Any update on Dan Persa's injury?
October 2nd, 2011 at 6:59 PM ^
I have no insight, but I hope he plays so we can beat Northwestern at their best.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:12 PM ^
Call me overconfident given the collapse of the last 2 years, but I fully expect us to beat them even with Persa.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^
He said himself that he's fine and expects to play. I doubt he would be 100%, though (not that he would have been anyway, coming back from an injury like that).
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:46 PM ^
or be unproductive post acl-tear a la Carson Palmer. not everyone can rebound from it like Tom Brady or Wes Welker
October 2nd, 2011 at 9:50 PM ^
Um, except he didn't tear his ACL, he ruptured his achilles.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:03 PM ^
He said he expects to play in the post game press conference. But who knows; he couldn't come back when the game was on the line yesterday.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:06 PM ^
they will play it close the vest just like they have the past 5 weeks. I would be surprised to here anything other than we expect him to play even if that isn't true
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:08 PM ^
people say they want to beat someone at "their best". Just WTF is this about. This is a game and you play the "cards" as they are dealt, including weather (geez - I wish every game was played when it was 70 degrees and no wind ... etc), or who is on the field and are they 100% or 80% because they're "nicked up". Do you really think NW would be disappointed if Denard didn't play ? Play the game with your best available players in the conditions that exist ... and WIN.
Go Blue!
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
Just whether you did or not.
<br>
<br>Losers make excuses; winners go home and fuck the prom queen.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:21 PM ^
Exactly...
Do you think anyone outside of Ann Arbor remembers or cares that we lost to OSU in 2007 because Henne and Hart were banged up?
Nope.
At the end of the day the result is all that matters.
I would never wish injury on anyone, but if the situation as it stands gives Michigan a better chance of winning I will take it.
I promise you no team has or will ever feel sorry for us if we have injury problems. That's just the nature of competitive sports.
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
A certain team in Wisonsin won the Super Bowl with 16 players on injured reserve. It's football, do whatever it takes
October 3rd, 2011 at 7:22 AM ^
Crom, I have never prayed to you before. I have no tongue for it. No one, not even you, will remember if we were good men or bad. Why we fought, or why we died. All that matters is that 22 stood against many. That's what's important! Valor pleases you, Crom... so grant me one request. Grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you!
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:30 PM ^
I think people say that because you want to make a statement about how good you really are. Especially later in the season, it rarely happens because of injuries, but it is nice to think that you can come by your record completely honestly, as it were, and play everybody's first string.
October 3rd, 2011 at 8:35 AM ^
I strongly believe M beats NW WITH Persa, anyway. But I would be really happy to see Hoke get to six wins, put that little five-and-fold monkey to rest and get on to MSU. I will not be crying if Mr. Persa and his doctor decide to protect that still-vulnerable achilles.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:12 PM ^
I think he starts, but doesn't stay in for the whole game. He's a tough competitor, but he's a little too dinged up to go from start to finish.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:16 PM ^
Before the game, Arkansas fans were saying that they wanted ohio at full strength when they beat them. They changed their minds.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:18 PM ^
What about Trumpy?
I heard knee sprain right?
Seems like it will be tough for him to go 100% as well, although I wish him and Persa the best of health.
I will still be less nervous without them on the field though.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:23 PM ^
Despite the fact that it is a completely different environment, you know Hoke and company are going to make sure the players don't forget about this game. Hell, he even tried to pump up the team to play minnesota.. saying they have a good safety (and proceeding to not know his name). I think even with Persa on the field, we'll be keying onto him enough to make sure they don't come out with the W.
If he weren't so fragile, I'd be a bit more concerned because he is the first real dual threat QB we have seen, but he seems to be enjoying the pocket a bit more, where Martin, Van Bergen, and Roh can feast on his soul.
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:06 PM ^
Regarding your first paragraph, this is the week where the countdown clock worries me. Will they stay 100% focused on NW when the Sparty clock day column drifts into single digits?
This is a potential trap game, no two ways about it.
October 3rd, 2011 at 8:48 AM ^
This team faces the realest of real dual threat QB's in practice every week. Forgive me if I am sounding in the least bit arogant, but for the first time in forever, dual threat qb's don't make me want to run out in front of a bus.
I have confidence that this defense will know how to defend a running QB. That doesn't necessarily mean I am certain we will win, but I don't think the running qb is going to be what will sink us.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:27 PM ^
My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Persa limping at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^
you got the inside stuff
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
Did someone go up to him and was like, "Hi Dan! How's your bod??"
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
His leg is half the size of the other one.. he's not 100%, they said he was available earlier in the year if "needed" well that was a bunch of bs..
He tried doing to much in practice and reinjured his leg earlier this year. I doubt he makes it through the BIG schedule. He may end up like Denard last year, coming in and out. But he will be really limited with his movement.
I posted this on one of the other 10 threads i already read about persa, that my friend who played at NW was working out with him a few wks back and his injured leg was so small, everyone has been pretty skeptical down there about him playing a lot.
October 2nd, 2011 at 7:40 PM ^
Since we haven't played Northwestern the last 2 years, I don't think I've seen Persa play (unless he started for the cats in that awful game at the big house in 08). I can't think of a single Northwestern game I watched in 09 and 10.
Are there any highlights of him on YouTube? I'd like to see what we're up against if he does start.
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
That was Kafka in '08
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
you asked if there are any highlights of him on youtube?
Type in his name and find out lol?
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
someone should make a "Let me Youtube that for you" website. lmyttfy.com
October 2nd, 2011 at 9:23 PM ^
It's not really necessary though.
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=youtube+dan+persa
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:55 AM ^
That's way cool.
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
Persa may well start, but it sounds like he aggravated his existing injury. Joint injuries suck like that. Even if he plays, he's probably 1 big hit or bad step away from being out again. If we can get solid pressure, he may not be in for long (I don't endorse intentionally hurting the guy, but the game is rough).
October 2nd, 2011 at 8:59 PM ^
He will start, and our defense will be waiting for the challenge!
October 2nd, 2011 at 11:34 PM ^
He might start but with an achilles injury and limited mobility I seriously doubt he finishes.
Northwestern without Persa is very hollow; see Northwestern @ Army for net results.
October 2nd, 2011 at 9:01 PM ^
FYI, Chris Balas at TheWolverine said that based on what he has heard from his Northwestern contacts, he does not expect Persa to play. This is nothing official, just his gut reaction to what he is hearing.
October 2nd, 2011 at 9:15 PM ^
Persa left Saturday's loss to Illinois in the fourth quarter and didn't return for the Wildcats' final few offensive series. The senior threw a career-high four touchdown passes before his exit.
"I got hit when I was running, and I felt some pain at the bottom of my heel, and the top of my toe started to stiffen up," Persa said. "In the past, that's when setbacks have happened. It was a tough decision. It's tough when you want to go back in, and the same time, you don't want to risk another injury."
Asked about his prognosis for next week, Persa replied, "I feel fine. I'm sure I'll be fine."
Northwestern showed today that it needs Persa to use his legs, so his prognosis depends on his response to treatment the next few days. But it doesn't sound like the setback is too severe.
from http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/34580/wildcats-persa-expects-t…
October 2nd, 2011 at 9:24 PM ^
Think about Vincent Smith... It took him over a year and a half to get back to 100%. Persa had the same injury (IIRC) and it bothered him enough for him to pull himself in a rivalry game. He will not be 100%. I just hope, for his sake, he doesn't screw it up even more.
October 2nd, 2011 at 10:08 PM ^
Smith tore his ACL. Persa tore his Achilles.
October 2nd, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
Is that a Greek last name? What is the root meaning of his name? Who has the inside information on this guy...I'm tired of the shroud of mystery over this guy's life!
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:08 AM ^
He re-injured his heel so the top of his Achilles was contracting and painful. Not good. I'm sure Kain Colter will start and probably play the duration of the game.
A bigger question might be about NU's tailback Trumpy, who injured his knee (sprain). Backup Troy Pollard also went down with a knee injury.
NU would have been one of the Big Ten's more dangerous teams this fall had it not been for these injuries. They're still dangerous though.
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:23 AM ^
What with different routines, travel itineraries, and unfamiliar stadium lights, it could be interesting. Should be a great preparation for MSU (not looking ahead, just saying MSU will be a much nastier environment). Also, I am curious to see what our guys are made of. I want to know if this is like the last few years or not. Looking forward to seeing how the players handle themselves overall, and the coaches control emotions.
October 3rd, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^
Lake the Post is hopeful that he will play...but he seems more like a fan than an insider. Sippin on Purple is somewhat less optimistic. Spread Far the Fame thinks he will give it a go, but is not hopeful he will finish.
My take is that he was not ready to play against Illinois, and they aren't doing him any favors by letting him try. Even if he plays he wont be the running threat that he normally is. They need to shut him down and let him heal.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:09 AM ^
Seems like he's doing a pretty good job managing his recovery. He was well enough to throw for four TDs, and was cognizant enough of his own pain to pull himself out of a rivalry game that was on a knife's edge.