Discussion of Ryan Day's handling of Justin Field's injury

Submitted by njvictor on January 2nd, 2021 at 10:42 AM

While watching the Sugar Bowl last night, I was getting shades of the Hoke/Morris situation. Justin Fields had just taken two huge hits and clearly had an abdominal injury. He could not throw the ball or even go on the stationary bike without wincing in pain. But for some reason Ryan Day left him in the game. Proceed to half time and the reporter asks Ryan Day, "Fields appears to be in some pain, is there any update on his status?" and he responds with "He's a tough kid and will play another 30 minutes." Then at the start of the 3rd quarter, the reporter says that Ryan Day "told" Fields to play and that they didn't bother to give him an X-Ray. This ultimately turned out well for OSU, but where is the media outrage over this? If Harbaugh had made a player play with a clear injury without checking on the player's status at half time, he'd be torn to shreds by the media and fans and rightfully so, but apparently Day is held to a different standard. It's going to come out after the Championship game that Fields has at least broken ribs and I hope for his health that it's not worse than that and the narrative is going to be how tough Fields is, not how Day had zero care for his players' health

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ldevon1

January 2nd, 2021 at 11:51 AM ^

What's wrong with people today? Its football, and people play hurt. Ronnie Lott cut off a finger to play. Don't give me the "they aren't pros" crap. You hate them but OSU football means something to those kids, and he may have moved up 8 spots in the draft and possibly give Jacksonville something to think about with the #1 overall pick.

Joined: 09/09/2015

MGoPoints: 36887

Blau

January 2nd, 2021 at 12:19 PM ^

OSU also won by 3 TDs (Fields had 6!) against what was considered to be the 2nd best team in the country. I highly doubt that Field's injuries sting too bad knowing he's going to the CFP title game.

Goes to show, as long as you win, anything can be justified and forgiven. In retrospect, I honestly don't see the crime here.

Joined: 01/23/2014

MGoPoints: 35254

njvictor

January 2nd, 2021 at 10:56 AM ^

Who cares?

Forcing a player to play through injury and purposely not getting him an X ray is fine as long he plays well?

EDIT: Putting this up here so people see it:

Tweet from Erick Smith

Justin Fields on team doctors:

"They didn't really tell me anything. I took a shot or two and just ran back out there. But it's pretty much my whole right is sore. That's messed up. And a little, my hip. But they didn't really give me a diagnosis at all. "

No diagnosis?

This is medical malpractice

Joined: 07/20/2017

MGoPoints: 65074

Hail to the Vi…

January 2nd, 2021 at 12:29 PM ^

Agreed. Who really gives a shit. He clearly was able to play.

I fucking hate OSU, but I am not going to clutch pearls over their coach wanting to play Justin Fields with some bruised ribs. Clearly he was still capable of performing at a high level.

Fields went out there and torched Clemson in the second half, Shane Morris could barely stand under his own weight after his injury. Not the same situation.

Joined: 09/13/2010

MGoPoints: 12888

droptopdoc

January 6th, 2021 at 6:48 PM ^

so by your logic because he played he was fine? is that a medical opinion ?? because if thats my child i would be livid, its one thing that he knows whats going on and makes the decision, its another that he doesnt and makes a decision. he could have had fx ribs or internal bleeding or something worse, just because he got cortisone'd up does not mean he should have played and he should get better treatment 

Joined: 08/09/2019

MGoPoints: 280

ldevon1

January 2nd, 2021 at 1:11 PM ^

I must not understand, but his coach asked him what he wanted to do? In every since of the word, that's a choice. He didn't want to let his teammates down because his backup hasn't thrown a pass this year. Harbaugh played a kid in a meaningless game who, from what I understand might need shoulder surgery, were upset about him not having a choice? 

Joined: 09/09/2015

MGoPoints: 36887

2morrow

January 2nd, 2021 at 7:53 PM ^

Right on SCFan. I'm sure we have seen some of this recently- like Devin Gardner almost crawling out on to the field with a nearly broken ankle vs. osu and nearly winning the game. We have people like this - but not enough -  If we had more coaches and players with that kind of heart, we would be drastically improved without any other changes.

Joined: 06/27/2015

MGoPoints: 506

Carpetbagger

January 2nd, 2021 at 11:05 AM ^

Football is a violent game. 1/2 of these guys are playing through something, you just weren't paying attention.

Hell, just think about simple injuries, like the guys with casts on their hands, like McGrone. Can you imagine running around getting hit by all these guys for 3 hours each week with a broken hand? Not me.

These are tough guys, lighten up Francis.

Joined: 12/31/2010

MGoPoints: 6563

A_Maized

January 2nd, 2021 at 11:55 AM ^

Terrible take.   His ribs were hurt.  Broken ribs are treated like bruised ribs which are treated like sore ribs.   Even if his ribs were broken he would still play.  You wrap them up tight, get some padding and a shot of Toradol and get back out there.  

Joined: 03/06/2019

MGoPoints: 998

OfficerRabbit

January 2nd, 2021 at 2:13 PM ^

Thank you for the laugh this afternoon, NJ. As some of your fellow UM posters have stated, your pearl clutching is top notch. Justin Fields was basically the face of B1G player's as they fought to get a season reinstated, and your belief is he was "told" to get out and play in the second half of a CFP semifinal game? He would have run out there with a broken leg if possible.. the more likely situation is he had to be cleared by the medical staff and Day to be allowed back on the field... which he was... and threw how many (four?) touchdown passes in the second half? But sure.. he was thrown out on the field to be devoured by the wolves... goodness you're the portion of the UM fan base college football fans absolutely laugh at. 

You should be embarrassed for this post... surely you can do better? 

Joined: 10/27/2013

MGoPoints: 3087

MichAtl85

January 2nd, 2021 at 10:51 AM ^

Shanes injury and being put back in the game was inexcusable. It was also used as the perfect reason to get rid of Hoke. OSU has no interest in getting rid of Day. They win games. 

Joined: 09/21/2019

MGoPoints: 12352

maizenbluenc

January 2nd, 2021 at 12:23 PM ^

You both are forgetting the context of the whole 24 hour coverup midnight press release Brandon thing. It may well have been a confusing situation on the field that led to an error where Shane went back in. The real issue was the inability to admit that post game, and instead cover it up / not admit for days.

Not to mention, a head injury is a higher level public concern right now.

Joined: 07/21/2009

MGoPoints: 10630

1VaBlue1

January 2nd, 2021 at 10:51 AM ^

He doesn't have "broken ribs", or he wouldn't have played that well.  One might be cracked, but more than likely he'll have some bruising.  I doubt Day "told him" to play without Fields saying he could and the trainers/doctors agreeing.  He might have put some pressure on to play, but so what?  Harbaugh apparently did that with DCaff before the season.  And if that's true, then the two players apparently handled it differently...

Joined: 01/31/2016

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bfeeavveerr

January 2nd, 2021 at 10:55 AM ^

Men play football. They play through discomfort. They play through pain. If it causes you distress to watch them play through pain and discomfort......don't watch.

Joined: 08/01/2019

MGoPoints: 11248