Michigan may have lost The Game once again to rivals Ohio State, but the defining image of the game was the one above. Wolverines QB Devin Gardner kneeling over injured Buckeyes QB J.T. Barrett and offering condolences after his season ended thanks to a gruesome injury. It was an all-too-rare display of humanity and sportsmanship that goes beyond wins and losses. In fact, it may be one of the more endearing moments in the fabled Michigan-Ohio State rivalry.
Today, Gardner posted a letter he received from a member of the Ohio State administration, commending him for his actions. According to Cleveland.com, Dave Claborn is the Director of Development and Community Relations at the Ohio State University Marion campus who is currently raising money for a new science and engineering building. He mailed the letter below to both Gardner and Michigan AD Jim Hackett and Gardner shared it on his Instagram account. You can view the letter by clicking the link in Gardner’s tweet below:
I really appreciate Dave Claborn & the OSU athletic department for this kind letter! Just saw it today… http://t.co/EbpqG4x73g
— Devin GARDNER (@devingardnerXCI) December 3, 2014
Gardner will always have the respect and admiration of not just Michigan fans, but fans from Ohio State and all around college football for being such a class act.
