say this – ‘family issues’ is not the reason he won't be playing in his final game at Michigan. Nor was an 'injury' the reason he didn’t play against Ohio State. I don't have a strong enough source to say what the exact reason is (none of my sources are telling the same story) but I can say this: It's trouble, and it's bad enough that Hoke refused to play Gibbons in his final two games, knowing that if the ‘issue’ came to light, the Michigan coaches would be blasted for playing him.
I've heard two different takes on the Gibbons situation - one is that he's in legal trouble. The other is that he “severely broke team rules and is no longer associated with the Michigan football program.” Same thing? Maybe, but no details are concrete enough to put out there. He's off the team, and it isn’t for family reasons.
Back to Hoke and the local media.
Through correspondence with multiple local Michigan football media members, I have learned that almost every writer covering the U-M football team knows they're being misled, but no one will risk being shunned by the program by outing Hoke for lying. I don't have the same risk of backlash, and have always given it to my readers straight, with no fluff.
"I don't understand why he lies about the little things" said one long-time reporter covering Michigan football. "Gardner has a broken foot. He's been in a walking boot for the last month...who is Hoke trying to fool with this turf toe crap?", the reporter added.
Another writer, a recruiting analyst, chimed in: "Hoke is just getting very misleading. Back in the days of Carr, we would get a stare or a no comment when he didn't want to answer a question... with Hoke, it's just straight up lies."
Look, I get coach-speak, but this is a little ridiculous. Hoke needs to come clean on Gardner's injury or not say anything at all. Lying about the nature of an injury in a VERY specific manner is uncalled for.
Lying to protect Gibbons - I get it. But, 'family issues'? Come on, Brady. Just say he didn't make the trip and it's a private matter if you want to protect his indiscretions. Michigan fans and media aren't idiots, and we don't appreciate lying.
Now, lets go beat KSU.
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