ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Devin Gardner knows the Michigan mantra by heart.
Every fall, the Wolverines gather in Ann Arbor with one goal: win the Big Ten championship.
In a perfect world. they would win the Rose Bowl and contend for a national title, but that would be extra icing on the cake. The focus is always on the Big Ten.
The difference this time? Gardner's the one in charge.
A year ago, he had switched to wide receiver, realizing that the quarterback job was permanently in the hands of one of his closest friends, Denard Robinson. Gardner still hoped to return to his favorite position some day, but not when Robinson was at Michigan.
That all changed when Robinson suffered nerve damage in his throwing elbow during Michigan's loss at Nebraska. The injury probably ended Robinson's career as a quarterback -- the Jacksonville Jaguars are using him as a receiver, runner and returner -- and put Gardner back under center.
The transition didn't go smoothly. Brady Hoke and Al Borges tried and failed to come up with a way to use the pair at the same time, even though it was clear Robinson couldn't throw.
The plan failed badly in the second half against Ohio State -- the Wolverines seemed to forget about Robinson instead of using him as an offensive hybrid -- and cost them again in the Outback Bowl.
This year, the quarterback job is all Gardner's, and he knows how much responsibility goes with it.
"Last year, my focus was trying to be a leader for the receivers," he said at Sunday's Media Day. "This year, I'm leading the whole team."
Gardner will be running a new offense, as well. Borges has junked the hybrid offense needed to make the most out of Robinson's unique talents. In its place will be a pro-style attack that will focus more on a traditional running game and give Gardner the type of plays that he enjoys.
"This is going to be great for me," he said. "I'll be able to roll out, and we'll have the kind of running backs to open up our passing game."
The experience that Gardner got after Robinson's injury will be huge. Gardner's had the opportunity to run the team, and he's gained the confidence of the coaches and players.
"Devin had five games, and we went 3-2," Hoke said. "He played in Columbus, and that was a great learning experience. He played South Carolina in the bowl game, and that's a great defense. He learned a lot.
"Is he where he needs to be? No, not yet. Is he capable of getting there? Yes, I don't think there's any doubt about that. These next couple weeks will be a real telling point about where he is as a quarterback."
Gardner is even more important because of Michigan's lack of depth at the position. Russell Bellomy hasn't played since going 3-for-16 with three interceptions after Robinson's injury against Nebraska, then tore his ACL during spring drills.
Now Michigan doesn't have a backup quarterback who has appeared in a college game.
Five-star prospect Shane Morris is considered the quarterback of the future, but he missed most of his senior season at Warren De La Salle with mononucleosis and wasn't able to enroll early at Michigan.
That meant a lack of spring drills, which put him behind on the learning curve. At the moment, he's splitting time with walk-on Brian Cleary with the second-string offense.
So everything rests on Gardner, which is fine with him.
"My goal was to be the quarterback at the University of Michigan," he said. "I've got that, but now I have to take the next step and win the Big Ten championship and get us to the Rose Bowl."
With Ohio State a huge favorite in the Leaders Division, a trip to Pasadena will probably mean having to beat the Buckeyes in Ann Arbor and then again in Indianapolis.
Gardner isn't even thinking about that possibility yet.
"We're not worried about that game," he said. "If that's what it takes to win the Big Ten, fine, but we don't care who we beat. We just want those roses."
