ESPN analyst, Michigan legend Desmond Howard will miss Notre Dame series

Source: Detroit Free PressSept.self storage 05--ESPN college football analyst and former Michigan Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard on Wednesday spoke to the Free Press about Johnny Football, U-M quarterback Devin Gardner, U-M wide receiver Jeremy Gallon, and whether Michigan-Notre Dame is indeed a historic rivalry. Here are excerpts:On the NCAA suspending Heisman winner Johnny Manziel for one half against Rice last week after investigating allegations that he signed autographs for money: "I thought that was a waste of everybody's time. The NCAA just made themselves laughable again. It was just utterly ridiculous. For a half for violating the spirit of the rules? They were really telling us they really couldn't prove that he took any money for these autographs, even though they believe he did. 'Since we can't prove it, we gotta do something. So what are we going to do?' They're scratching their heads and say, 'Hey, hey, how about we just suspend him for the first half for the Rice game.' I guess they feel they appeased somebody by doing that. It was ridiculous."On U-M quarterback Devin Gardner: "I like Gardner because he's a true passer. He's a quarterback first. Obviously, he's very athletic, because he was a starting wide receiver last season. ... He's a passer first, passer second and maybe a runner third. I like his work ethic and was impressed with the way that he handled himself in a really difficult situation being behind Denard Robinson, who was a dynamic, explosive player. In his own right, Devin has a skill set that he has a lot of confidence in. For a young man like that with his talent level to hang in there and wait his time out, where nowadays you see so many guys, once they can't get the starting job or don't win the starting job, they're quick to transfer. I think it speaks volumes to the character of Devin Gardner, what type of person he is."On Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees: "I give him credit getting the demotion as a young man last season and not sitting there and getting a long face and pouting or complaining -- at least he didn't do it publicly. And then staying on top of his game well enough that when Everett Golson did struggle, like in the Michigan game, he could come in there and win a game for them. They wouldn't have been undefeated last season if it wasn't for Tommy Rees."On U-M receiver Jeremy Gallon weari迷你倉g the No. 21, same as Howard: "He's the guy who you watch him and you say, 'I like the way he plays the game.' Since I've seen him, I've said, 'Man, I like the way that guy plays the game. That No. 10, where is that guy from? I like the way he's always where he's supposed to be.' To me, his play captures your attention. ... I think that his teammates, his coaches, they respect his approach to the game too. I'm happy he's wearing No. 21."On the Michigan-Notre Dame series coming to an end: "I was very disappointed to find out that Notre Dame decided to drop that game. Of all games that they could drop, they decide to drop the Michigan game, which is a game a lot of people around the country look forward to. I do this for a living. I talk to people no matter where I am, and you'd be surprised how many people who don't have any affiliation with either program or either school tell me how much they love that game, how much they can't wait for that game. They love watching it."On Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly backpedaling Tuesday after telling South Bend reporters a few days earlier he didn't consider Michigan as "one of those historic, traditional Notre Dame rivalries": "As long as the man corrected himself, I don't have a problem with it."On whether Howard believes Michigan-Notre Dame is an historic, traditional rivalry: "I mean, that's like saying you've got a nose on your face. You know what I mean? You don't even have to say it. Come on, really? I don't even see why we have to address it. Everyone who watches college football understands, even if it's just because of the tradition of the two programs. It's an historic rivalry. I mean, it started in 1887. ... If one person says 'Well, two plus two isn't four,' is that really going to change the value of two and two if you know it's four?"Contact George Sipple: gsipple@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgesipple.Beat writer Mark Snyder will answer your questions about U-M in a live chat at 9 a.m. Friday at freep.com/sports. Submit early questions here. Then come back Saturday for Anthony Odoardi's live blog of the U-M vs. Notre Dame game. And submit questions now for Monday's noontime chat with former U-M basketball player Josh Bartelstein.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Detroit Free Press Visit the Detroit Free Press at .freep.com Distributed by MCT Information Services文件倉