There was a strange flurry of events in Saturday's game between Michigan and Minnesota, all centered on the mental faculties of Wolverines quarterback Shane Morris.
Morris was visibly injured on a play in the early fourth quarter. He took a hit directly under the chin after throwing an incomplete pass and afterwards seemed dazed and wobbly.
He even slumped into one of his lineman like a drunk passing out at the end of the bar.
Michigan head coach Brady Hoke left him in the game for another play before taking him off the field and replacing him with Devin Gardner. Unfortunately, Gardner lost his helmet on a play shortly thereafter, and somehow Morris was allowed to sub back into the game.
A troubling series of events for a sport that in recent years has developed protocols for just such an occasion amid increasing sensitivity to the issue of concussions and brain injuries.
Possibly more troubling, though, were Hoke's post-game comments on the situation.
"I don't know if he had a concussion or not, I don't know that. Shane's a pretty competitive, tough kid. And Shane wanted to be the quarterback, and so, believe me, if he didn't want to be he would've come to the sideline or stayed down."
In a game that glorifies toughness and the ability to stay standing despite taking a vicious beating, these athletes are rarely - if ever - going to voluntarily remove themselves from a game. Especially when they know that the guy waiting in the wings is all too eager to take their starting spot.
In light of that, Hoke's comments make him seem woefully out of touch and willfully unaware. He completely ignores the fact that the team and its medical staff is meant to have a process in place to keep players from staying on, or returning to, the field should they suffer a head injury.
In a stadium full of cameras, with a sideline full of coaches and players and Hoke no doubt focusing - like any football coach would - on his team, it's almost laughable for him to suggest that he didn't see Morris get hurt, or subsequently stumble around generally like a concussed person.
But that's exactly what Hoke claimed happened.
Morris is no doubt a tough kid trying to keep his spot and Hoke is a coach fighting for his professional life. But all of that aside, there are bound to be ramifications for this incident.
On Sunday, Hoke released a statement via the school:
"The safety of our student-athletes is always our top priority. We generally never discuss the specifics of a student-athlete's medical care, but Shane Morris was removed from yesterday's game against Minnesota after further aggravating an injury to his leg that he sustained earlier in the contest. He was evaluated by our experienced athletic trainers and team physicians, and we're confident proper medical decisions were made. The University of Michigan has a distinguished group of Certified Athletic Trainers and team physicians who are responsible for determining whether or not a player is physically able to play. Our coaches have no influence or authority to make determinations if or when an injured player returns to competition. The health and welfare of our student-athletes is and will continue to be a top priority."
Leg injury indeed...
