Hoke Statement On Morris Comment Count

Brian

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For what it's worth:

“The safety of our student-athletes is always our top priority. We generally never discuss the specifics of a student-athlete's medical care, but Shane Morris was removed from yesterday's game against Minnesota after further aggravating an injury to his leg that he sustained earlier in the contest. He was evaluated by our experienced athletic trainers and team physicians, and we're confident proper medical decisions were made.

The University of Michigan has a distinguished group of Certified Athletic Trainers and team physicians who are responsible for determining whether or not a player is physically able to play. Our coaches have no influence or authority to make determinations if or when an injured player returns to competition. The health and welfare of our student-athletes is and will continue to be a top priority.”

Comments

uminks

September 29th, 2014 at 12:53 AM ^

The third string QB was trying on 4 separate helmets that did not fit and Hoke was shoeing Morris back on the field when he should have stayed off the field.

MBloGlue

September 29th, 2014 at 1:51 AM ^

The Michigan statement puts the Big 10 in an interesting situation. Do they suspend the Minnesota player for targeting, thereby undermining the Michigan press release that it was about Morris leg and not the risk of concussion? Or do they do nothing and risk being criticized for being soft on the concussion issue? Hmmmm?????

Bluebyyou23

September 29th, 2014 at 2:04 AM ^

Hoke's just released statement should outrage Michigan fans and appears to be an disingenuous at best and some outright lies at worse in my opinion. I have a few other opinions as well.

1. "Morris was removed from yesterday's game against Minnesota after further aggravating an injury to his leg that he sustained earlier in the contest."

A--Morris was clearly 'out on his feet' and wobbly from the head to head tackle from a Gopher player. Morris waved off help and played one more play and threw a pass---and THEN Gardner came into the game. Morris actually injured his leg earlier in the game on a near safety. While his leg injury probably was getting worse--this should not have been the main reason for taking him out compared to the head to head hit which left him obviously dazed. Also, after being taken out--HOKE put him back in after Gardner lost his helmet and Bellomy couldn't find his.

2. "He was evaluated by our experienced athletic trainers and team physicians, and we're confident proper medical decisions were made."

A-The announcers said they saw no trainer go over to him at the end of the series when he first got hurt near the end zone, instead he sat down next to OC--Nussmeier

3. "The University of Michigan has a distinguished group of Certified Athletic Trainers and team physicians who are responsible for determining whether or not a player is physically able to play."

A.--This should be true, UM of Hospital and medical facilities are among the best in the nation. However, shouldn't that player been brought out for evaluation when he was hurt and 'out on his feet' for a concussion evaluation?

4. "Our coaches have no influence or authority to make determinations if or when an injured player returns to competition"

A--Is this a play on words, 'return to competition' or is having enough common sense to bring out a wobbly and concussed football player? I guarantee you every coach worth his salt is go to say, "Get him out of the game" and not have to rely on anyone else's opinion.

amccord

September 29th, 2014 at 8:45 AM ^

... that there did not seem to be much reaction on the part of Morris' teammates after the hit? Cole simply walked away. Nobody confronted the Minnesota player.

The replay film shows Khalid Hill pointing to the ground, maybe to encourage Morris to sit for trainer attention. Aren't players able to call to the sidelines to request medical attention for a teammate that they feel is injured? I'm wondering why there seemed to be no anger on the part of the team about what happened, or no urgency to get attention for Morris.

68 Wolverine

September 29th, 2014 at 5:56 AM ^

Exactly what I was thinking. I kept hoping I'd see a headline yesterday that Michigan released Hoke for failure to show on the field improvement (similar to Kansas), then realized DB just closed the hatches and set up in his bunker to weather the storm. 

looty

September 29th, 2014 at 5:56 AM ^

Best quote I've read about the state of Michigan football. "The wheels are off, the car is upside down in a ditch and leaking fuel. Meanwhile Brady Hoke is is behind the wheel adjusting the rear view mirror attempting to light a cigarette"

Red is Blue

September 29th, 2014 at 7:29 AM ^

Morris played after he appeared wobbly and before he was evaluated by medical staff.

He went back in when Gardner lost his helmet with, what I'm guessing, was insufficient time to go through proper medical protocols to determine if he was concussed.

The statement that the coaches do not determine when a player returns to competition is a lie.  Medical staff clears a player to be available to play, coaches put them in games.  Medical staff's role is to determine whether the injury warrants holding a player.  They don't determine whether the injury will limit a player's effectiveness.  Further, while medical staff clears a player to return, I don't think they evaluate the risk that the injury will hamper a player such that it exposes them to other risks because they can't effectively protect themselves.

zander

September 29th, 2014 at 7:57 AM ^

When it makes it on the national nightly news (ABC) Hoke has jumped the shark.

It's all about CYA and limiting liability.....Brandon step up and step down.

late night BTB

September 29th, 2014 at 8:27 AM ^

Withdraw support for the program. Stop going to games, stop buying gear, stop watching the games. I support the kids playing, they're my age, but the adults and coaches being paid like kings don't have their best interests in mind. I won't spend another moment of time supporting M football.   

This is being shown here in TX on the local news. I'm never ashamed of losses, but I am of this as an alum of the school.

west2

September 29th, 2014 at 9:16 AM ^

to make a move.  I have heard they cannot fire Hoke because Mattison will go too.  Unfortunately, the Titanic has reached the critical point of no return and we all know the ship is going down.  Trying to maintain some level of order to attempt to stem the mayhem is futile now. There is no salvaging this season, quite frankly the program would be better off forfeiting the rest of the games, naming a new coach in the next month and regrouping (I know, I know-it won't happen-the money).  By making a move now they will send the message that something positive is being done otherwise continued incompetence by the HC, bickering on the sidelines and behind the scenes with eventual defections of players will do damage to the program for years to come.  For the sake of the program, Fire the HC and AD now! 

 

Go Blue!!!

Its me Dave

September 29th, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^

Like most disasters, it's a special combination of low-level mistakes that leads to the Big Problem.

1. Hoke (and maybe Nuss) doesn't see hit and subsequent wobble in real time from sideline.

2. Hoke (and maybe Nuss) doesn't see hit and subsequent wobble on Jumbotron from sideline.

3. Morris refuses Nuss's direction to get off the field/take a knee.

4. Whoever (trainer?) sat next to Morris after he went to sideline apparently doesn't see the hit, isn't told about it.

5. Trainer doesn't make appropriate intervention/doesn't begin appropriate neuro assessment.

6. Bellomy can't find his helmet when called on.

7. Hoke doesn't get the ref's hint when prompted to take a time out instead of sending Morris back in.

Eliminate any 1 of these screw ups, and the chances of the total disaster drop dramatically. 

RJMAC

September 29th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^

Look at this photo and tell me this is not a concussion. Tell me,

 http://www.freep.com/article/20131018/SPORTS02/310180119/Jim-Leyland-hopeful-Alex-Avila-will-play-Game-6-Detroit-Tigers

If you said it was, you would be wrong...according to the Tigers Organization. Not only did Detroit Tigers Avila take a hit to the head by a foul ball that knocked his mask off, he was left in the game. The next inning, he was plowed over by a base runner at home plate and again looked woozy. He eventually was pinched hit for in the bottom of the inning and taken out of the game. He was taken out of the game because of a "leg injury".

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGnudWLdT4A