- November 27, 2024
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There’s no way, I told myself. I’m totally racist. I see a black guy wearing a University of Michigan T-shirt and automatically assume it’s Denard Robinson. Only, it was Denard Robinson.
That’s right, there was “Shoelace,” walking up the stone steps at the far end of Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida on Saturday. I stood on the track, futilely trying to keep my attention fixed on the upcoming heat of the women’s 100-meter hurdles that I was supposed to be shooting.
I was on a contract job, a stringer gig to photograph the NCAA East preliminaries. Big Ten Photography hired me to shoot the University of Michigan, Notre Dame, and Eastern Michigan University. My credential actually read “Michigan photo.”
With that in mind, I figured I’d be remiss not to snap a few shots of a famous Wolverine making a cameo.
So I did.
I’ve met hundreds of professional athletes, interacting with them professionally on just as many occasions. Why was I so starstruck by this one guy (whom I’ve managed to plug in two prior columns in my two-plus months on the job)? Well, our birthdays are just two days apart — his Sept. 22, 1990 and mine the 24th.
He’s the perfect dual-threat quarterback. I’m infatuated with dual-threat quarterbacks. What do the kids call it, a “man crush?” Those who know me well also know that my favorite NFL players are Michael Vick and Tim Tebow. Pat White is a distant third.
Besides that, I spent the last six months reading a book about UM football during the Rich Rodriquez era (also plugged in a prior column). Robinson was blowing up the college football scene at the time, and as such, he was one of book’s main characters. I read about his study habits (allegedly an avid note taker), his naturally introverted nature (which is why I didn’t drop my gear, scale the fence, and introduce myself), and his reputation as a dogged competitor (just ask Tate Forcier).
I learned a few other things from the meet. 1. My darned Sigma 120-300 lens can’t track anything other than people running directly at me, 2. The EMU kids were by far the most expressive of those I shot (the guy who hired me explained they were just happy to be there), and 3. The NCAA watches over these kids like hawks. A jubilant EMU pole vaulter asked to see a photo I took of him, then quickly rescinded his request as he didn’t want to chance a finicky rules violation.
So, while I didn't actually introduce myself to Denard , maybe I should have. After I tweeted out a link to this column late Monday night, my iPhone buzzed. A reply from Shoelace, @DenardX. "You should have said something it's great to meet new people." Next time, Mr. Robinson. Next time.
