Lewerke concussion controversy continues

I hope the former is what is happening, but that would be a devastating  PR move to allow everyone to think you ignored player safety for a whole week up and until Rocky runs out on the field.  
 

But “doing the right thing” versus “doing what must be done to gain an advantage” do not co-exist in East Lansing. 

Dantonio is hoping that our defenders will ease off every time they have a clean shot at him, knowing that he’s concussed.

I am quite confident that the game will go on as scheduled and that Brian Lewerke will not die if he plays.

He certainly stayed down long enough for concerns to be raised, and should have been evaluated by the staff before he returned to the game.  It is also possible that he was actually given a symptom assessment after the series and the next day and that he simply did not have a concussion.  This is far from the first time, even in recent years, that a players has taken a bad shot to the head and returned to the game.  I can think of a few times seeing it this year, actually.

I certainly think that Michigan State should comment further on what happened, but I think this tweet is out a bit passed its skis.

With State it's never the issue that gets them fired its the lack of performance, and then finally the issue starts to matter. As in, beat Michigan this year and it all goes away. Lose, and this might be a concern to spartans. 

Peculiar thing to add to this discussion here.  Lewerke is actually listed on MSU's injury report as "probable" with a head/neck injury.  Wtf?

Wow.

Guys, Brian Lewerke is not going to die during this game.  MSU released a statement they have to stand behind under penalty of MASSIVE lawsuit, this tweet has heightened the scrutiny as well.  This will get their attention if nothing else has.  If he is concussed, he won't play in the game.

People are starting to get a little weird about this weekend.  It is a heated rivalry.  The teams are going to get after it, but nobody is dying and the fans are not going to blow each other up after the game.  Come on, now.

Certainly wouldn't want to see another player injured, perhaps seriously and with very significant long term impacts.  That being said, Michigan is not responsible for making sure MSU players are only put in the game if they are medically fit.  That is MSU's responsibility.  Michigan is powerless in this situation.

I wouldn't take the L.  This isn't the military, he isn't going to get court marshalled if he doesn't want to or doesn't think he should play because he wasn't properly evaluated.  Also I highly doubt Harbaugh and co are sitting there game planning watching film for MSU desperately trying to determine if BL was concussed.  Michigan has zero ethical obligation to not go after the guy that takes the snap every play, provided he's still holding the ball.  Football is a dangerous game, and frankly 10 years ago this would be a complete non-story.  While the possibility exists something really bad could happen, this stuff (players getting their "bell rung" and going right back in) used the happen all the time so the probability is pretty low.

I’ve thought about this too. Our ethical obligation is to play the game according to the rules, including not attempting to deliberately injure an opposing player. What we “believe” isn’t relevant. We have no ethical obligation to substitute our judgement of Lewerke’s condition for that of the Michigan State coaches and medical staff, who have actually examined him, when we haven’t. Even if they choose to paper over his condition and deliberately play someone that they know or should know is not medically fit, that does not transfer a molecule of responsibility or blame from them to us if something should happen.

[Insert Ivan Drago "If he dies, he dies" gif]

In all seriousness, if Lewerke has a concussion and is playing that is 100% on MSU.  

Michigan should give full effort, and hit him cleanly, but as hard as possible.  

If he plays and gets hospitalized because of a clean hit, then that's 100% on him and their training staff.

This is football. Light him up.

Just had to sneak in the "unpaid player" non sequitur in there, didn't you? 

Michigan's responsibility is to play a clean game giving their full effort. Michigan state's responsibility is to ensure their players are fit for duty, so to speak. 

Nobody wants any player to get hurt. But your post is ridiculous. Snowflake. 

What the hell does unpaid have to do with it?  So if he was getting a paycheck it would be ok?  Hope that’s a typo.

Didn't the crowd boo when they could see that Morris was in no condition to play?  

Yeesh....memories are coming back from a day I don't want to relive.  

Agreed, I don't think it excuses MSU if proper concussion protocol wasn't followed but Morris already had a injured leg and was essentially a sitting duck for a defense that was teeing off on a bad o-line. Also let's be honest it is also got more attention because nationally MSU just does not generate the interest that UM does.

This is how I am leaning.  Particularly because he is on the injury report as having sustained a head/neck injury.  But the question then remains, are they just flat out lying that they evaluated him and he is good to go?  I get that there is injury gamesmanship, but sometimes it is just not available due to the circumstances of the injury.  Really, Mork, you guys are going to shot out of cannon either way.  If the kid is out with a busted dome and everybody is talking about it, probably a good idea to just go ahead and say it now.