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Posted on Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 3 p.m.

Sports Illustrated puts Denard Robinson on the cover, but ranks MSU ahead of Michigan

By Nick Baumgardner

When local Michigan football fans receive their annual Sports Illustrated college football preview issue, a familiar face will adorn the cover.

None other than Wolverine senior quarterback Denard Robinson.

Robinson is one of five college football players to be awarded regional cover spreads in Sports Illustrated's annual preview. The other four were West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron, Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones and USC quarterback Matt Barkley.

DenardSI.jpg

Michigan football quarterback Denard Robinson on one of five Sports Illustrated college football preview covers. The issue is dated for Aug. 20.

Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated's official Twitter account released photos of all five covers earlier Wednesday.

Robinson's regional headline reads "The Victor?" With a sub-headline stating "Michigan's Denard Robinson took a giant step last year; now it's time for a bigger one."

The last time a Michigan player was featured as the main shot on the cover of Sports Illustrated's national college football preview was 2007, when former running back Mike Hart donned the front of the magazine's preview issue. Several weeks later, the Wolverines were stunned by Appalachian State in the season-opener at Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines made the cover that week, too.

Former quarterback Tate Forcier appeared in the top right corner of the magazine on Sept. 21, 2009. But Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson was the main shot.

Though Michigan received the spotlight on the cover, the Wolverines took a back seat to Michigan State in the publication's annual preseason rankings.

The Spartans chime in at No. 8, while Michigan sits at No. 13.

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

Comments

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.

Agreed: pre-season rankings and publicity is all just hype. You never know where a team is until you've seen them play some games. 1997: Michigan ranked well below the top in the pre-season polls. That sure changed as the season wore on. The SI issue will make a good souvenir for Denard though. :-) Go Blue! (You'd better go: I just bought a 40-inch TV to watch you play!!)

Tom

Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 2:39 a.m.

WOW...a 40 inch? You really splurged! Can Dunnard do better than 9 for 24 vs. Sparty this year? Will your team hold MSU to less than 8 sacks? Will we see another 15 int season? Robinson lead his team to a miserable 170 yards of total offense and 1.6.YPC vs. the Hokies! Most overrated player in the history of college football. No threat.

H.

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 10:36 a.m.

Pre-season rankings are silly. They mean nothing other than generating hype for rabid fans. Rankings shouldn't begin until week 5 at the minimum. But then ABC/ESPN cannot hype up a game to increase ad revenues.

redceder1

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 7:07 a.m.

Dont forget the great Tate Forcit. He won a September Heisman too.

Terry Star21

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 1:11 a.m.

I think the one very important fact here is the amount of respect shown in this cover. You have America's greatest and most watched football team here, coached by the nations best three coaches - SI uses it's intelligence well. Congrats DRob, but sorry, Michigan's Kate Upton looked much better on that cover. MgoBlueForTiM....Denard and Kate - they are worthy !

aarox

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 2:21 a.m.

re " You have America's greatest and most watched football team here, coached by the nations best three coaches" there you go and bless your heart at least that's how it's said down here

Steve McQueen

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 11:33 p.m.

The Victor? not crazy about that headline...but thats OK.

orlandomichfan

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 9:41 p.m.

dang, cant get a copy of denards si here in Orlando.. goooo blue

xmo

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 8:10 p.m.

I am surprise that SI as taken this long to put him on the cover? After all, Denard Robinson won two September Heisman Trophy's and Michigan was a Top Five team and unbeaten for the past four years until they hit the "GREEN MACHINE" from East Lansing! Yea Baby!

Cliff

Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 12:23 p.m.

azwolverine, If denard had some of his best games towards the end of last season, then where was he doing the bowl game???? The kick holder had a better game passing than he did

Tom

Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 2:42 a.m.

The "Green Machine" has the best record in BIG conference play over the past 4 years (26-6), 3 years (21-3), 2 years (14-2) and last season (7-1). Cut with the DickRod excuses...you got your butts kicked worse last year than in any of the 3 wins vs. the former coach. Where's the threat?

azwolverine

Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 1:13 a.m.

xmo...seriously? "Green Machine?" Yeah, you guys won 4 in a row, but you know as well as anyone else that 3 of those were against some of the worst teams in the history of Michigan football, against the very worst defense in the history of Michigan football, and against the very worst coach in the history of Michigan football. Last year's win was against a quality Michigan football team, but UM was only in the first year with their new coaching staff and hadn't gotten into any offensive rhythm yet under their new coordinator...as they finally did towards the end of the season when they ran up 45 and 40 points against Nebraska (remember them?) and OSU respectively. Denard may not have won the Heisman last year, but he played some of his best football towards the END of the season, unlike in the previous 3 seasons under the previous coach. So, yeah, Sparty has won 4 straight against Michigan, but all Sparty's and Wolverines alike know that this Michigan team is a different animal under Hoke and his staff. Beat this year's team in the Big House, and MSU will have earned some serious bragging rights. I don't see it happening, though.

Hebner

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:47 a.m.

We will win that game...the four year streak will be over!

TheWay

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 11:05 p.m.

Michigan hasn't been "top five" since the week before the App State game in 2007.

SEC Fan

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 9:52 p.m.

I love it..."September Heismans"! yeah, and ummy wins every single August National Championship!

orlandomichfan

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 9:43 p.m.

green machine??? haha tooooo funny... doesnt the green machine have its own sit??? oh, and who on the green machine could ever grace the cover of si??? who??? WHO??? GOOO BLUE!!!! THANKS SI

dairy6

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 8:25 p.m.

Obama told them to do it.

Shlobodon Dobodon

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:54 p.m.

umich should be ranked more like 20. Denard will never be a good QB.

Cliff

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 11:37 a.m.

TheWay, Does he hole any passing records???

MassMittenz

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 11:29 a.m.

It's true that he's not a very good QB, but he's a phenomomenal athlete. I've never liked him at QB, but we wouldn't have won a game without him!

Hebner

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 12:44 a.m.

We will see...plenty of football ahead. Denard has already proved to be an exceptional quarterback; he is on the cover of SI, and I am sure he would not be there if he was not good.

TheWay

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 11:04 p.m.

He holds an awful lot of Michigan, Big Ten, and NCAA records for a guy who isn't good at his position.

Albert Howard

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:51 p.m.

The stage has been set! Best Wishes Michigan Football and Denard Robinson! #16

MRunner73

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 10:29 p.m.

Famous last words...GO BLUE!!

heartbreakM

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:47 p.m.

Well, there goes the season. But at least Bama is also on the cover, so since they are higher ranked, maybe the jinx will affect them more.

Nick Baumgardner

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 8:08 p.m.

He wasn't on the Madden cover, heartbreak. So there's that, at least.

dairy6

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:42 p.m.

Just goes to show how boring all those 5 star SEC players are. not one worth the cover. The most exciting player in college football plays here! Heres to a geat year and a national title run. no more all sec snoozefests for the title. Go Blue!

Terry Star21

Thu, Aug 16, 2012 : 1:15 a.m.

"Just goes to show how boring all those 5 star SEC players are. not one worth the cover". That part you are correct in. Michigan 20-5 vs woeful SEC.

SEC Fan

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 9:50 p.m.

yeah, right dairy...try to play it off...

SEC Fan

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 9:49 p.m.

yo...I know you're probably a ummy grad...but if you actually read the article (or have someone read it to you), you'll see it's a "regional" cover...i.e., SEC isn't in the midwest. jimminy crickets...

dairy6

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 8:16 p.m.

and oh yeah AJ McCarron is a totally boring. avg 200 ypg passing -2.8 ypg rushing. so exciting. and yeah I know why hes on the cover but it doesnt change the fact hes boring.

dairy6

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 8:04 p.m.

yeah I know its regional, im just trying to have some fun with some of the haters.

Shlobodon Dobodon

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:52 p.m.

LOL It's regional, genius.

Cliff

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:50 p.m.

You realize that AJ McCarron of Alabama is also on the cover right? Denard is only the Midwest Region's cover athlete. There are 4 other althletes on the SI college football preview. So SI didn't just pick Denard.

Billy Bob Schwartz

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:42 p.m.

Ah, the curse of high preseason rankings by SI. Let State have a higher one. It's not how you do before the season, it's how you have done by the end of the season. In any case, it should be an exciting season for B1G fans. Go Blue!

Mike

Fri, Aug 17, 2012 : 4:50 p.m.

The top 10 are cursed!

Cliff

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:56 p.m.

There is no bigger curse than being on the cover of Sports Illustrated, not even having a high ranking.

Hailmary

Wed, Aug 15, 2012 : 7:34 p.m.

I can see where they would rank State ahead of Mich. but I don't like it. I didn't like seeing us ranked so high even before the season started. I was thinking somewhere around 10 or 12 in the country. We're not that good yet although by mid season we may be. Right now there are teams around the country that I believe could play lites out football right now.