Minnesota 30, Michigan 14
Bryan Fuller/MGoBlog
“We’re not going to talk about injuries and I might as well bring that out now. And some of that is because you can say something about something and then you’re wrong. Everybody heals a little differently, and the other thing is for our kids. I want to make sure we’re doing a good job protecting them.” — Brady Hoke, 9/17/14
Regardless of how you felt about the on-field performance, what Brady Hoke did in putting an almost certainly concussed Shane Morris back on the field was reprehensible and, if you believe the first job of a head coach is to protect his own players, worthy of a firing. The fact that Hoke let Morris stay on the field as long as he did in the first place—when Morris, at one point, waved at the sideline while needing a lineman's support to stand—was awful enough; to ask Morris to re-enter that game was beyond the pale.
A national television audience just saw every reason why they shouldn't send their football players to Michigan.
An ornery crowd filtered in slowly, with the "attendance" of 102,926 such an obvious farce much of the crowd booed when it was announced. Booing, in fact, was a theme on the day. It started early, when a couple inside running plays netted little. When Minnesota entered the tunnel with a 10-7 halftime lead, the boos rained down again.
By the time Morris lost a third-quarter fumble when he simply dropped the ball in the pocket—the press box announcer flatly stated "fumble not forced by anyone on Minnesota," afterward—the student section had moved on from boos to chants of "Fire Brandon." For the uninitiated, that would be in reference to Dave Brandon, Michigan's embattled athletic director.
Fuller
The first half proved competitive, at least, if not at all interesting. Michigan punted on their first three drives, Minnesota on their opening four; provided stellar field position by the defense, the Wolverine offense tallied their first red zone trip and touchdown against a Power 5 team this season on a nifty ten-yard scamper by De'Veon Smith. The Gophers answered just two minutes later, however, with a ten-yard scoring run of their own when quarterback Mitch Leidner ran untouched around the corner off an inside run fake.
Minnesota added greatly to the fan unrest when they marched 92 yards in 2:17 to end the half with a Ryan Santoso field goal. Then the floodgates opened in the third quarter. Minnesota forced Michigan to punt from deep in their own territory, allowing the Gophers to "drive" eight yards in seven plays for another Santoso field goal, putting them up 13-10. Two plays later, Theiran Cockran tipped a Morris pass to the flat, and it fluttered right to Gopher LB De'Vondre Campbell, who brought it back 30 yards for an easy touchdown.
After the Morris fumble on the very next drive, Leidner ended a five-play drive with a little flip-pass to Maxx Williams for a one-yard score. What had been a 10-7 game just 4:32 earlier morphed into an ugly 27-7 blowout. When Morris was finally pulled, Devin Gardner entered the game and immediately engineered a touchdown drive, capping it off with a three-yard run, defiantly standing as two defenders collided with him upon entering the end zone. During that drive, Gardner lost his helmet for a play, necessitating either a timeout be called or a backup enter. While Russell Bellomy also grabbed his helmet, Morris went in.
On what would ultimately be Michigan's last drive, another woeful three-and-out (their seventh of the game) from the shadow of their own end zone, Devin Funchess also went down injured, and left the field with a noticeable limp. When the game mercifully ended shortly after Michigan punted, still technically down just two scores on the scoreboard, Funchess and his teammates limped to the locker room; Morris left the field on the back of a cart.
"I didn't see that. I can only answer for me," said Hoke, when asked if he noticed Morris looking wobbly on his feet.
If that's the best you've got, Brady, it's best if you let someone else protect the players.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:53 PM ^
Morris took a shot to the head, or that Morris may have suffered a head injury, and I agree that Morris should have been examined on the sideline*. What is in dispute is that Doctor Ace knows that Morris "almost certainly was concussed." How the fuck does he know that if he himself hasn't conducted an exam? Not all hits to the head result in concussion, in fact most do not. As a question of probability, and given the fact that Morris was demonstrating a leg injury, there was no certainty whatsoever that Morris was concussed. Possible, yes, with certainty, no.
*Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. It is quite possible that the medical person, with whom we know Morris was speaking, had initiated an exam protocol and upon questioning Morris concluded that a more in depth exam wasn't required. I'm not saying that's the case, but it is a question of fact which should be answered before proceeding through the feeding frenzy of the shark infested waters.
As for the "momentary blackout", which TV doctor diagnosed that one, or has Morris publicly stated that he did have a momentary blackout?
September 28th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^
That's the key, though.
Anybody who "exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion" must be removed from the game per University policy. It doesn't require a doctor to diagnose anything--the University is required to train its coaching staff on what these signs, symptoms and behaviors are.
If a coach recognizes a "possible" concussion, he is required to remove the player from the game in order to be evaluated by medical personnel, and he is not allowed to return the player to the game until that player is cleared by the medical staff.
Or are there people who deny even that? Would you argue that Shane Morris didn't exhibit any signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion?
September 27th, 2014 at 8:40 PM ^
The egregious part of it was that Shane wasn't even properly checked for concussion symptoms. Even if it turns out he doesn't have a concussion, it is ludicrous to risk it by throwing him back in there.
So no, whether or not a concussion actually occurred is irrelevant. It was a negligent and irresponsible thing for Hoke and his staff to do.
September 28th, 2014 at 3:31 AM ^
agree with that. Similarly, it is irresponsible for someone to make a diagnostic claim without diagnostic evidence.
September 28th, 2014 at 7:36 AM ^
And to who's harm? Brady's fucking ego?
September 27th, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 8:49 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
Took the hit under the chin, almost fell over and had to be held up by a lineman, never left the field, took the next snap (as I recall). If my recollection is correct, big problem that Hoke didn't take him off the field.
September 28th, 2014 at 12:17 AM ^
Let's assume he doesn't have a concussion. It's somehow ok for the coach to send a guy who hasn't been able to stand on his sprained ankle for three series back out again and again? '
Is the requisite for serious criticism that the player has to be having life-long health threats to his brain? or is it maybe, just maybe, ok to think that a coach is still vile for not pulling a player playing on a severe ankle injury?
September 28th, 2014 at 12:19 AM ^
If the coaches, staff etc. didn't perform an assessment in the first place I think it's fair to place blame on him also. It's his sideline. You're looking right at your quarterback and you see him wobbling around, get a clue.
September 28th, 2014 at 12:35 AM ^
Honestly, if you dont recognize the correlation between a huge helmet to helmet hit and a player displaying at lease concussion like symptoms, than you're either
1. an idiot
2. a guy who never played football
3. both
September 27th, 2014 at 8:41 PM ^
You're right, it was irresponsible for them to send Shane back out with concussion like symptoms without at least doing the concussion test on the sideline.
Oh wait, you're not talking about that? Jeez.
September 28th, 2014 at 12:29 AM ^
Curious if we will hear about an ankle injury and nothing else. Remember Hoke doesn't discuss injuries unless they are season ending. If he does speak about the ankle only, I will be suspect of his motives.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
is a fire-worthy offense.
Whether he had one or not, the protocols not being performed, I can't even.
September 27th, 2014 at 10:40 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 1:47 AM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 12:21 AM ^
I'm not a Dr. but he sure seemed to be out of it. At one point he was being held up by his offensive lineman.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:45 AM ^
What's irresponsible was Hoke leaving an immobile quarterback in there to get drilled. Morris was clearly injured (there is a difference between hurt and injured, and Morris was clearly the latter), and it seemed almost inevitable that he would get hit hard because he couldn't move quickly enough to avoid contact. Once that hit happened and Morris was injured even more, he should never have been an option for the rest of the game. Leaving him out there and then putting him back in is coaching malpractice.
I've never been one to care about this before, but if Hoke had a headset, maybe someone could have educated him about Morris's problems. Throw on top of that Bellomy not even being ready to go into the game if he had to, and the picture being painted is one of a bad coach who can't respond to new information in a game and whose team isn't prepared well enough on a weekly basis.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:35 PM ^
At that point it isn't his call. Kudos to Morris for being competitve and trying to gut it out, but it is for the coaches to decide, not the player, when they should be coming out.
Gardner had it right to be warmed up believing Morris wouldn't be available for the next series. More's the pity that a player on the sideline knows the right call even as his coaches, the adults, plead willful ignorance.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:45 PM ^
he's numb, too. This thing has completely escaped him. Thing is, that many of us saw--and said--that he wasn't up to it, again and again and again. It IS possible to have compassion for the guy and see that he was several fathoms over his head. Being able to acquit yourself reasonably in a press conference IS something of a barometer.
The only happy note for me tonight is that it's so bleeding obvious that Devin should be the freaking QB.
September 27th, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 6:35 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 9:10 PM ^
Even uninjured, why was he still out there? He was TERRIBLE. We have a fifth-year senior quarterback who has struggled, sure, but at halftime, or at least midway through the third quarter, surely it was clear Gardner was the best chance we had to win the game.
So I guess we didn't care about winning the game. We wanted to get Morris experience. Experience playing QB with a concussion and a limp.
September 27th, 2014 at 7:53 PM ^
Hoke has been very irresponsible with the players this season. In the ND game there was no reason to leave Gardner/Funchess in so late in the game, and then the whole Morris thing today. Aside from the fact that left Morris in after he was clearly injured, you're telling me you can't call a timeout in a game you aren't trying to win anyway so that Gardner can come back in or Bellamy can find a helmet? That alone is enough to fire Hoke.
September 27th, 2014 at 7:55 PM ^
The Shane Morris episode was an absolute fucking disgrace. The likes of which I have never witnessed before.
Hoke should be fired immediately.
September 27th, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^
to see Morris stay in the game long after he was noticeably hobbling. The last series when he had trouble standing is an indictment on the coaches for poor judgement. There is ZERO excuse for risking a player to worse injury by leaving him on the field. I really, really wanted Brady Hoke to succeed. But it's more clear than ever he needs to go. I'm very sad and depressed for Michigan right now because the next 6 months plus are going to set us back again.
September 27th, 2014 at 7:56 PM ^
I'm not defending Brady's job, he's cooked. but Morris was clearly motioning that he did not want to come out. Then they took him out one or two plays later. I didn't think the sequence was as deplorable as most I guess. That said, the fact that Hoke didn't even notice is unreal. The guy just can't focus on the details enough to run a program.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:04 PM ^
Since when is it the decision of the player if he is to stay in the game? Someone in charge on that sideline should have noticed how hurt he was. The commentators and sideline reporter mentioned several times that the medical staff never even looked at him. Not after the first hit where he came up gimpy, nor did they do a concussion evaluation after the late hit.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^
Again, I'm very much not defending him, the list of things that Hoke ought to notice that he hasn't is getting way too long. On the other hand, they did take him out... one play later and the only reason it wasn' immediately was because he refused to come out. It's negligence and incompetence, not maliciousness or callousness.
Also, the commentators were clearly wrong as even their own broadcast showed Paul Schmitt shadowing Morris from when he first tweaked his ankle on.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:37 PM ^
Negligence and incompetence CAN be malicious and callous, especially when inexcusable. And honestly...it was inexcusable today. Hoke and his coordinators are responsible for player safety, and there's no room for mistakes like that. They weren't intentionally malicious, obviously, but I don't know if anyone is really saying that anyway.
The announcers on TV were openly pleading for the coaches to take Morris out of the game, and this was at least a play before they actually did. They also heavily criticized putting Morris back out when Devin lost his helmit. Now, I know announcers are annoying and dumb sometimes, but they hardly ever openly criticize coaching decisions (or lack thereof) like that until it's completely warranted.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:23 PM ^
cmon man... Gardner motioned off many times and stayed in.... get on Hoke for the RIGHT reasons... thats he is our DL coach and not our head coach... we don't have a head coach.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^
I'm sorry but thats his fucking job. Every player will try to play and stay in the game and its up to the coaches to notice and have a fucking conscience. Shane was destroyed and should've been taking out long before he was finally removed. The last snap was just inexcusable
September 27th, 2014 at 7:57 PM ^
This is now multiple times this season he has exhibited cruel and unusual punishment on his players. Have to cut the cord now. He does not deserve to address the media as a coach after this game. If he had any honor, he would resign
September 27th, 2014 at 8:36 PM ^
Now we'll have to hear the same moronic crap after another disgusting performance. "Kids worked hard in practice." "Had strong team in the locker room." The guy is probably not even a good high school coach! In 40 years of following this team, I have never been more embarrassed. GOOD FREAKIN GRIEF!!!
September 28th, 2014 at 2:29 AM ^
I can't stand to look at that photo.
September 29th, 2014 at 12:15 AM ^
My bad. I google self immolation and used that one, since I sort of enjoy Rage Against the Machine. If it's too political or inappropriate, I apologize and I'll take my lashings for it.
September 27th, 2014 at 7:58 PM ^
the fact that he didn't see or doesn't know that shane was injured or possibly concussed is beyond delusional. what game is he watching and yes i mean watching because he does not coach. he wants to sit back and let his assistants coach. go back to the mac or mountain west. you are not an elite head coach. go be a fake coach and let a real coach show up
September 27th, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
Student safety needs to be job one, and it is clear that Hoke is not the right person to lead this team. Losing is a part of the game, but what I saw today was dishonorable and made me ashamed of my alma mater. Protect the player, Coach Hoke, and show that you have some sense of decency.
September 27th, 2014 at 8:18 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 8:26 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 8:00 PM ^
Does Hoke see anything that happens on the football field? Why is he the last person in the stadium to know what is going on?
September 27th, 2014 at 8:07 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 8:02 PM ^
September 27th, 2014 at 8:09 PM ^
Total incompetence by everyone on the sideline. He should've been out with how bad he was limping anyway, the head to head hit should've made the decision to take him out an obvious one. I don't know what point they were trying to make by leaving him in the game. It's like they didn't wanto put Gardner in because the fans were booing, they wanted to put him in on their own terms. Some bullshit like that.
September 28th, 2014 at 1:21 AM ^
In my opinion they should've taken Shane out when his leg/ankle first started bothering him, which was long before the hit and the boos. I was in the student section. The fans were only booing because they saw Shane almost fall down, but he was kept in. I don't understand how someone didn't know what had happened. I missed the hit, and I'm sure plenty of the coaches did too because it was away from the play and the angle for a lot of them would've been bad at the time. I think Shane playing it off like he was fine was a big part of the miscommunication. In the video, for example, when Shane got to the sideline, one of the coaches or staff hit him on the helmet. It really seemed like they had no idea, so I can understand their mindset. I just cannot wrap my head around the horrific lack of communication. Where were the trainers when Shane was down, staggering across the field, etc.? Why wasn't he evaluated immediately? I don't get it. I mean, even the refs acted like it wasn't a big deal. The whole thing is weird.
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