Why isn't anyone talking about Brian Lewerke's (probable) concussion?
tl;dr: Why has no one brought up https://twitter.com/TheyCallMeSnail/status/1193319972388376578 with the fervor of Shane Morris's incident?
In 2014, Michigan's Brady Hoke came under immense flak from both the fanbase of Michigan, and all of college football, for his handling of Shane Morris in the Minnesota game. After the incident, during the weekly press conference, Brady Hoke deferred to an upcoming medical statement with regards to Shane's health. People waited all day for such a report. Eventually, there was a early morning (1AM) press release (1) (2).
The responses to this were by and large negative; alumni and fans alike felt that then-athletic director Dave Brandon was attempting to sweep the entire incident under the rug. This lead to an on-campus rally to fire Dave Brandon (full disclosure: yup, that's me, being interviewed), and an active petition for the same. This did eventually lead to Dave Brandon's resignation, and eventually, Brady Hoke's firing.
It seemed something that the college football world could unite over: improper medical overlook putting a young player at risk is unacceptable. In fact, it caused an immediate change in policy at U of M in particular; the mentality shift towards better player medical care and awareness was further seen with Michigan QB Wilton Speight's injury versus Purdue in 2017.
So, let's get down to brass tacks here: there is not a single post on /r/CFB since the post-game thread on Saturday discussing Michigan State's handling of Brian Lewerke. The closest is discussing within the "Respekt Thread", in which it's revealed that Lewerke played the next down after the above Twitter-linked play, and threw an INT.
Is this because football fans overall care less about player safety than they did during Morris' time?
Is it because Michigan was an easy target due to general dislike from other fanbases, whereas Michigan State is not?
Is it because Michigan State fans do not want to host a discussion on how they handle player safety?
At the very least, we should be asking how this was allowed to happen, what will be done about it, and why Michigan State isn't talking about it.
POST-NOTE: I originally posted this as a write-up on /r/CFB. It was immediately removed. I'm looking into why.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:44 PM ^
MSU is a trash regional school that nobody gives a fuck about. That’s why.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:49 PM ^
/end thread.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:09 PM ^
They recruit nationally... in Ohio
November 11th, 2019 at 9:13 PM ^
I’m sure they accept players from juvenile detention centers all over the country.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:26 PM ^
funny you mention that. here is the latest MSU 'signing of the stars' picture. that darn sparty, always trying to imitate us but just a little different...
November 11th, 2019 at 9:29 PM ^
You put a legitimate smile on my face XM. As usual
November 11th, 2019 at 9:29 PM ^
Mass incarceration: Not a punchline.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:41 PM ^
Right. It's 2019. Literally nothing is funny anymore and everything is offensive. As decided by people under 30 still living with their parents or roommates.
November 11th, 2019 at 10:08 PM ^
If my mom’s Internet was better, I would upload a meme to make your point.
November 11th, 2019 at 10:12 PM ^
Punching down is never funny.
November 11th, 2019 at 11:55 PM ^
Maybe under 30s are living in their parents basement because your generation destroyed the economy and nobody can afford anything better.
November 12th, 2019 at 12:46 AM ^
I'm late Genx. You can't pin the economy or your lot in life on us. Talk to the boomers and the silents.
November 12th, 2019 at 12:35 AM ^
Yeah, man. People 30+ neeeeeever get offended.
November 11th, 2019 at 11:08 PM ^
Ok boomer?
I’m a Gen-Xer so I’m not sure I did that correctly. I’ll sip a bourbon with ironic detachment and accept my fate.
November 12th, 2019 at 6:31 AM ^
It doesn't matter which generation you are, as long as the person is older than you.
November 12th, 2019 at 7:31 AM ^
But... Gandalf is older than all of the Elves.
November 12th, 2019 at 8:03 AM ^
Okay, you're right. How about this?
November 12th, 2019 at 8:19 AM ^
Don’t commit crimes=don’t go to prison.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:38 PM ^
I thought it was their 2016 class, “where are they now?”
November 11th, 2019 at 11:13 PM ^
I like those uniforms better than the goofy ones they sometimes wear with the shiny helmets.
November 12th, 2019 at 1:24 AM ^
This is why you have 63k points !
November 11th, 2019 at 8:44 PM ^
Maybe they are on MSU boards. Plus I think it’s already been mentioned here. Go Blue!
November 12th, 2019 at 7:34 AM ^
Most comments on the second one are totally reasonable. Until the bottom one simply calling the concussed student athlete a douche.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:46 PM ^
At least they didn't send him to Dr. Nassar for treatment.
/s
November 11th, 2019 at 8:57 PM ^
Too soon
November 11th, 2019 at 8:48 PM ^
IBD?
I don’t know why it’s going to be deleted but evidently that’s what keeps happening to these Lewerkuncussion* threads.
*probable mild
November 11th, 2019 at 8:49 PM ^
Someone vaguely in the medical field get in here and lecture everyone on HIPPA laws. An MGoBlog tradition unlike any other.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:51 PM ^
HIPAA*
November 11th, 2019 at 8:51 PM ^
HIPHOP
November 11th, 2019 at 10:03 PM ^
HIPHOPANONYMOUS ?
November 11th, 2019 at 10:19 PM ^
I loled. Favorite line of mine.
DAMN YOU GIVE HIM THE EASY ONES
November 11th, 2019 at 8:53 PM ^
In January I'll be a hip pa
November 12th, 2019 at 5:08 AM ^
Congrats! Best things I’ve ever done. Enjoy every second!
November 11th, 2019 at 11:54 PM ^
Finally something from TheCube that I can upvote.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:02 PM ^
Obligatory copy pasta:
While we're on the subject, MGoBoard, it's HIPAA, not HIPPA.... it stands for Health Information Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA has a Privacy Rule, which contributes to the acroynm confusion.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:50 PM ^
Valenti talked about it today during his weekly meltdown regarding MSU
November 11th, 2019 at 9:40 PM ^
That clown is still on the air? I can't believe he didn't get fired a decade ago
November 11th, 2019 at 10:47 PM ^
He's actually really good at radio.
November 11th, 2019 at 11:41 PM ^
Ever listen to Sam Webb? A world of difference in professionalism, quality, charisma, respect from everyone he deals with.
November 11th, 2019 at 11:03 PM ^
Valenti's meltdown was a glorious sound to my ears, indeed. He nearly blew out his anus when a caller suggested Michigan has a better football program. I laughed for 10 minutes at his "NO SHIT" reaction.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:52 PM ^
He said it was no big deal and kept playing.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:01 PM ^
The point is that’s not a decision he should get to make. He took a knee and appeared kinda woozy for a minute. He should not have been allowed back in the game until being examined. He should not be allowed to say “I’m fine”.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:56 PM ^
Brian mentioned this on the front page today. If it hasn't been national news, it's probably because MSU is 4-5 and MSU.
November 11th, 2019 at 8:56 PM ^
I can see an argument for not allowing speculative discussions of player health, particularly with concussions. I don't think it's a good argument and people will have the discussion anyway, but at least I would understand where the moderators are coming from, should they choose to make that standard.
Still, I am a little surprised no one is talking about it, especially since (a) it was at the most visible part of the game and (b) led directly to a pick-six.
IIRC, Lewerke did come back in and go down the field on a field goal drive right after the pick, so maybe everyone is giving the coaches and doctors the benefit of the doubt that he was not concussed. However, there is no medical nor coaching staff in the country who deserves that benefit, least of all MSU.
November 11th, 2019 at 9:09 PM ^
There was no medical evaluation to assess concussion or lack thereof. He played the *next down*.
November 11th, 2019 at 10:03 PM ^
Players play the next down after getting tackled quite regularly. This is not evidence of malpractice.
Football would be really fucking stupid if you got your way.
November 11th, 2019 at 10:13 PM ^
Did you actually watch the play in question? He went limp for a second, dropping the ball after scrambling. Then he was on his hands and knees for a while. One of his lineman had time to check on him and wave over for med staff. Lewerke then slowly gets up and jogs back to the huddle. This was 100% malpractice.