Injury Pattern Concerns -- Credit Drew Hallet
EDIT: I see that the Athletic Department has put out a note to counter my argument below. Rather than squelch the issue it has fanned the flames. Hoke needs to go.
I have to credit Drew Hallet's article for the exact Hoke quote after 2013 Michigan - O$U wherein Hoke said re: Devin's injury:
"You know, [Gardner is] beat up like everybody is, and that's when he was limping a little bit, and I said I don't want to see you limp. I said every guy out here could limp. We've got to go play, and he did that. I'm proud of him." [Note: bold emphasis Hallet's]
Article: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/fireable-offense-brady-hoke-140727469.html
The point of the this post:
1. Yesterday's treatment of re: Shane's injury and Hoke pleading the 5th is inexcusable
2. Keeping an injured Funchess in the game against opponents was very concerning to folks
3. Knowing what we know re Devin's health post-2013 O$U was there a desire to play Devin thinking that "eh, maybe he can play..."
The injury pattern is becoming very concerning and yesterday was the final piece of the puzzle as to questionale decisions to play guys hurt and this decision making needs to stop.
Hoke needs to go.
Brandon has ZERO deniability given the well publicized reports that he is very active in film sessions, meetings, etc.
Clean house and protect our men.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:46 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 3:49 PM ^
Maybe BrandOn and Hoke can clean toilets at Sun Life Stadium for their next gig, hired by Ross.
They're adjoined at the hip anyways. Observe: the Schembechler Hall parking lot.
September 28th, 2014 at 5:07 PM ^
Kind of a dick move by Brandon parking his car that close to the driver's door. You know Hoke isn't squeezing in there.
September 28th, 2014 at 5:16 PM ^
Hey Ohio State colors.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:50 PM ^
If Brady Hoke is still coaching on Tuesday, it may be the biggest crime of DB's tenure.
September 28th, 2014 at 4:15 PM ^
from last week.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:51 PM ^
Not to mention the rash of ACL tears and other injuries we seem to get every spring/summer ball. Are these outside the norm of other major college football programs? I don't know--maybe somebody could track that down as I'm too lazy to do it.
But if it IS above the norm, I think it's more evidence that the "toughness" thing is getting misapplied. As we've said in prior threads, clearly the mental thoughness isn't there. And then instead theres this macho physical toughness going on that perhaps is out of proportion. Obviously you want guys to be able to gut out fatigue and minor injuries. But by putting TOO much of an emphasis on it, guys will lie about injuries, downplay them, push even harder to "play hurt" and thus exacerbate injuries, etc. Clear the message is there--if you stay on the field despite injury, Hoke smiles upon you. If you don't, you get the stink-eye.
Morris knew yesterday's game was his big shot at starting this year. He wanted to impress, and that included demonstrating how "tough" he was after taking those monster licks in the 4th quarter.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 3:53 PM ^
There's a balance that has to be struck. Hoke is right, pretty much every guy out there could limp, and if you came out every time you get dinged then you probably wouldn't be spending much time out there on the field. As we've seen in injury testimonials from NFL players on the fringe of making/missing the roster, the point of this sport is being able to have your body ripped up and go out for another play.
That being said: this is why we have a training staff. If they can't determine the amount of damage done to a player and make a call as to whether they can play on then I really don't know why they're being paid. This goes for Devin's broken foot and Shane yesterday. Hoke shouldn't have kept Shane out there and then put him back out there again after that hit as that was a pretty obvious instance of the player needing to be kept out. So I'm all for adding that to the list of his incompetencies, and it's probably his most serious one to date. But whomever is in charge of the training staff should be getting the full force of the shit storm for Shane and especially for Devin's injury that he was kept out there with. What do you do out there? Just tape ankles?
September 28th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
... and limping shows the opposing team there's a wounded player and targeting becomes an issue.
However... My concern is that the grey line has been passed.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:57 PM ^
I find it pretty disingenious that the Gardner thing is now a knock on Hoke when we pretty much unanimously regarded it as a gutsy performance. Like I said in the front page thread, I can't help but feel that some are summoning up some extra indignation to justify letting Hoke go immediately (as if he hasn't done enough himself to justify it).
September 28th, 2014 at 4:02 PM ^
Playing through pain is one thing.
Playing on a broken foot and not being able to protect one's self and help the team is another.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:58 PM ^
Im not really bringing it up with this injury issue but moreso with possible coaching changes. Everyone rightly says many coaches wouldnt stand for their ADs demanding to watch film with them. But I also think a potential coach could care less if an AD walked by a couple times and sat down with coaches to see what is going on and they happen to be watching films.
September 28th, 2014 at 4:03 PM ^
It is not the AD's job to make ANY comments about film to coaches. That is absurd. Can you imagine Canham trying to talk film with Bo?
And yes it has been reported that he actually sits in the room and watches it with them.
September 28th, 2014 at 4:31 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 4:38 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 4:42 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 5:44 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
September 28th, 2014 at 5:08 PM ^
Bacon has reported many times that other coaches around the country find that practice to be absurd, and at least one premier coach told Bacon they would never coach at a place where the AD does that.
September 28th, 2014 at 4:11 PM ^
http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/94364/is-michigan-ad-too-invol…
"He watches game film on Sundays with the coaching staff, a practice that didn't sit well with former coach Rich Rodriguez. Brandon, who played football at Michigan, certainly isn't the only AD with a keen interest in football, but does his involvement go too far?"
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/michigan-ad-says-hoke-right-guy-lead-team
"Hoke appreciates the support he gets publicly and privately from Brandon. The athletic director and former Michigan football player said he attends one or two practices each week and watches film with both coordinators the day after every game."
September 28th, 2014 at 6:26 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 6:32 PM ^
He played one snap for Bo's Wolverines. One snap.
September 28th, 2014 at 8:33 PM ^
And yet we come here and read Brian's pieces.
September 28th, 2014 at 4:01 PM ^
Makes me want to puke
September 28th, 2014 at 4:17 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 5:26 PM ^
through the Dantonio upswing I remember him getting an awful lot of criticism for his handling of injured players, now look where they are.
Football is a rough sport, it requires toughness and yes playing through injury. My bigger concern with yesterday is that it appeared UM did not follow what should be standard protocol these days. On top of that, a coaching staff being paid a heck of a lot of money was completely ill prepared for an injury substitution.
Morris clearly waves off the coaching staff to stay in the game, he clearly states to the official he's ok after returning. Not everything in this situation is on the coaches and I think we need to take that into account.
But for christ sakes, LOOK like a major football program for a few plays every game.
September 28th, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^
this 100% this !