Michigan releases response... Can't say that I'm surprised
Michigan releases a statement defending Brady Hoke's actions. "We're confident proper medical decisions were made."
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) September 29, 2014
https://twitter.com/SIPeteThamel?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.c…September 28th, 2014 at 9:17 PM ^
Hoke Stayed at a Holiday Inn Express! You can call me Dr. Hoke, the kind of doctor that you are looking for!
September 28th, 2014 at 9:18 PM ^
Please Michigan, please Hoke, tell me your definition of proper medical decisions.
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September 28th, 2014 at 9:19 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:25 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:27 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:28 PM ^
that this administration is going down swinging, I wouldn't be surprised to hear a reference to beating Ohio State on a two point conversion from them at some point.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:30 PM ^
the 900-lb elephant in the room—the hit on Shane's noggin—and instead references only the peripheral issue of his leg injury is indicative of either one of these things:
• They're still completely unaware, despite extensive video evidence, that Morris took the late hit to the head;
or
• They're damn well aware Shane was hit and that it was mishandled by the staff, and are hoping that ignoring it will result in the issue going away.
Either way, it's not a good sign.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:40 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
The NC what now?
September 28th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^
Expecting from the spin doctors at Schembechler Hall. Rather than being up front and proactive, what we get is a blatant attempt to sweep the grevious incident with Shane Morris under the rug in an ugly attempt to slither away from responsibility. I'm ashamed of my school. Brandon is not a Michigan Man in the least.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:31 PM ^
PR expert, he has done an absolutely shitty job since he has been at Michigan
September 28th, 2014 at 9:34 PM ^
WHAT. THE. FUCK.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:36 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:37 PM ^
FWIW the next time a slappie from Penn State makes tries to defend how they dealt with the Sandusky/Paterno mess point them to this thread. We're more pissed off than anybody at how this was handled by our coaching staff while they blindly rationalized every move (and non-move) St. Joe made.
THAT'S the Michigan Difference.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:42 PM ^
Yeah!
September 28th, 2014 at 9:41 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:43 PM ^
I love this program. I love the "Michigan" way. I have always been proud that I graduated from the University of Michigan. The past few years I've worn my jersey through all the losses even though I knew I would be ridiculed. I've put up with all the disappointment because our program was supposed to be above just wins and losses. We were supposed to be raising young men with pride and character, "leaders and best."
I was upset at losing to Minnesota. I was angry with the way our team didn't fight for each other. I question the leadership of this team. These are things I can get past eventually and still watch the game again next Saturday.
What happened with Morris is totally unconscionable. There is no excuse for what happened on Saturday. Hoke is fond of saying in his press conferences that if something didn't happen according to plan then that's on him and the coaches. He says he takes responsibility. What the hell does that even mean? How could he go home last night and sleep after what he did to Shane? I couldn't sleep last night after seeing what Hoke and his entire staff did to endanger the life of a young man.
I find it hard to believe that he did this intentionally, but when you look at the replays of him during the incident he looks like he wanted Shane to stay in there so that Shane could prove that he was man enough to play through his injuries. It's this "man up" philosophy that could have cost Shane Morris his life. If he were truly concussed then another tramatic injury to his brain could have killed him.
I played football for many years and coached for a few. I know this is a gladiator sport. I know there are risks to everyone that plays this game. I've seen some pretty horrific things happen on the field. I've sent hurt players back on the field to play, not injured but hurt and only after consulting with medical staff. Never, never have I seen a coach risk the life of a player until yesterday.
I can't, in all good concious, go to or watch another Michigan football game until Hoke is removed as head coach. This isn't about our record. This is an issue that's at the core of what Michigan is supposed to be about. I'm a Michigan man, but my jersey will stay hung up in my closet. Hoke is showing that even though he talks like a "Michigan" man, he is the furthest thing from it.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^
"We are full of shit and don't respect you. We also think you are stupid and fuck you. Give us your money...something something something...the Michigan Difference!"
September 28th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^
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September 28th, 2014 at 9:46 PM ^
Please, for the love of Michigan, President Schlissel, please take control.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:46 PM ^
It's hard to wrap my head and heart around this one. I think Hoke and Brandon gotta go, but I really doubt there was anything sinister in the cluster that took place. Incompetence? Yeah, Hoke has to take responsibilty for missing that but I really don't see a scandal here. Let's remember the refs didn't even see the hit. That minute and a half just seems like a microcosm of this season where the wheels have completley fallen off and nobody knows what the hell is going on. Everyone from the players to fans deserve better leadership.
Some of the reaction is ridiculous too. If this had been a game winning drive against Ohio State Morris would've been hailed as a legend and the next Brett Favre.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
"Let's remember the refs didn't even see the hit."
Have you ever watched a football game in which a coach didn't argue that he saw something the refs didnt? This means nothing.
September 28th, 2014 at 11:38 PM ^
People defending this is just mind blowing. EVEN IF Hoke didn't think Shane was concussed, the announcers were constantly saying for five minutes beforehand how Morris should be removed because he couldn't protect himself due to his limited mobility. And guess what? He gets Fing clobbered just a few plays later! The kid can barely walk, and whether it's his head or leg, you pull him! If everyone watching knows it, the announcers know it, the refs know it, and the fans know it... The coach knows it too. At worst, he acted recklessly. At best, he acted negligently. Regardless, he endangered a 19 year old kid's life. Fire him. Anyone who doesn't take action, either by boycotting games or whatever, is complicit. This "maybe he didn't know" mentality is the same kind of crap that put Roger Goodell in the situation he's in now.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
I find it highly unlikely Hoke survives the week. The incident was receiving national attention moments after it happened, and the the trend seems to be positive. If the board is this upset, odds are, the big donors are just as upset. Even the non-athletic types will be unable to sit by idly while the University is the recipient of embarrassing press. I think in the end this will not be DB's decision to make. My prediction, Hoke is dismissed by Friday, DB names Mattison the interim HC, John Harbaugh accepts a 5 year/$40 million deal and retains Mattison as DC.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^
I agree with all that you predict except that last clause. Word is that Mattison was likely out at Baltimore anyway, and our defense has only been good in the shadow of an awful offense. A defense ranked in the teens should be nothing to get excited about at Michigan - unless you accept lowering our standards.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:09 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
Brandon and Hoke both seem to believe that this will all just blow over and that they should be defiant.
This is not going to fucking blow over.
Also, fuck you David Brandon and Brady Hoke, for publicly blaming UM athletic trainers and medical staff and for considering yourself unaccountable.
September 28th, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^
UNACCEPTABLE! FIRE BRANDON AND HOKE NOW. The fanbase is rising up, finally!
September 28th, 2014 at 9:59 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 10:01 PM ^
The entire stadium saw it and booed when Morris was put back in. Those were not boos for Morris, those were for the coaches.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
The book you are working from was meant for the babies in your avatar - all visuals, no thought.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^
A DL is propelling himself like a missle towards my QB, and my peripherial vision fails me entirely as I watch the pass. As I turn back towards my QB, he is lying on the ground twitching and bringing his arms up to his face. Gosh, I wonder what happened in those two seconds.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:16 PM ^
I have to say this again, because it is mind-boggling that some of you cant accept the truth:
Look at the video tape after they put Shane back in the game. The official on the field sees that Shane is still wobbly and shouts to Hoke asking if he wants a time out due to the player being shakey. Hoke responds NO and motions to roll the clock and start the play.
This is not imaginary. It really happened. Hoke knew everything.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:32 PM ^
Cover Zero-
Can you post video of this? I think the board would like to see it. I am serious and not baiting you in any way. I was at the game, but had left to go back to my tailgate before this all went down. On top of that, I did not record the game.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:00 PM ^
At this point I refuse to step into the Big House or wear anything Michigan until these two assholes are gone. I might go up to tailgate and show off giant FIRE HOKE and FIRE BRANDON signs and whatever else I come up wtih, but that's it.
So much for the Michigan difference you two fuckheads.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:06 PM ^
I'm all for getting rid of both of them, but seriously, fans getting hysterical and writing checks they can't cash won't help things one bit.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:01 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
Huh? Almost every week he talks about how the coaches need to do better. I seriously doubt Hoke had anything to do with the release of this statement.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 10:02 PM ^
The Hoke press conference tomorrow is going to be the highest rated event on ESPN this week...
September 28th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^
When a student makes a mistake and the lies about it the first thing they're told is that the lie was worse. 'Mistakes are forgiveable, the coverup is worse than the crime." So what's the lesson here? Don't lie unless you're in trouble? Don't lie unless you're the boss? If you have power you can lie but if you don't you can't? Seriously when did "big boy football" become about avodiing responsibility and spreading any poison possible to save your own skin?
- a once proud alumnus
September 28th, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
I said there would be no response because it would only pour gas on the fire. Looks like I was only half right.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
It's the worst of both worlds.
September 28th, 2014 at 10:10 PM ^
September 28th, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^
That said, I have a couple questions.
1) If what this blog seems to believe is true is true, then could someone tell me what, if anything, the athletic department could have said without making itself liable?
2) Follow-up. What could they have said within legal limits in order to make you all happy? Short of firing Hoke on the spot, because clearly they haven't done and won't do that.
3) It's fishy that they said nothing about the hit to the head, but suppose there truly is no evidence to support the idea that Shane was concussed. How do they approach that in a way that makes you say, "Okay, hm, I guess there really wasn't a concussion!" Can they really say, "Claims of a concussion were unsubstantiated based on the evaluation of our trainers"? Would everyone suddenly stop and admit you were wrong?
4) What evidence, exactly, do we all have that Shane was concussed and not just in serious pain about his leg, causing him to stumble into Ben Braden? Braden was on Morris' left side, and Morris stumbled only when he put weight on his bad leg.
I'm honestly trying to get on the same page here. I just don't see it. I do continue to feel like we're looking for reasons why we want Hoke gone. I'm not even saying that that's not in our best interests. It very well may be in our best interests to fire Hoke. I just fail to see how a majority of the symptoms of a concussion are either internal or are speech-related. We can't really look at balance because for obvious reasons (leg), Shane was not on point.
What can be said definitively is that Hoke should have pulled Morris before this happened, and I'm surprised that no one seems to be arguing that point.
If there were a concussion--and perhaps someone this week will confirm our suspicions--then there were obvious miscues letting Shane back in the game and that incompetence should result in some kind of serious repercussion for our staff.
Admittedly, I do wonder and worry that the omission of the head hit/concussion conversation from the dept. statement implies an unwillingness to disclose their fuck up, but I think that can be relegated as suspicion only.
Until we get more info, I don't think it's reasonable to say. Right now we may very well just be stoking our own flames, and the flames lit by the ESPN announcers. Only time will tell.
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