Drew Sharp: Chicken salad or just s---?

(Ed: Drew Sharp and the Free Press have since reposted the article so that it substantially covers and speaks only about the deliberate fumble. Little remains of the original focus and tone of the article, save for a "google ghost." The quote below is from the original, as it existed until early Sunday morning. The changed article on the Freep website makes no mention of the substantial changes made).

In his post game article, datelined "South Bend," Detroit Free Press aspiring sports journalist Drew Sharp made notice of the droppage of the football by Spartan QB Brian Hoyer just before he picked it up and fired a perfect strike for the final TD. According to Jr. Newsboy Drew...

Quarterback Brian Hoyer fumbled the snap on a fourth down and short opportunity. It is moments like those in which the demons that have long haunted this program return, manifesting themselves in the most emotionally tortuous way imaginable.

But Mark Dantonio has incessantly preached to his players to not fear making the mistake, just make the play.

Hoyer didn't retire into the fetal position. He calmly cleaned up his mistake and coolly lofted a perfect strike to tight end Kellen Davis for the touchdown that devastated an already downtrodden Notre Dame.Sometimes, you can make chicken salad out of the alternative.

Yeah, um... that "alternative" to "chicken salad" would be what your column is, Drew. Because, if you really were in "South Bend," like your dispatch says, then it might have been wise to head off to the post game press conference. If you had, you might have learned what everyone else did about that play:

The most memorable play was the final touchdown. On fourth-and-2 from the 30 yard line, Hoyer fumbled the snap -- on purpose, as it turns out -- picked it up and threw a TD pass to Davis.

"We've practiced that thing since the spring," Dantonio said.

Hoyer said he was worried doing it on fourth down, but said the Irish fell for it. "I guess it helped that I fumbled on the second play of the game," he said.

So, Drew, I offer some helpful advice. Those "press conferences" are meant for members of the "press." Now, due to your demonstrable track record over several years regarding Michigan State (and the Wolverines, for that matter), I'm not so certain that this "press" thing should really mean YOU. But, technically, a major American newspaper does sign your paycheck under the peculiar assumption that you are a journalist. That means you should probably go to the "press" conferences regarding the games that you cover for ... the ... press.

You might even learn something.

(Note: None of this applies if -- like your Freep psuedo-journalist co-worker Mitch pAblum -- you don't really see the games despite submitting datelines that indicate otherwise.)