[tps_title]MICHIGAN (2008-10)[/tps_title]
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[table “” not found /]Rich Rodriguez was not provided the opportunity to coach Dernard Robinson for more than one season because he was fired in 2010.
— Rich Rodriguez went from that ideal stability with Pat White to his turbulent existence with Michigan starting immediately by having to choose from Lloyd Carr’s leftovers in 2008. Having four different starting quarterbacks in three years at Michigan — Nick Sheridan, Steven Threet, Tate Forcier and Dernard Robinson — contributed to his demise.
— Sheridan won the starting role heading into Michigan’s 2008 season, but Threet, who transferred back home from Georgia Tech, eventually took over for the struggling Sheridan and started eight games. Justin Feagin, a senior, was a possibility when fall camp started but was relegated to the No. 3 role the entire season.
— Rodriguez signed dual-threat athletes Forcier and Robinson in his 2009 recruiting class. Threet saw the writing on the wall and transferred to Arizona State. Rodriguez chose Forcier as his starting quarterback in 2009 over Robinson and Sheridan, a senior that year. Rodriguez stuck with Forcier, only the third true freshman quarterback to start at Michigan, as his quarterback in all 12 games.
— Forcier lost his starting role to Robinson in 2010 as early as spring practice. By the time the season started, Forcier was the No. 3 quarterback behind Robinson and freshman Devin Gardner. Forcier spelled Robinson occasionally in 2010 and his play was crucial in a couple of Michigan’s victories, but Robinson became Rodriguez’s man. He was chosen the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting. Rodriguez could not coach Robinson further, however, because Michigan fired him after a 7-6 season and 15-22 overall record with the Wolverines.
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