PSU's Bolden "In Picture for Michigan Game"

Submitted by e.go.blue on

According to David Jones of The Patriot-News

Penn State freshman starting quarterback Rob Bolden has passed his Wednesday test intended to determine whether he is over effects from an apparent concussion suffered on Saturday at Minnesota.

Also:

"We're not completely sure how things go from here," said Mr. Bolden. "But he did pass."

Apparently this doesn't necessarily mean he's going to play. Joe Pa left the door open on Monday when he said his participation in Saturday's game was dependent on the outcome of this test. Regardless, best of luck to Rob in his recovery...brain injuries are scary, especially considering how little we know about them.

Big Boutros

October 27th, 2010 at 9:43 PM ^

I would hope he doesn't play for the obvious reason that I am a Michigan fan and he is their best option at quarterback, but more importantly, because an 18-year-old should not have 300 pound beastmen landing on his head seven days after suffering a swollen brain, positive test results notwithstanding.

MGolem

October 27th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^

Is way dustier than it is hot. Like Boutros says risking the well-being of this kid, a likely 4 year starter is unwise. Our own Mike Williams is proof that concussions can be career threatening and should not be taken lightly.

jmblue

October 27th, 2010 at 10:08 PM ^

I assume he'll play.  Whether that's the right thing to do, I don't know, but they'll find some way to get him out there.  I'm sure Bolden is dying to play his home-state school, especially when he won't get the chance in 2011 or 2012.

switch26

October 27th, 2010 at 10:04 PM ^

somewhat reminds me of the tebow concussion against Kentucky last year..  Not as severe, but i still don't think he should play necessarily

bronxblue

October 27th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^

This feels like a bit of gamemanship on the part of Joe Pa.  I'm sure Bolden will be on the sidelines come Saturday, but I highly doubt he'll be the starter. Just too much to lose by having him go out there and get rattled early on.

MGoRob

October 27th, 2010 at 11:07 PM ^

Another source taken from Black Shoe Diaries blogpage says Bolden failed his test on Sunday.  Quick turn around to pass the test on Wednesday, but does that really give him enough time to be prepared for gameday?  We'll see

http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/543658/PSU-s-Bolden…

Neither Joe Paterno nor Penn State would confirm the concussion diagnosis Tuesday, but a source close to the program confirmed to the Mirror that Bolden failed his follow-up concussion test Sunday.

UMdad

October 28th, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^

I don't know what those tests are exactly, but I just had an image of a guy failing his driving test multiple times, getting lucky once and passing by a single question, and them giving him his license, saying "now your are a good driver," and sending him out the door with a pat on the butt.  I hope they are going by more than one passed test.

Tater

October 27th, 2010 at 11:26 PM ^

And I'll raise:

I think football on all levels, including the NFL, should have a mandatory no contact period after a concussion, and it should be more than a week.  The macho nature of football makes everyone from coaches to team doctors to players try to get the player back on the field as soon as humanly possible.  It's time to make the player's safety the first consideration.

Enough research has been done into concussions that a fairly accurate scale of when it is truly safe to get back on the field could be made without a lot of trouble.  I would have neurosurgeons working on it and ask this to be the main criterion when making the scale:

"If it was your son, when would you consider it safe for him to be back on the field?"

tpilews

October 27th, 2010 at 11:33 PM ^

I disagree. Having a mandatory "no contact period" is paramount to a punishment to these kids. Having a rule like that will likely lead to guys not disclosing they had a concussion and making the situation even worse. What really needs to happen in these situations is for adults to act like adults and keep the best interest of the kid in mind, no pun intended. If Bolden plays on Satuday and has another concussion, he's likely done for the season. If it was Denard, I'd hope RR would hold him out.

RONick

October 27th, 2010 at 11:31 PM ^

I completely agree. However, doesn't this raise the chances that coaches would try to keep it hush hush if a player has a concussion? I suppose the rule would be more helpful than harmful, but it could also lead to players being forced into playing sooner because a coach (or themselves, if you understand the mentality of most athletes).

BlueGoM

October 28th, 2010 at 3:06 AM ^

I assume that passing these tests means he's recovered from the concussion?  I guess the real question is what exactly do these post-concussion tests, test?  To see if he's symptom free or to see if he's ok to play?  Not necessarily the same IMO.

In either event I think Michigan needs to worry more about making sure they stop the run first and foremost.  No long runs this wk, plz.

ijohnb

October 28th, 2010 at 8:44 AM ^

PSU is sure going out of their way to make this a Willis Reed like scenario.  Just put out a blanket release saying that "our semi-OK non-difference making quarterback may or may not play, but really who cares" and be done with it.

Crime Reporter

October 28th, 2010 at 10:03 AM ^

Whether or not it is the right decision remains to be seen. That being said, if we take care of the football and overcome the early rowdy stadium atmosphere, we should cruise to victory. Still, I'm nervous.

WolvinLA2

October 28th, 2010 at 12:19 PM ^

I know the thought of playing against a walk-on at QB is desirable, playing against a recently concussed true freshmen isn't exactly scary.  Especially one who spent most of the week firguring out if his head was screwed on straight rather than practicing.  And especially one who wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire before his concussion. 

No doubt his preparation will be lacking for this game, no doubt his accuracy will be a little off (more so than normal), and no doubt he'll get rid of the ball earlier than he wants to this week when he hears foot steps. 

Also, I'm not advocating dirty play at all, but I think we should blitz the hell out of him.  If he's healthy enough to play, he's healthy enough to get sacked, and I say we go after him. 

WeaponX

October 28th, 2010 at 2:45 PM ^

I mostly agree with this, other than the fact that our defense manages to make me scared of ANY quarterback, concussed or walk-on or otherwise. 

That being said, I'm less scared of all of PSU qb's than I have been of the last three we have faced.  Of course, I wasn't very scared of UMass's qbs...

So...I guess I'm saying I'm pretty scared, but not AS scared as I could be.

Definitely nothing wrong with going after whatever quarterback a football team puts in pads and a helmet and marches out onto a football field.

Blue_Sox

October 28th, 2010 at 3:36 PM ^

Also confirmed by Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette on his Twitter page. 

"As I have been reporting all week, former walk-on Matt McGloin will get his first career start Saturday vs. Michigan. A source confirmed it today. 

rmusselmanppg via UberTwitter"

 

(can't figure out those block quotes still)