Denard Robinson was one of the more unique college football players of the 2010’s decade. Once a 179-pound high 4-star rated athlete from Deerfield Beach, Florida he committed to Michigan on National Signing Day in 2009 after head coach Rich Rodriguez’ first season in Ann Arbor.

As a true freshman, Robinson juggled running back and quarterback duties while playing behind the immaculate Tate Forcier, who still to this day, has the QB Force website live on the internet.

Robinson won the job as a sophomore in 2010 after Forcier lost respect with the team for skipping voluntary workouts and generally having the persona of Tate Forcier. What occurred next is Denard Robinson unleashing hell on college football.

Today isn’t about the 2010-11 season but it’s important to note that Robinson was just about as feared (in an extremely frustrating way) as any player Notre Dame has faced during the Kelly era. Prior to 2012, “Shoelaces” stomped on the Irish for 582 passing yards, 366 rushing yards, and 8 total touchdowns in 2 meetings against Notre Dame. Numbers that to this day are almost impossible to believe.

Cracks in the Denard-as-quarterback foundation were evident early on, though. Rodriguez was fired after the 2010 season in which Michigan largely went defense optional for most of the year. In came Brady Hoke who tightened things up defensively and rode a weak schedule to 11 wins in 2011. However, while never considered a good passer at least Robinson broke the 200-yard mark on 7 different occasions in 2010. In 2011, he did that only twice.

As always, if you talk about college football long enough Alabama is lurking somewhere and we should give the Tide credit for providing the blueprint in containing Robinson. In the 2012 opener, Alabama absolutely suffocated Michigan’s quarterback while limiting Robinson to just 27 yards on the ground. And while the Wolverines were coming off a Sugar Bowl win the preceding season against Virginia Tech, it wasn’t a good day for Robinson either totaling 13 rushing yards and 117 passing yards. So, maybe the Hokies found the blueprint first.

Although, Michigan picked themselves up after the Alabama opener in 2012 and beat Air Force and UMass while Robinson looked more like his old self. Would the ‘Nard be able to make Notre Dame fans cry again in the much anticipated matchup against the unbeaten Irish?

The answer was yes, but this time they were tears of joy for Notre Dame fans across the world.

Robinson’s struggles would be very clear on the first drive. Despite moving into Irish territory (thanks to a generous pass interference call) Denard threw a slant behind a receiver, air-mailed a deep pass, and over-shot a third down throw over the middle. It’d be one of those days.

After the Golson interception from Notre Dame’s first snap (one of those days for him too) Danny Spond blew up a pitch by Michigan. Spond jumped out to me real early in this game, what a good yet forgotten player from 2012. Michigan blew their second timeout on their first 2 series to start the game. A reminder that Hoke didn’t wear a headset. An absolute beast mode sack by Stephon Tuitt came on 3rd down before Michigan’s kicker missed a field goal. It would get way, way worse for them.

What follows next is one of the best stretches of the Kelly era at Notre Dame. Michigan capped a 12-play drive with a halfback pitch interception to Nicky Baratti in truly one of the worst play-calls in series history. Three plays later, Robinson threw a pick to Manti Te’o and 9 years later I still can’t figure out who he was throwing to on the snap. I’ve watched the play 100 times and have no clue. On Michigan’s next snap, Robinson is picked yet again by Bennett Jackson. It’s only a 3-0 Notre Dame lead at this point with under 10 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter and yet the Irish feel on top of the world.

Following a Golson end zone pick (it was his last throw as Tommy Rees came in for the save) Michigan ran the Nard 3 times to settle things down and he threw yet another interception on his very next throw. Notre Dame’s ensuing drive was an utter roller coaster (Rees rolling third down completion, amazing TJ Jones 3rd down fade catch, Riddick somehow not scoring to the Michigan 1-yard line, 2 illegal shifts from Tyler Eifert, a near band jump catch from Davaris Daniels, a pass interference on Eifert, all leading to perhaps the greatest play-call in Irish history: The Tommy Rees 2-yard touchdown run.

Keivarae Russell picked off Robinson’s heave before halftime and I can’t even imagine the scene if Russell took it back 90 yards for a touchdown.

Denard Robnson in the 1st half: 5 of 13 for 59 yards with 4 interceptions. A work of art.

The 2nd half was short, just 3 drives apiece for each side. Michigan’s opening drive was moving until Robinson fumbled for his 5th turnover (and his team’s 6th) of the game. Louis Nix (RIP) fought off a double team, moving laterally, to poke the ball free…what a monster in his prime Irish Chocolate was for Notre Dame.

Michigan would finally muster a field goal on their next drive (Robinson got pasted by Te’o scrambling on 3rd down) but it took them nearly 8 minutes off the clock. Notre Dame answered with their own field goal thanks largely to Theo Riddick (37 yards on 9 touches) and it left UM with precious little time.

They drove yet again and I had forgotten that Robinson appears to fumble on 2nd and goal after a sack in the red zone by Sheldon Day and Prince Shembo. It wasn’t even reviewed, oddly. It didn’t really matter as Robinson threw an incompletion on 3rd down and Michigan kicked another sad field goal.

Down 7 with 3:27 remaining, the Wolverines elected to kickoff. They never got the ball back.

This was an intensely ugly game offensively for Notre Dame but it didn’t matter. Michigan entered Irish territory on 6 drives with 5 red zone trips while scoring 6 points. After being scorched by Denard Robinson his recklessness as a passer melted Michigan’s chances away in Notre Dame’s first massive home game of 2012 in what would become a memorable season.