Michigan AD Admits No One Watches Their Football Games

Did you think this media storm and public outcry was just going to go away for Michigan? Dave Brandon apparently hopes it will with his statement that was released at cover your butt AM, not sure if that’s still central time or what. I would put the whole statement on here but really you can click the link to read it, besides wouldn’t it be more fun to dissect some of it together. Let’s show that either a cover up has been going on or,here’s my favorite, no one in Ann arbor really knows what the heck is going on. With the whole Brandon release we might as well and splice in some of Brady Hokes press conference too right.

Before we begin I just want to point out that in no way am I calling anyone a liar, I truly don’t believe that there is a cover up going on either. I do however believe that there is complete and utter incompetence coming out of the athletic department, the coaching staff, and medical staff but that is my own opinion.

During the Monday afternoon Brady Hoke press conference, where he was questioned like a billion times about the upcoming Rutgers game, I mean the “consussiongate”.

“The one thing I can tell you is during the process of… let me share this first. Number one, we practiced yesterday. We practiced last night and Shane Morris would have practiced were it not for a high ankle sprain, and that’s one reason I’m telling you that is because that’s what I’ve been told and a high ankle sprain, they have a new word for it that I can’t really pronounce but he would have practiced if it wasn’t for that.

I don’t know coach but either someone is throwing you under the bus or your previous concussions have made you forget that that new medical term is called a Concussion.

From Dave Brandon:

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.

Here’s my thing on these two statements. Sunday the medical staff had informed Hoke that yes Shane Morris has indeed suffered a high ankle sprain, but from the time of that conversation to the wee early morning hours of Tuesday NO ONE has informed him that the kid suffered a ” probable” concussion? Are you kidding me what kind of outfit are you running up there? You are suppose to be the University of Michigan on the forefront of concussion research and prevention.

You mean to tell me you got it right in 2008 when you took Denard Robinson’s helmet and wouldn’t let him play, Tate Forcier had to play in the third quarter and onto multiple overtimes? You mean to tell me that being on the forefront, having helped so many programs across the country set up guidelines and protocols about concussions, that after the Concussion-Gate that the Cleveland Browns went through certain things never crossed anyone’s minds in Ann Arbor?

More from Brandon:

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

So why wasn’t this done across the NCAA after the Browns incident in the first place? The NFL changing their concussion protocols? Remember you are U of M and are on the forefront of these things.

More from Brandon:

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.

Not to make light of the situation here but your telling me that NO ONE on that sideline had seen that hit or that young man stumble and being held up? Yeah why would you I would be watching on my phone the big ten network to see a real team move the football up and down the field too. I guess that even everyone on the sideline wasn’t into the game and you trying to sell this to your fan base?
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