The Shane Morris Incident Comment Count

Brian

For posterity I've clipped the video of the helmet to helmet hit and Michigan's actions after, plus the decision to insert him into the game after Gardner's helmet popped off.

The booing you hear in the background is fans demanding that Morris be removed, as it was even more obvious Morris was not right if you were looking at him for those 20 seconds uninterrupted. The only guy in the stadium who didn't know was Hoke.

Bluntly, anyone arguing that we shouldn't jump down Hoke's throat because of the slight possibility Morris was not concussed is an idiot.

Comments

Don

September 28th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^

Don't ascribe to malevolence that which can be explained by incompetence.

Maybe he didn't see the original hit, and since he wasn't wearing a headset, nobody else on the staff communicated to him in real time that perhaps Morris looked wobbly because of the blow to the head, not because of his leg. Nussmeier fucked up by not immediately trying to get Hoke to call a TO after Morris waved him off. Bellomy—and whatever staff is relevant—fucked up by not knowing where his goddamn helmet was. The entire Michigan coaching staff fucked up by not going after the refs for their inexcusable refusal to eject the Minnesota player who cheap-shotted Morris.

To place any meaningful blame on Morris himself is bizarre. He's a 19-year-old athlete who desperately wants to compete, and it's entirely natural that he'll want to stay in the game, concussed or not. When a kid takes a shot like that, it's up to the adults to take control of the situation immediately. That did not happen. Morris is fortunate that he didn't take another blow to the head on the next play after the hit.

Aside from the issue of a concussion and purely from a game situation standpoint, the decision of the staff to keep an obviously gimpy Morris in the game might be more understandable if the score was close and Morris was leading a furious comeback in the waning moments; if that were the case, I can easily envision a desperate coaching staff keeping a hobbling player in the game. But that wasn't the case—the score was 30-7, and there was no evidence at all that Morris was going to be able to move the team. He should have been taken out of the game for at least a series or two before the late hit even happened.

 

Njia

September 28th, 2014 at 5:02 PM ^

I mentioned it before and I will do so again: This staff is unconsciously incompetent. They simply don't know what they are doing, are evidently unaware of the root causes of their own deficiencies, and are therefore unable to make any meaningful changes. This is inexcusable in a head coach of the Michigan Wolverines.

CompleteLunacy

September 28th, 2014 at 6:18 PM ^

I think you stated much more eloquently what I was trying to say in another comment above. Even before the TV crew knew the hit was a helmet-to-helmet to the head they were openly pleading the coaches to take out Morris. When they saw the replay and that it was a headshot they got much more animated about it.

Webber's Pimp

September 28th, 2014 at 4:43 PM ^

Anybody who thinks Hoke purposely put in Morris in there with concussion like symptoms is full of crap. If you want him fired then fine but don't throw around bullshit accusations in order to justify a firing.

Mazzy

September 28th, 2014 at 4:49 PM ^

No one needs to give any excuse for why he needs to be fired. Realizing or not realizing that Morris clearly needed to come out is irrelevant because either way Hoke is negligent. I take care of the animals at UofM; if I miss a water bottle and an animal dies of dehydration I would be fired, period. Because it wouldn't matter if I "meant to do it", the fact would be that it happened on my watch and so I am to blame. As is the case with Hoke.

AlwaysBlue

September 28th, 2014 at 6:29 PM ^

Hoke is not responsible for the medical staff or following a player around to see if he is attended to or cleared to come back in. Nuss apparently saw the play or at least enough to tell him to stay down. Why didn't he make sure that he was checked out, why didn't he have a sub ready?

Mon-L

September 28th, 2014 at 4:59 PM ^

It's entirely possible to be totally through with Hoke as a coach AND demand his firing for this incident and not have the two be related. Player safety takes precendence over everything. 

This is just a game. No kid should be blasted the way Morris was and stay in there. Regardless of Hoke's situation right now, that is unacceptable player management. 

bighouse22

September 28th, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^

He should be fired for:

The performance against Minnesota in his 4th year.

A 2-3 record to start his 4th year.

A 4-9 record in the last 13 games, only wins against Indiana, NW, Miami, and App St.

Red Letter Game Record

Bowl Game Record

Only team in Michigan History to have 3 losses before October (The ONLY ONE IN MICHIGAN HISTORY).

Continued Game Mis-Management (10 men on field, 12 men on field, use of timeouts, etc.)

Clueless responses to serious questions.

This IS JUST THE ABSOLUTE LAST STRAW!

Wolverine bidnessman

September 28th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^

Gentlemen, I was at the game, sitting at the southern 35 yard line, behind the Michigan bench, row 57.  My eyes followed the pass Shane threw.  I never even saw him get hit, especially since it was late - my eyes had already moved on.  However, I did see him wobble.  I thought it was because his ankle or knee buckled.  I was surprised there was a roughing call since I never saw it.  When they called roughing, I was like, "Great!  We get 15 yards".  To my knowledge, they never showed the replay in the stadium, so no-one saw the hit.  Can anyone confirm if they showed a replay in the stadium or not?

Hoke was at field level.  If I never saw the hit in row 57, I don't think Hoke did, with all those offensive and defensive line large bodies in front of him?  I don't know what Nussmeier saw, though I believe Nussmeier was left of Hoke (putting him closer to the line of scrimmage than Hoke was).  I saw Nussmeier motion to Morris to lay down, and I saw Morris motion back I'm not doing anything like that.

Without the benefit of replay, announcer's comments, etc., I don't think these guys knew what they were dealing with in the few seconds after Morris got hit.  A similar event happened with Colt McCoy and the Cleveland Browns a few years ago.  They guy got creamed. on a helmet-to-helmet hit.  I don't remember all the details about how no one saw it, but I remember that the Browns trainer assigned to concussion safety was giving another guy a concussion test.  He had his back to the field so he didn't know Colt came off with a possible concussion, so he never gave a test to Colt.  I believe the result of this is that the NFL has since assigned medical personnel in the press box to alert field personnel.

There was absolutely a failure in not getting Morris checked after he came out.  There was ample time at this point for a message to get relayed that he took a massive hit.  While I can see how he didn't get pulled, he should have NEVER been put back in.  How this message didn't get down to the field is beside me.

cp4three2

September 28th, 2014 at 5:23 PM ^

I get that there's at least a reasonable excuse that it took one more play to realize he wasn't right. He should be fired for allowing him to go back in the game after he came out and not understanding why the ref was asking him if he wanted to take a timeout to put Gardner back in. It was complete negligence. 

CoverZero

September 28th, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^

It is on the tape.  What part of it do you not see?  The Ref sees concussed Shane coming back in.  He pauses play and yells to Hoke asking if he wants a time out to do a better job managing the situation.  Hoke refuses and tells the Ref to roll play. 

It is on the video.  Believe what your mind would like you to believe.  However, to ignore the videotape evidence of intentional neglegence is simply doing a disservice to the reality of the situation.

 

caguab

September 28th, 2014 at 5:21 PM ^

At this point, I agree with most on here.  This goes beyond performance on the field.  I was at the game, granted I was in row 13 and by the 20 yard line which was pretty close to Shane when he took the hit to the head, and I was appalled that Shane not only stayed in the game after that hit, but came back in for Gardner.  Everyone, including me, was yelling for Shane to be removed from the game.  I don't know what game Hoke was watching, but it certainly wasn't UM vs Minnesota.  And if Hoke really didn't see him get hit or almost fall down to the point he needed to be held up, does he not have ANYONE watching the health of the QB?  I can't sit here and believe that not ONE coach was aware of what transpired with Morris.  Not saying Hoke is trying to injure players, but maybe his "toughness" is a little out of whack.  There is a time for toughness and there is a time for seeing a doctor.   

I hope Dave Brandon and the rest of UofM's administration realize that this goes way beyond football.  Hoke should be immediately suspended, pending an investigation, and ultimately removed from his duties.  If I were a parent of any of the players, I would not allow my son to even practice under this man.  Thank God that Shane is okay.

Its me Dave

September 28th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^

Schlissel can ignore a losing season and deal with it (or not) at his convenience.  This, however, he has to deal with, literally, tomorrow.  Very Serious People will be having meetings.

KSmooth

September 28th, 2014 at 5:17 PM ^

I was one of those guys who wanted to give Brady Hoke the benefit of the doubt on this one.  Second guessing is easy.  Making snap decisions under pressure is hard.  Brady Hoke is a football coach, not a brain surgeon.  But the more I see about how Shane Morris was handled, especially after that hit to the head, the uglier it gets.

It was pretty obvious that Morris was in no condition to play.  Nussmeier was trying to get him out.  (I learned this later from listening to the radio play-by-play.)  That is critical -- this isn't a matter of what we think they should have known on the sidelines.  They knew.

Hoke was either incredibly ignorant or reckless or both.  When I first heard people calling for Hoke to be fired I thought they were overreacting.  But it turns out they had solid reasons.  If I were the AD I'd have to seriously consider letting Hoke go too.

 

LightTheLamp

September 28th, 2014 at 5:30 PM ^

can we talk about how this is the second time we have had a QB taken out on a dirty hit and the other guys on the team did nothing to get in the hitters face? talk about zero heart.

m1jjb00

September 28th, 2014 at 5:36 PM ^

But, I think that the winning argument is that one should have suspected/worried that he was concussed and taken apprpropriate action to find out.

I still prefer, however, that he lose his job because of performance because others have to go too, one above Hoke, several below.

pudge44

September 28th, 2014 at 5:43 PM ^

I don't believe purposely left him out there with a probable concussion, but I do think BH is woefully behind on concussion awareness and protocol. I found his postgame comments shocking and disturbing. He suggested that since Morris didn't ask to come out, he was OK to go.

It's 2014. Concussions have been a thing for a while now. To have the head coach of our program have such a blase attitude about head traumain this day and age is absurd.

Fire him. Today.

MGOBOOB

September 28th, 2014 at 5:54 PM ^

the actions, or lack thereof, of the coaches are indefensible. we all agree. does this mean that you are actually going to go to the press conference monday and address hoke? this gives you the perfect opportunity to jump down his throat in person.

Blue Durham

September 28th, 2014 at 6:00 PM ^

  • It is Hoke's job to know what the hell is going on on the field - not knowing is not an excuse.  If there is any question, he should take the initiative and fucking find out.  He should also have protocol to have assistants inform of things he should damn well be aware of.
  • It is Hoke's job to look after the welfare of all of his players.  Even though I thought that Morris should have been pulled long before the head-shot as he was clearly hobbled, afterwards Hoke should have inquired how Morris was if he did not know for certain.
  • Belomy not having his helmet is an indictment on both Belomy and the atmosphere that "player's coach" Brady Hoke has cultivated.  Bo came in and got rid of the "country club" atmosphere that was present; we need a coach that will do that again.

I also had a problem with Morris waving off Nussmeier when Nussmeier wanted Morris to come out of the game.  The problem I have is that NO player should EVER wave off a coach when that coach wants that player to come out of the game.  That player runs off the fucking field, period.  Every damn time.

Belomy's helmet, Morris telling a coach he isn't coming out, Desmond Howard's remarks regarding practice and Peppers, the body language and intensity of the players during games, etc, the problem is the culture Hoke has instilled in this team.

All in all, this game was a complete disgrace.  Worse than any game during the Rodriguez tenure.  Worse than Appalachian State.

If Hoke is fired, the only hope is if Mattison takes over the team in an interim basis.  If Mattison doesn't, the only other alternative is Nuss, and that is no alternative.  Anyone else, whether it be Llyod Carr or anyone not directly involved with the team results in a totally lost season.  And with that, I mean no more wins, only blow-out losses.

It would not surprise me if Brandon fires Hoke in the next few days.  It would provide Brandon cover for the coming total shit season.  The crappy record would be the fault of "the Morris incident" and nothing of Brandon's doing.  Who could predict that a coach he hired would be so oblivious to the welfare of a clearly hurt player?

Vice President…

September 28th, 2014 at 6:05 PM ^

After that late/cheap/illegal hit to the quarterback, did any of the Michigan players get in Minnesota's grill? Any pushing or shoving? Anything on subsequent plays? There was no evidence of it on TV.

Maybe I'm old school, but I would at least like a couple guys to get fired up when the opponent is taking gratuitious cheap shots.

"Toughness" has become but a cheap platitude.That's all on Hoke. 

 

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

September 28th, 2014 at 8:50 PM ^

It's somewhat explainable that the guys cannot execute or just are not good enough, but what is the team culture? They may like each other and even respect each other - so why the apathy to protect each other? The sideline looked like UM was ahead by 30 points with the nonchalant chatter and smiling.

They lack passion and togetherness. Something is very wrong within the program.

vablue

September 28th, 2014 at 6:07 PM ^

The coaches may have been the only ones in the stadium that did not realize what happened to Morris, though I doubt this.  But they are clearly the only people in the stadium who have other things to do inbetween plays.  I have coached football for many years, and watching the players inbetween plays is rarely done as you are usually busy talking to coaches about strategy or players about what you need them to do.  The fact that Hoke did not see what is clear on TV is not surprising at all and is hardly neglegence.  

There is a reason that the concussion discussion is focused as heavily on players realizing they need to take themselves off the field, because they are often the only ones that know what happens.  If you want to rip Hoke for not taking him off for the leg injury, that is more understandable.  But even there Morris clearly signals he is fine.  I think it is fairly obvious from the press conference that Hoke had no idea there was a concussion potential.

Again, there are plenty of reasons to think Hoke should be replaced. This is not one.  In fact, if he was 5-0 at this point there would almost certainly not even be a discussion about this point.  If you need evidence of this, see last year and Gardner, who was left on the field multiple times despite being just crushed.

AlwaysBlue

September 28th, 2014 at 6:34 PM ^

an idiot apparently. And I'm an idiot too because I agree with you. In my opinion Nuss is more responsible along with the rest of the offensive staff that didn't have him checked out after that hit AND for not having the next man up ready once DG had come in. They said on the radio that after that last play they had taken his helmet.

Shop Smart Sho…

September 28th, 2014 at 6:45 PM ^

Aside from your post being an absolute pile of horse-shit, other players were trying to get Morris off the field.

I very much doubt you have ever coached at the FBS lever, so your experiences are not at all important when it comes to this.  Hoke has a huge staff at his disposal.  In the post CTE-lawsuit world, it makes absolutely no sense to not assign, at the very least, a couple of grad-assistants to monitor shit like this.  Those people would be in addition to all of the people on the training staff.

The concussion discussion is not at all focused on making the players realize they should take themselves out of the game.  One of the first steps in diagnosing players is taking away their god-damn helmet.  

Do you know why?

SO THEY CAN'T GO BACK ON THE FUCKING FIELD AND TAKE ANOTHER HIT THAT COULD IMMEDIATELY KILL THEM!!!!

gte896u

September 28th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^

even in high school, coaches arent watching for stuff like that. they are calling plays, managing personnel, and otherwise coaching.

but their training staff has multiple eyes out for things like this. thats where the failure lies; any trainer can just step out on to the field to stop play if they see a kid hurt.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

September 28th, 2014 at 6:58 PM ^

Bullshit.  Time for a good old-fashioned fisking.

The fact that Hoke did not see what is clear on TV is not surprising at all and is hardly neglegence.

They called roughing the passer!  It didn't take TV to be clear about that.  Did nobody look to see what might've happened?

But even there Morris clearly signals he is fine. I think it is fairly obvious from the press conference that Hoke had no idea there was a concussion potential.

What about that noodle-armed, dizzy-looking wave signaled to you that everything is fine?  Morris looked like he just got off the teacup ride at Disney World.  That little wave should've been all the reason the coaches needed to yank him; if the coaches think that's what a perfectly healthy player looks like, that's dangerous.

And even then, after Morris did come off, did nobody do a single test for anything?  Maybe they did and they found nothing, I dunno.  But I doubt that.  Bellomy seemed to think Morris was done.  Why does the third-string quarterback think that, and not the coaches?  Who signed off on letting Morris go back out there again?

If you need evidence of this, see last year and Gardner, who was left on the field multiple times despite being just crushed.

Please.  Gardner was never bashed around the head.  In what world is a foot injury and a head injury the same thing?

BlueinLansing

September 28th, 2014 at 6:23 PM ^

led by the outrage of the on air ABC announcer.  None of us know what Shane said or how he was actually feeling.  From my seat a hell of a long way away I could clearly see Nussmeier telling his wobbly QB to go to the ground, and I could clearly see Shane wave him off and that appears on the TV replays.

 

What people should be outraged about is that Michigan apparently did not follow what should be standard protocol if a concussion is suspected.

 

Lots of players continue to play on their own with possible concussions because coaches in todays game still treat their players as adults, you cannot police every hit and pull kids out every time, its just not possible.  It happens every Saturday.

Is this situation Michigan's training staff was nowhere to be found.

ChicagoGangViolins

September 28th, 2014 at 7:05 PM ^

But I'll inject an undiscussed element here anyway.  
 
From early in the Minnesota game and sporadically throughout, Shane Morris attempted to draw and he did succeed in drawing a personal foul against Minnesota players.  Many of us, including the broadcast crew, verbalized contemporaneously that we thought Shane would make for a fine method actor or expressions to this effect.  
 
Because it seemed clear enough there was indeed a lot of acting on Shane's part that was involved.  He was convincing at times but then popped up and went about his duties.  
 
Is it possible that, when Shane got clocked, our coaches were acting under assumption that Shane was pretending well the part to help ward off encroaching defensive players and create extra space around him?
 
Neither making excuses nor apologizing for another, I am simply asking a fair question.
 

Monocle Smile

September 28th, 2014 at 7:11 PM ^

If that's the case, the coaches are even bigger fucking idiots that we thought.

The shot to the face was brutal. And then he didn't pop up and couldn't do anything remotely close to "his duties."

What I'm trying to say is that it's not at all possible unless all our coaches also suffered concussions as well.

93Grad

September 28th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^

This is Michigan fergossakes! All they wanted were sound bites that were familiar. God forbid we have a coach that sounds different or whose offense looks different. You brought it on yourselves. I hope you are happy.