Harbaugh Pressures Pipkins to Retire

Submitted by 814 East U on

Should be interesting going forward. It is one side of the story, but we have seen these instances (OSU had a similar situation a few months ago I believe). 

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13154115/ondre-pipkins-s…

"I don't want to sign the form. I wanted to play for my seniors and for the team. Coach Harbaugh said, 'I recommend you take the medical.'"
"College football is a business. New coaches have to win games. They want to go with guys they think can win. If I'm a victim of making room, so be it. But if there is no concrete reason to disqualify a player. He should have the right to keep playing."
"I feel bad I wasn't able to complete this journey with my classmates," Pipkins told ESPN. "I feel I am healthy and without pain. I believe Michigan wanted to free up the scholarship. I felt I was practicing well and could compete at a high level at the nose tackle and tackle positions."
"All I want to do is play football," Pipkins said. "I tried to finish my career at Michigan but I wasn't given the chance."
"Schmidt told me, 'Call it quits. Hang it up.' He said, 'You've had a good run'," Pipkins said of the Wolverines' head athletic trainer.
"I need you to sign this," Pipkins said Harbaugh told him of the medical form. "It's not fair to your teammates. Let's get it done."

Tater

June 26th, 2015 at 1:50 PM ^

Pipkins has had two concussions and, according to the doctor, now has a knee that he may not be able to walk on normally if he continues to play football.  He is being offered a free education until he graduates.  

If the knee compromises Pipkins' mobility and his leverage, he is more likely to suffer another concussion or injury.  While cynics and rivals will accuse Harbaugh of screwing Pipkins over, I think Harbaugh is looking out for Pipkins' best interests after football.  

My guess: Pipkins still thinks he is an NFL talent and values playing time more than he does an education.  I think it is admirable that Harbuagh was honest with him and told him the NFL is not going to happen.  

East German Judge

June 26th, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^

WBO, did the ohio kid you bring up already have 2 concussions?

As most everyone knows, once you have had a concussion, you are more susceptible to get them again in the future.  What if he had gotten his 3rd concussion and had some unfortunate issues from it?  With all that happened in the Shane Morris case, everyone, especially the media, would have said how neglectful Michigan is allowing a kid with multiple concussions to play again, would they not or would we get a free pass that we allowed him to fufill his dream.

Scarlatina

June 26th, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^

Armani Reeves suffered a concussion during the Penn State game last season, sat out until the Championship game where he played, but then he suffered another concussion on a kickoff return. Then he signed a medical hardship wavier, and everyone claimed he was a healthy scratch because he played like 2 snaps in the Championship game.

Scarlatina

June 26th, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^

Armani Reeves suffered a concussion during the Penn State game last season, sat out until the Championship game where he played, but then he suffered another concussion on a kickoff return. Then he signed a medical hardship wavier, and everyone claimed he was a healthy scratch because he played like 2 snaps in the Championship game.

East German Judge

June 26th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^

While I am not a neurologist, but I play one on this blog - jk, if a kid gets 2 concussions, I would agree with him getting a medical.  With so much going on about the long term effects of repeated head trauma, etc., it does not seem wise for the kid or the school to continue playing him football.

Would love to hear from a real neurologist on their thoughts about kids playing football vs. something with less constant and potentially brutal physical contact to the head like basketball or baeball.

bronxblue

June 26th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^

The difference right now is OSU needed to free up space for their incoming class. Maybe Michigan is planning on bringing in more transfers, but right now they weren't in danger of exceeding the scholarship count. Now, if some sophomore or junior says the same thing, then I'd agree.

Double-D

June 26th, 2015 at 11:58 PM ^

Let's see if Pip gets picked up and passes a physical before we jump to anything. Also the fact that he will count against the total and we don't need to cut him means something. The fact is Pip has never been the same player. It's too bad he seems like a great kid.

ia4goblue

June 28th, 2015 at 1:46 AM ^

Pipkins is a grown man. He was looked after by a doctor. If a doctor cleared him to play and pipkins feels he can play, then he should play. Harbaugh isn't a doctor and doesn't know how he feels. If Saban did this all you guys would be having a fit. Everyone here has a stiffy (including me) cuz harbaugh is now the coach so you're afraid to say anything negative about the guy. He wants to play for Michigan, let him fucking play for Michigan.

LSAClassOf2000

June 26th, 2015 at 1:32 PM ^

As a minor note, please try to at least build some cache on the board before you go the "ass clown" route. If you're not a frequent poster, that's not necessarily a good go-to move (let's put a number on it - 5,000 points and you're allowed an "ass clown" but use it wisely, preferably in a way that is humorous too), although if you had read the article, you would find that the thread title is a good summation of Pipkins' feelings on the situation.