Brandon Statement On Morris Incident
This was right after the hit—at least Braden seems to be standing up to Cockran. Doesn’t look like an ankle tweak… pic.twitter.com/1GNxiBki5F
— Bryan Fuller (@FullOfTwitt) September 29, 2014
In Full:
Ultimate responsibility for the health and safety of our student-athletes resides with each team's coach and with me, as the Director of Athletics. We are committed to continuously improving our procedures to better protect the health and welfare of our student-athletes.
I have had numerous meetings beginning Sunday morning to thoroughly review the situation that occurred at Saturday's football game regarding student-athlete Shane Morris. I have met with those who were directly involved and who were responsible for managing Shane's care and determining his medical fitness for participation.
In my judgment, there was a serious lack of communication that led to confusion on the sideline. Unfortunately, this confusion created a circumstance that was not in the best interest of one of our student-athletes. I sincerely apologize for the mistakes that were made. We have to learn from this situation, and moving forward, we will make important changes so we can fully live up to our shared goal of putting student-athlete safety first.
I have worked with Darryl Conway, my associate athletic director for Student-Athlete Health and Welfare, to develop a detailed accounting of the events that occurred. Darryl is the person who oversees all athletic training personnel and serves as the liaison to the physicians we work with through the University of Michigan Health System and University Health Services.
It is important to note that our athletic trainers and physicians working with Michigan Athletics have the unchallengeable authority to remove student-athletes from the field of play. Michigan Athletics has numerous medical professionals at every football competition including certified athletic trainers and several physicians from various relevant specialties.
I, along with Darryl and our administrative and medical teams, have spent much of the last two days carefully reviewing the situation regarding Shane Morris. We now understand that, despite having the right people on the sidelines assessing our student-athletes' well being, the systems we had in place were inadequate to handle this unique and complex situation properly.
With his permission, I can share that Shane Morris suffered an ankle injury during the third quarter of Saturday's game. He was evaluated for that injury by an orthopedic surgeon and an athletic trainer several times during the game. With each of these evaluations it was determined that his ankle injury did not prevent him from playing.
In the fourth quarter, Shane took a significant hit and stumbled after getting up. From the field level and without the benefit of replays, medical and coaching staffs did not see the hit. Because they did not see the hit, the athletic training staff believed Shane stumbled because of his ankle injury. The team neurologist, watching from further down the field, also did not see the hit. However, the neurologist, with expertise in detecting signs of concussion, saw Shane stumble and determined he needed to head down the sideline to evaluate Shane.
Shane came off the field after the following play and was reassessed by the head athletic trainer for the ankle injury. Since the athletic trainer had not seen the hit to the chin and was not aware that a neurological evaluation was necessary, he cleared Shane for one additional play.
The neurologist and other team physicians were not aware that Shane was being asked to return to the field, and Shane left the bench when he heard his name called and went back into the game. Under these circumstances, a player should not be allowed to re-enter the game before being cleared by the team physician. This clearly identifies the need for improvements in our sideline and communications processes.
Following the game, a comprehensive concussion evaluation was completed and Shane has been evaluated twice since the game. As of Sunday, Shane was diagnosed with a probable, mild concussion, and a high ankle sprain. That probable concussion diagnosis was not at all clear on the field on Saturday or in the examination that was conducted post-game. Unfortunately, there was inadequate communication between our physicians and medical staff and Coach Hoke was not provided the updated diagnosis before making a public statement on Monday. This is another mistake that cannot occur again.
Going forward, we have identified two changes in our procedures that we will implement immediately:
We will have an athletic medicine professional in the press box or video booth to ensure that someone will have a bird's eye view of the on-field action, have television replay available and have the ability to communicate with medical personnel on the sidelines.
We are also examining how to reinforce our sideline communication processes and how decisions will be made in order to make sure that information regarding student-athlete availability to participate is communicated effectively amongst the medical team and to our coaches.
We have learned from this experience, and will continue to improve ways to keep our student-athletes' health and safety our number one priority.
September 30th, 2014 at 1:56 AM ^
Certain people didn't make it easy for the medical staff to do their jobs, because those certain people would have rather not known the answer.
September 30th, 2014 at 1:57 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 2:24 AM ^
good for any of the participants. Near 150 years hence and our nation has yet to fully recover from civil war.
September 30th, 2014 at 2:43 AM ^
This isn't a civil war. It is a swift and bloodless deposition of leaders who have failed in their duties to those they represent.
I am proud of our community for not standing idly by.
Brandon and Hoke aren't evil but they have made too many mistakes to remain in positions of power within our university. I think the end is nearing though where we go from their terminations or resignations will be interesting and hopefully smooth so that all factions of the university are placated.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:17 AM ^
When he is fired there will be those who will make a stink. It will be up to the next AD and coach to rectify this. To use a Bush line: You either are with us or against us. You choose.
This doesn't work so well in geopolitical situations, but for monoliths like UM it is appropriate.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:20 AM ^
Where is Hoke's support coming from at this point? After yesterday's presser, coupled with last night's statement, I see very few people lining up behind him.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:26 AM ^
Who do you think those people will be?
If they are from outside the athletic department, then let that microscopic minority yell all they want.
If they are within the athletic department, then they need to be exorcised like a fucking cancer.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:36 AM ^
Well...Brandon might be evil...
September 30th, 2014 at 10:05 AM ^
I know which part of the Country to blame.
There was a right side to the Civil War.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:23 AM ^
You might wanna sit on the next few plays
September 30th, 2014 at 7:24 AM ^
Double post
September 30th, 2014 at 8:12 AM ^
All that is left after a civil war is bitterness and a lust for retribution. What we need is a Lincoln to help us find the better angels of our nature and so we may heal the wounds of strife.
September 30th, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
he was from Illinois, and thus not a Michigan Man ...
/s
September 30th, 2014 at 9:01 AM ^
You've obviously not learned what actually happens to "the people" in a civil war. They get fucked, that's what they get.
September 30th, 2014 at 1:58 AM ^
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September 30th, 2014 at 1:59 AM ^
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September 30th, 2014 at 2:11 AM ^
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September 30th, 2014 at 2:25 AM ^
that can't be his wording, and neither would he be allowed to qualify it by saying "probable."
September 30th, 2014 at 2:19 AM ^
He really didn't have any other choice at this point but to take responsibility for whatever it is he just took responsibility for. The doctors said Shane has a concussion and the staff did not afford the doctors an opportunity to evaluate him before they put him back in the game. What else can he say? His only other option would be to state the the procedures are spot, but the staff was unwilling or unable to execute them effectively to the detriment of a student athlete. I can't imagine the legal staff would approve of that.
September 30th, 2014 at 2:40 AM ^
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September 30th, 2014 at 8:44 AM ^
Usually I would prefer to be called skeptical, but I think cynical is appropriate today.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:31 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 1:58 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 1:59 AM ^
So, Hoke's going to be fired any day now. How long can Brandon survive this?
September 30th, 2014 at 2:02 AM ^
Less than a week, you'd hope.
September 30th, 2014 at 1:59 AM ^
The PT Barnum of collegiate athletics.
September 30th, 2014 at 2:42 AM ^
My uncle refers to him all the time as PT Barnum.
September 30th, 2014 at 5:13 AM ^
"there's a sucker born every minute"?
September 30th, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^
The camel's back, has finally broken.
September 30th, 2014 at 2:00 AM ^
To wish Shane the speediest of recoveries. You have all of the Michigan fanbase wishing you the best. I hope you work with the medical staff to get back into playing shape as soon as possible, and represent the University in the manner to which you are accustomed. Go Blue!
September 30th, 2014 at 3:01 AM ^
I'm an AD with wealth and taste.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:07 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 7:47 AM ^
I will be fucking livid if Russell Bellomy isn't ready to play next Saturday.
September 30th, 2014 at 2:29 AM ^
"the systems we had in place were inadequate to handle this unique and complex situation properly."
Translation: we were totally unprepared for the exact injury that is literally the reason for a neurologist to be present.
"the neurologist, with expertise in detecting signs of concussion, saw Shane stumble and determined he needed to head down the sideline to evaluate Shane."
Translation: the neurologist was not able to make it all the way down the sideline in like the 45 seconds of time he had, and communicate to anyone the problem, for some unexplained reason.
"Following the game, a comprehensive concussion evaluation was completed and Shane has been evaluated twice since the game. As of Sunday, Shane was diagnosed with a probable, mild concussion"
Translation: Morris was diagnosed with a concussion on Saturday.
"Unfortunately, there was inadequate communication between our physicians and medical staff and Coach Hoke was not provided the updated diagnosis before making a public statement on Monday."
Translation: Hoke is dead meat, and I am willing to throw him under the bus in an effort to save my own sorry ass.
"We have learned from this experience, and will continue to improve ways to keep our student-athletes’ health and safety our number one priority."
Translation: Look, we're not malicious, we're just staggeringly incompetent!
September 30th, 2014 at 2:02 AM ^
Michigan is worse at PR than the Washington Redskins.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:08 AM ^
It's just staggering, really. The incompetance is mind blowing... and then they try to lie about it all. Fire them all, starting with Brandon.
September 30th, 2014 at 2:04 AM ^
734-764-9416
That's his direct extension. He would
Love to hear from you!
September 30th, 2014 at 2:05 AM ^
Morris looks like he's about to throw up.
"Well, ya know, he tweaked his ankle a lil' bit."
September 30th, 2014 at 2:32 AM ^
The rapid change of hormones and body chemicals due to an injury, such as a sprained ankle, can leave one feeling nauseous.
September 30th, 2014 at 3:47 AM ^
you've been saying for the last 3 days that everything is overblown because there was no concussion.
bro, there was a concussion.
let it go.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:20 AM ^
He's also been suggesting that Brian and his "ankle biting minions" are the dark overlords of the football program. Dude is a complete troll.
September 30th, 2014 at 5:07 AM ^
I've never thrown up after a sprained ankle, dude.
September 30th, 2014 at 9:49 AM ^
I have.
September 30th, 2014 at 7:05 AM ^
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September 30th, 2014 at 8:11 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 2:12 AM ^
According to the statement, the only person on the Michigan staff who had any indication Shane may have head trauma was the team neurologist, who was "further down the field" making his way to the sideline. I think this is the most incriminating part of the statement. It was 3 minutes and 31 seconds in real time in between the stumble DB referred to and the time Shane took the snap after being substituted back in for Gardner. How in God's name can a grown man not make it down the sideline in less than three and half minutes to let someone on the staff know that he should not be taking any snaps.
September 30th, 2014 at 6:13 AM ^
September 30th, 2014 at 9:04 AM ^
I am aware how long it can take to get down from the press box. However, the statement didn't say he was in the press box. It specifically said he was "further down the field" which is why I put it in quotes to show it was DB's wording not mine. "Further down the field" does not mean in the press box to me. One could interpret "come down" to meaning coming down from the press box, but given the earlier "further down the field" statement, this does not seem like a logical conclusion. Furthermore, if he were in the press box, a logical step would be to communicate with Nuss wirelessly first and then make his way down. Since Nuss purports not to have known about the hit from the press box, one must assume this didn't happen. I find it hard to believe that even if he were in the press box and saw the quarterback sustain a potential brain injury, the doctor's first instinct would not be to communicate immediately with the staff if that were available, but to instead take a 5 minute stroll from the box. Finally, if my interpretation of the statement is incorrect, and he were in the box, it would be pretty damning if the team neurologist was in the press box with no means available to him to communicate to the sideline in an emergency situation.
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