2016 RB Commit Matt Falcon Likely Out For Season
FOOTBALL: Southfield running back and Michigan commit Matt Falcon is likely out for the season with a knee injury.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:19 PM ^
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August 23rd, 2015 at 10:40 PM ^
He could be held out longer to ensure he is 100% next year. There is no reason to rush back and risk further damage in high school.
Steve Lorenz had a Periscope chat earlier tonight and said the school isn't sure how severe the injury is. If they don't know, I doubt others do.
I'm hoping holding him out is more precautionary than an indication of extent of damage.
August 24th, 2015 at 8:09 AM ^
No. He played last year, but missed a few games with injuries. He missed his sophomore year with an ACL tear.
August 24th, 2015 at 12:28 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:20 PM ^
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August 23rd, 2015 at 8:23 PM ^
But also it might be time for this young man to consider the rest of his life and decide whether football is right for him. He should get his degree at UM, but maybe he should worry about still being able to walk when he is 40 years old.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:26 PM ^
Can they give him an academic scholarship and have him walk on? This would not count against our 85 number limit, but still do the right thing by honoring our commitment to him. And if he does overcome it, well then he can transfer him over to an athletic scholarship.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:30 PM ^
If they want to do him a solid, they can offer/accept the athletic scholarship and then put him on a medical this time next year.
But let's hope, like Drake Harris and Drake Johnson...he can come back from all these injuries.
If not, yes, they could bring him in and then put him on a medical scholarship in a year and get his scholarship back...won't help this class, but it would give a spot in the next one.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:46 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:25 PM ^
Exactly. Especially guys like Saban would somehow have 30 "walk-ons" that just happen to be on some type of scholarship as well.
August 23rd, 2015 at 10:18 PM ^
I see your point, so then every kid who is a legitimate walk-on, is not and can not be on any type of academic scholarship?
August 23rd, 2015 at 10:40 PM ^
As a whole yes, the academic scholarship would be counted toward the 85 if it is a full ride scholarship. Think of how hard it is to get an academic full ride to Michigan though.
Walk-ons are eligible for small academic scholarships if they maintain a 3.5 by I believe their junior year. It is usually only a couple grand a year though, no where even close to a full scholarship.
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:26 PM ^
It would still count against the 85 limit.
August 23rd, 2015 at 10:13 PM ^
Mark your restraint is admirable.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:44 PM ^
I look at Dan Dierdorf, that poor man can't walk at all anymore.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:49 PM ^
Well, also keep in mind Dierdorf played in the Astroturf era, basically spending a good chunk of his career playing on concrete. He's had both hips replaced as well.
Dierdorf's daughter played basketball at Michigan. I had a couple of classes with her. Her career ended for similar reasons--IIRC, she had chronic knee and hip problems as well.
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:09 PM ^
Did Falcon get injured on Turf or Grass? Anyone know?
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:39 PM ^
August 24th, 2015 at 7:40 AM ^
chronic pain, an inability to move, and endless surgeries for the rest of your life for $17 million? I don't think I could do that.
August 24th, 2015 at 8:12 AM ^
I get your point, but I know lots of people who struggle to walk as they age...and not many of them were football players. I know a nurse who has had both knees replaced. I know a secretary who has had both hips replaced. They are/were in their mid-50's when the last of those surgeries took place. Aging is a bitch.
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:39 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:24 PM ^
...knee injuries are about 6-9 months these days. If he has surgery soon and rehabs well, it isn't a problem.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:34 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:39 PM ^
Sure, another knee injury is a big deal (if indeed it's the same knee--and the first two weren't even the same injury). But, really. Athletes are in far better shape and are better equipped to recover from this kind of injury, and he's young. Let's not act like the kid's life is over.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:43 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^
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August 23rd, 2015 at 9:24 PM ^
Knee replacements ain't cheap
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:54 PM ^
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August 23rd, 2015 at 11:39 PM ^
August 24th, 2015 at 5:28 AM ^
I think his age makes it more troubling actually. Sure, he might have better resources to recover well. But he's also putting it in far more stressful situations than we are. It's not like football is going to be easier on him once he gets to college.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:26 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:27 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:32 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^
August 24th, 2015 at 8:15 AM ^
They're "athletes." If we need a running back, they could play running back. I think we should all understand that positions are very, very flexible with Harbaugh.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:32 PM ^
We already have 1 or 2 others.
We'll be fine. Probably just have to take 2 RBs next year.
August 23rd, 2015 at 10:28 PM ^
August 23rd, 2015 at 10:39 PM ^
Come on. Harbaugh is not going to pull scholarships because the kid is injured. There is plenty of time to rehab and get right before they would be expected to play in college anyway.
For example, look at the case of Antwaine Richardson. He tore his ACL and told the coaches that he won't be able to play his entire senior year. Harbaugh said that's fine, I'm still giving you a scholarship and I just want you to heal up and we look forward to you contributing when you're ready to at Michigan.
August 24th, 2015 at 12:27 AM ^
He did at Stanford. Just saying.
August 24th, 2015 at 5:39 AM ^
August 24th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
So you're saying Harbaugh gave the guy an offer w/ an ACL tear so that he could cut him because of such aforementioned ACL tear. Seems like a smart thing to do. /s
August 24th, 2015 at 8:17 AM ^
a) This is Richardson's first ACL tear.
b) You can't exactly fill a class with a bunch of dudes who have one ACL surgery already under their belts. I mean, it's only August 24th and the season basically hasn't started yet. There's at least a decent chance that more guys suffer season-ending injuries, ACL tears, etc. How much of one recruiting class do you want coming in with bad knees? It's at least something to consider.
August 24th, 2015 at 8:52 AM ^
August 24th, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^
Sure. And Matt Falcon earned his scholarship offer from playing his junior year after the ACL tear suffered during his sophomore year.
August 23rd, 2015 at 8:58 PM ^
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August 23rd, 2015 at 9:28 PM ^
Harbaugh wouldn't pull it (unless doctors are in agreement that he can never play football again). It would be all Matt's decision.
Decision A: Come to Mich and you will be immediately placed on medical because you are a liability, but enjoy your scholarship with no football.
Decision B: Reopen your recruitment if you want to play football and see if another school will take you.
Luckily there's plenty of time for this to work itself out.
August 24th, 2015 at 11:06 AM ^
Harbaugh wouldn't pull it (unless doctors are in agreement that he can never play football again). It would be all Matt's decision.
You know this, yes? Then I assume you're also aware of how he has handled these situations in the past?
August 23rd, 2015 at 9:10 PM ^
Sure honor the offer if he revovers, but i'm not ok with hinroing an offer for someone who is not what they used to be, just to be kind. To be clear I would like to honor Falcon's offer becuase I think he still has a lot of potential, but if we were iffy on offering someone, and they tore there kneee up, good bye offer. I'm not gonna feel sorry for a kid getting an offer pulled unless it was in a devious and dishinest way.
August 23rd, 2015 at 10:23 PM ^
Falcon's not likely to recover by LOI day, certainly not soon enough to make a decision on that basis.
Even if he goes on medical hardship right away, he's going to count against the 25 limit for this recruiting class.