Amid boos, demotion, Michigan QB Cade McNamara remains in good spirits

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Days after dropping the beginning job, Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara stays in good spirits throughout follow, teammates say.

McNamara was named the backup in favor of sophomore J.J. McCarthy, whose dazzling play-making capability earned him the beginning position for Saturday’s sport towards Connecticut (Midday, ABC) and past, head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed following Michigan’s 56-10 rout of Hawaii on Saturday.

McCarthy bought the beginning within the win and impressed, finishing 11 of his 12 throws for 229 yards and three touchdowns, following up a season opener through which he rushed for a rating.

“All of us love Cade. He’s our captain nonetheless,” beginning left sort out Ryan Hayes mentioned Tuesday evening. “He’s come into the constructing with a smile on his face on a regular basis and simply doing what he can.

“All of us nonetheless take a look at him as captain, and he’s treating us simply the identical. He hasn’t modified his outlook in any respect. It’s been good to see.”

McNamara, who began all 14 video games at quarterback in 2021, serving to information the Michigan offense to a victory over Ohio State, a Large Ten title and School Soccer Playoff berth, was unable to dispatch McCarthy throughout an open competitors in preseason camp. The battle was “neck and neck” heading into the season, Harbaugh mentioned, prompting a call by the Michigan teaching employees to alternate begins to start the schedule.

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And whereas McNamara fared fantastic within the opener towards Colorado State, it was McCarthy who stole the present with a 20-yard landing run. His mobility permits him to increase performs and transfer the offense greater than McNamara, who was sacked twice and threw an interception towards Hawaii.

“Cade and J.J. are each nice guys, nice teammates of mine,” receiver Cornelius Johnson mentioned. “He’s in there each week subsequent to (J.J.), plotting the sport plan, making the identical throws and simply staying prepared for all the pieces.

“That’s what we’re specializing in; simply staying prepared always.”

Harbaugh has been further complimentary of McCarthy in current weeks, describing the quarterback’s play as “electrical” and “almost flawless” whereas detailing an ascent that started close to the tip of camp.

“As gamers and coaches, we actually embrace that we now have two actually good quarterbacks,” Harbaugh mentioned Tuesday on The Wealthy Eisen Present. “That’s an actual edge for our soccer staff, and we embrace it. We have been again on the follow subject yesterday and there was no distinction in Cade’s demeanor. He’s an unbelievable chief at quarterback, and he’s making ready like I wished him to arrange and the entire staff needs him to arrange — like he’s the starter.

“It’s soccer. He’s going to play once more, and we’re very assured that he’s going to play his stage of soccer once more.”

Nonetheless, an uncomfortable response rained down at Michigan Stadium on Saturday evening when audible boos may very well be heard from followers throughout the second half, when McNamara entered the sport and struggled, taking a few sacks and throwing an interception. Not solely was McNamara visibly pissed off, however so have been his teammates who got here to his protection on Tuesday.

“We hate that. We hate for any of our brothers to get boo’d,” Hayes mentioned. “I believe that’s fairly ridiculous for our stadium to do this to considered one of our gamers who was a captain on this staff (and) led us to all these victories final yr.

“I imply, Cade was an enormous a part of the offense final yr, main us to (wins over) Ohio State, Iowa, and into the playoffs. We hate that stuff, to be sincere.”

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