For those looking for Michigan to name their starting quarterback at some point this week, or even next week leading up to the season opener, you will be sorely disappointed.
Right now, the competition for the starting job has taken on the appearance of being a two-man race between Denard Robinson and Tate Forcier, with a slight lean toward the former if the gut feelings of some in the media can be believed.
Head coach Rich Rodriguez, of course, is not publicly leaning toward either candidate, choosing rather to keep everyone guessing. This afternoon, Rodriguez indicated he has every intention of keeping up that very same tack with everyone involved, including the players.
According to a tweet from Angelique Chengalis of the Detroit News, Rodriguez said he will not inform the quarterbacks which one will be the starter until the Friday night before the opener against UConn.
Even the rest of the team will not know the starter as Rodriguez stated everybody else will learn of the decision at game time.
Of course, in this day and age, it will be next to impossible for word of who’s been picked as the starter not to leak out at some point between when the quarterback is told and kickoff. Still, it’s somewhat intriguing that Rodriguez will shroud his decision in such secrecy.
Could it be a sign that the incumbent Forcier is still in line to retain the job he held as a freshman in 2009 and, seeing the public beating he’s taken over the past couple of weeks, Rodriguez is attempting to shield the sophomore from a week or so of additional scrutiny? Or is Rodriguez simply playing mind games with his coaching counterpart, Randy Edsall, and forcing UConn to spend equal time on game-planning for Forcier and Robinson -- and Devin Gardner, for that matter; Rodriguez said today the true freshman is still in the mix -- when he knows full well he’s going with Robinson?
Either way, it will make for some intriguing espionage on the part of the media in the days leading up to a make-or-break season for RichRod as the Wolverines’ coach.