Drew Sharp, idiot savant, is at it again.
In his latest Detroit Free Press column, Sharp climbs aboard his 10-foot horse to opine on the biggest news to come out of this past Sunday’s Michigan Media Day: that after missing the first week of fall practice due to suspensions for offseason legal issues, star running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (driving under the influence) and up-and-coming defensive lineman Frank Clark (home invasion) would begin practicing this week.
Sharp reasons that because Brady Hoke has not specifically stated that Toussaint will sit out Michigan’s monumental opener against Alabama, “the more [he’s] convinced he'll play the suspended 1,000-yard rusher in the game.” He discusses how the Alabama game provides Hoke the perfect opportunity to make a statement about the integrity of the program by benching Toussaint even at risk of losing the game, and he hems and haws about the lack of consequences faced by Toussaint, perceived by Sharp as nothing more than missing a week of practice.
[caption id="attachment_3024" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Fitzgerald Toussaint"]
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It’s completely fair to point out that Hoke has preached integrity and accountability nonstop since taking over for Rich Rodriguez in January 2011. Every other claim is patently ridiculous, for a couple of reasons.
First and foremost, regardless of whether he suits up against Alabama, Toussaint will play at some point this season. Allowing him to practice with his teammates in no way undermines any sort of punishment or suspension that he’s currently enduring. Plus, it’s not like this is out of left field. Before he was booted completely for a third strike during earlier this year, former wide receiver Darryl Stonum practiced throughout 2011, despite the fact that he was suspended for the season (Hoke called it a redshirt). For all anyone knows, Toussaint could be playing the role Alabama running back Eddie Lacy for the scout team. So let’s just hold off on the wild speculation that practice automatically means game action.
Secondly, Brady Hoke owes Drew Sharp, or any other reporter, for that matter, absolutely nothing. Reporters are entitled to ask their questions. They are not entitled to have those questions answered. Hoke has no reason, and gains no benefits from airing out his punishments of players in a public forum. For Sharp to take Hoke’s current non-answer on Toussaint’s status to mean he’s opening the season in the lineup is faulty logic at best, and completely disingenuous at worst.
Lastly, while Hoke is all about integrity, where is it written that he’s not allowed to practice a little gamesmanship? Why should he be compelled to tell the world three weeks out that his team’s 1,000-yard rusher won’t be suiting up for the opener? Why shouldn’t Nick Saban be forced to prepare Alabama as if Michigan’s star runner was going to play?
[caption id="attachment_3025" align="alignright" width="330" caption="Make Saban sweat a bit"]
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Coaches coyly downplay the extent of injuries all the time, a strategy that’s specifically designed to force opposing coaches to gameplan for all scenarios. Especially for a game in which Michigan will be a major underdog, Hoke has a responsibility to provide his team with every advantage he can find. Forcing an opponent to prepare for a guy who may not (and should not) play would fall into that category.
In this age of 24/7 information, it’s en vogue to make abstract predictions and gross generalizations with the hope that something sticks, but there remains something to be said for letting the process play out. If Fitzgerald Toussaint suits up and plays against Alabama, then we can all take Brady Hoke to task for being a complete hypocrite who only cares about wins and losses. But given the way Hoke benched and then ultimately booted Stonum, his best wide receiver heading into last season, methinks that he’s earned the benefit of the doubt for now.
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