Since 1980, every Michigan starting QB during presidential election years has missed MULTIPLE games due to injury. Is there a Michigan QB Presidential curse?
Repeat that, then say a prayer for our superstar Denard Robinson.
It is 2012, and there is an Presidential election this year . . . Since Denard met Barack Obama earlier this year, can that fact break the curse/hex placed on Michigan Qb's in election years?
This fact is incredibly nerve wracking given the all-out mentality that Denard has played with in his 3 years at Michigan. Given that he averages 17+ carries a game, Denard is incredibly lucky to never have missed an entire game due to injury thus far in his career. The QB has missed plays in more than half of the games he has seen action in during his career due to injury though.
Coincidence or Curse?
2008:
Opening day starter Nick Sheridan was quickly replaced in the starting lineup midway through the first game of the year vs. Utah after a number of errant, 'what were you thinking" throws that resulted in interceptions. From that point on, Steven Threet was Michigan's starter.
Threet played the remainder of the year in a system that didn't fit him, resulting in taking more tackles in one season than he had ever experienced in his life, combined.
Threet missed 2 of the final 3 games with a shoulder injury, while only playing a few snaps in the home finale vs. Northwestern.
This was my first year living in Ann Arbor, attending Ross getting my MBA . . . the memories of this season still haunt my dreams.
Final record: 3-9
2004:
Michigan fans came into 2004 PUMPED. The 2004 WR corps was stacked, the defensive secondary was the best in the nation, and the team was coming off a 2003 win over Ohio and a Rose Bowl appearance.
Michigan fans woke up on opening Saturday expecting RS sophomore Matt Gutierrez to lead the #3 Wolverines to a blowout win vs. Miami OH. News broke early in the morning when a small Pennsylvania newspaper reported that hometown freshman QB Chad Henne was slated to start for the Wolverines after starter Gutierrez was sidelined with a season ending shoulder injury.
Henne went on to have the best freshman season for a QB in NCAA history, leading the Wolverines to a Big Ten championship and Rose Bowl appearance. Henne started nearly every game in his career, only missing a couple games in 2007 due to injury.
Final record: 9-3, Big Ten Champs
2000:
Michigan all-everything QB Drew Henson, seen by many as the greatest player in Michigan history before he ever stepped on campus, was finally stepping out of the shadows of departed no-name QB Tom Brady (what ever happened to that guy?). During fall camp, Henson broke a bone in his foot and former DE recruit turned QB John Navarre was slated to be the new starting QB. ESPN.com homepage had a picture of Navarre on its homepage for an entire day with the caption "Meet John Navarre" as the news of Henson's injury broke.
Navarre played great in two games vs. outmatched opponents, leading the nation in passing eficiency after 2 weeks.
In game 3 vs. UCLA, Navarre played poorly in a loss. Henson would return the following week and lead Michigan to a come from behind win over #17 Illinois on the road.
Final record: 9-3, Big Ten Champs
1996:
Starter Scott Dreisbach played the majority of the season injury free, but was sidelined early in the Ohio game, and never started a game again in his career. Backup Brian Griese led a come from behind win vs. Ohio and then started the Outback Bowl vs. Alabama.
Dreisbach had one of the bigger falls from grace in recent memory. Starter from game 1 his RS freshman year, leading Michigan to an epic win vs. Virginia in the Pigskin Classic, and a starter almost his entire sophomore campaign. The following season, Griese led Michigan to a National Championship. In Dreisbach's senior year, 1998, he was beat out by junior Tom Brady and fell to #3 on depth chart behind freshman Drew Henson.
Anyone have a whereabouts on Scott these days?
Final record: 8-4, 5th in Big Ten
1992:
Michigan had national championship hopes coming into this season. Starting the year ranked #5, 4 year starter Elvis Grbac led the 1992 team that went undefeated (3 ties!). Elvis hurt his ankle in week 1 and had to sit out due to injury for the next two OOC games vs. Oklahoma State and Houston. Sophomore Todd Collins performed admirably in two wins, sending Michigan into Big Ten play undefeated*.
Final record: 9-0-3, Big Ten Champs
1988:
After winning a tightly contested QB battle with Demetrius Brown, starting QB Michael Taylor had a much better than expected season under center. The Wolverines lost two heart breakers to start the season, 19-17 to eventual National Champs Notre Dame and 31-30 to defending National Champs Miami.
Michigan didn't lose a game the remainder of the year. One sports writer praised Taylor's performance in the first 8 games as follows: "Taylor has been everything Brown wasn't. He has a better understanding of the offense, is more poised, reads defenses better, and runs better. He was intercepted just twice in 122 passes this season."
Taylor broke his collar bone in game #9 vs. Minnesota and didn't play another snap in the 1988 season. The injury lingered on, limiting Taylor severely in 1989 as well. Backup QB Brown finished the Minnesota game, and started the remaining 3 games of the year, all Michigan wins.
Final record: 9-2-1, Big Ten Champs
1984:
Sophomore starting QB Jim Harbaugh broke his arm in the seasons 5th game, leading to a disastrous season for the Wolverines.
Russell Rein and Chris Zurbrugg started the final 7 games of the season, including a bowl game loss to #1 BYU. The Wolverines lost 5 of the 8 games Harbaugh couldn't complete. This season was Bo Schembechler's worst season by far in his 21 years at Michigan.
Final record: 6-6, 6th in Big Ten
1980:
A Lawrence Taylor sack in the 1980 Gator Bowl on starting QB John Wangler knocked the junior signal caller out of the game and put his career in jeopardy. The injury caused Wangler to not start in the first two games of the 1980 season. Michigan played poorly in both games, barely beating Northwestern and losing to Notre Dame, under the direction of backup QB sophomore Rich Hewlitt.
Wangler finally started game 3, a loss to South Carolina. After that game, Wangler regained his old form and led Michigan to 9 straight wins, including the Rose Bowl - Bo's first bowl win, after 7 prior bowl game losses, and a final #4 ranking in the polls.
1976 - Rick Leach started all 12 games for the 10-2, Big Ten Champion Wolverines. (whew!)
Does Denard have to worry about the Michigan-Presidential QB curse? Stay healthy, Denard!
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