Unconfirmed Report: Speight broke a vertebra
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
I'm no physician, but I do know that a "vertebra" is one of 33 bones of the spinal column, going all the way from cervical (neck) to coccygeal (tail bone, in nonscientific terms). From the looks of the replay, Wilton's injury, if the report is accurate, probably involved cervical vertebrae.
That the report used the plural "vertebrae" could indicate that multiple vertebrae were fractured or that the reporter just parroted what he/she heard, without knowing the difference between the singular and plural forms. Bottom line is that we need to await an official announcement of Wilton's current condition and prognosis. Stay tuned.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:35 AM ^
Just so peope are aware (fully aware), you can break vertebrae but not be at any risk for a spinal cord injury. The vertebral bodies have the spiny part that you can see and feel on your back and those are what were most likely fractured. Yes they are fractures, yes they signal trauma to the spine, but they will heal and he'll be ok. I don't know if that's what he fractured but it's the most likely spot given the way he was hit (neck flexed, giant man jumping on his back).
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:01 AM ^
I would NOT guess compression fracture. Compression fracture in the cervical spine would be unusual especially with this mechanism of trauma. Also compression fractures of the C-spine would be extremely serious. Again, most likely spinous process fx. I'm also a doctor. I also slept at a Holiday Inn last night, so I have 2 things going for me here.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^
I am not talking about C-spine either. The way he got folded I would guess something closer to a mid or distal thoracic injury. His neck should only bend so far until his facemask pressing against his chest plate prevents extreme flexion. The T-spine and superior L-spine however do not have any resistance to a large man folding you in half while in a sitting upright position.
+2 for your background and choice of hotel. I love the diversity and experience of posters on this blog.
October 2nd, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
If Speight broke his neck and absoluteley no cervical spine precautions took place following traumatic injury the onsite medical staff has some serious explaining to do.
A spinous process fx should be diagnosed upon inital x-ray, yet Harbaugh claimed soft tissue inury after the game. If this is the case do you think Harbaugh didn't want to leak the severity of the news?
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:58 AM ^
hit put him in a hyper flexion position and usually fractures of the spine with that are a fracture of spinous process in the cervical spine which is the part you can feel on back of your neck which would not result in any spinal cord or nerve trauma, just pain and he would most likely be out for 8-10 weeks. Or he could have a small hair line fracture in the vertebra which would be a compression type fracture give how a 300 lb guy hit him thats very likely too and would need be in a neck brace for a few weeks and def out for the season.
And im a doctor
October 2nd, 2017 at 12:26 PM ^
Great insight!
Given how it was called a "soft tissue" injury at first I would assume there was no obvious fracture from inital x-ray. So CT or MRI would follow up. These are much better for diagnosing disc, compression, or as you mentioned hairline fracture injuries. This, the lack of c-spine precautions post injury, and the mechanism of injury is why I'd guess compression fx of the thoracic spine.
Just so people don't think I'm completely talking out of my ass, I'm a CT/Rad tech.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:38 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^
While what you say is true, umbig11 is the insiderest of insiders - what he says is 98% true and accurate, as proven through time immortal. If he says it, it's almost as good as Harbaugh himself saying it, and just a little better than Counterstike Guy.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:45 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:02 AM ^
Linking to a Diehard Sports post that references this here blog. Why not just cite Umbig11 and say it deserves its own thread? Cut out the middle man.
October 2nd, 2017 at 12:02 PM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 12:20 PM ^
I'd hope that he realizes that this is no longer about gamesmanship, but making a point about player safety. Speight got headhunted by a dirty team whose coach doesn't have a problem with it. This guy isn't going to play again this season. What's the point in being secretive when it can actually change things for the better?
In other words, if Harbaugh is actually serious about good, safe football, he'll do the right thing here.
October 2nd, 2017 at 9:56 AM ^
I hope the staff is abundantly clear about what it in fact ends up being--make the consequences known in sobering detail, use it as an argument for safer football and better officiating/accountability for officials. This was nasty, and went nowhere with the powers that be.
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October 2nd, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:05 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:09 AM ^
I doubt it, pretty sure he redshirted his freshman year due to his place on the depth chart and not for any injury. Next year will probably be his last year, hoping he can make a full recovery for it.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:15 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
Medical redshirts are applicable for one season-ending injury, also. 6th years are different and are only supposed to be available to players who have missed two seasons to injuries.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:17 AM ^
Our insurance policy at QB has now been exhausted. Michigan is both fortunate and unfortunate - fortunate that losing your initial starting QB doesn't automatically spell doom for the season...unfortunate, because obviously losing your starting QB hurts, no matter how good or bad he was playing prior to injury.
I hope Speight makes a full recovery. It really rankles that we lose him because of a late, borderline dirty and preventable hit (Brian doesn't seem to think so, but I disagree with him here...there's no need for that Purdue player to jump on Speight like that when he was clearly going down already by that point. And he certainly made no effort to avoid the QB.).
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:21 AM ^
My only reservation is the talent may be there, but I feel way less confident about our chances in big games going in with a freshman QB. O'Korn has already shown some moxie on the road...don't know how he'll handle the PSU game, but I still feel we have a good shot at the upset (I do think we lose that one though)
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:26 AM ^
"...ready..." That is a term that would loosely define Mr. Malzone... He hasn't even been able to sniff PT during the Spring Game, so lets pray that JOK and Peters both remain as healthy as an ox!
But if, for any reason, Alex gets some PT, I'll cheer my ass off for him! Not only for the team, but for him personally! I have a lot of respect for the kids that know they aren't going to play but stick it out, anyway.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:36 AM ^
about Speight you should probably check out the link people have posted regarding umbig11's update yesterday. He also says Peters isn't ready and don't get your hopes up for him in 2017.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:18 AM ^
The fact that the kid clearly belly flopped right onto Speight's neck / back. Intentionally holding his hands out to let the brunt of his weight fall onto him.........
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:20 AM ^
Guy has been nothing but a consummate teammate and leader. Prayers are with you, young man.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:23 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:43 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:50 AM ^
Let's not assume that there's "nothing behind" O'Korn. Battlefield promotions sometimes work out OK - witness Matt Gutierrez going down with a torn labrum in 2004, which saw the revelation of Chad Henne.
I'm not saying that O'Korn doesn't need to continue to produce (I think he will, given Harbaugh's track record with QBs) or that he doesn't need to stay healthy. But Peters may well rise to the occasion if called into service.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:14 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
We both hope you're wrong!
I understand that Peters has had some issues (IIRC, including command of the huddle), but my hope is that being at games has given him a better sense of what's required at this level. The odds are that he isn't ready yet even now - I'm just loath to see him written off (for this season) without any in-game evidence to support that conclusion.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:47 AM ^
Sure. That would be great. My only point is that people have been crapping on Speight all season and hoping he'd be replaced by O'Korn or Peters. Well, maybe now we'll see if that is a good thing or not.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:20 AM ^
It was espoused on this very board a few days ago that Henne had beaten out Gutierrez and the torn labrum was a bit overblown and a convienent face saving excuse. If true, it may not actually be an example of a "battlefield promotion."
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:31 AM ^
Yeah, I never bought Gutierrez was all that injured. I'm sure he was dinged, but Henne looked like the better QB and, as their careers bore out, probably should have started but Carr was certainly not all that comfortable starting a true freshman.
October 2nd, 2017 at 12:44 PM ^
It's not that there's nothing behind him. There is plenty of talent behind him. But neither Peters nor McCaffery have ever taken a meaningful snap in college. McCaffery has never taken a collegiate snap period.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:48 AM ^
When you allow a 300 pound man to jump on your neck and back while you're in a seated position...forcing your chin into your chest and your forehead into your lap...these things can happen.
Fuck Purdue. Those refs for not calling anything. That coach for condoning it.
I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure spinal injuries are pretty bad. I'm pretty sure there's a lot of important "stufff" back there that you don't want damaged. I'm 100% sure this could've been avoided.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
Get well soon Wilton and come back strong. This injury reminded me of the Tony Romo back fracture last preseason when a defender landed on top of him and compressed his back. Let's hope JOK can be our Dak Prescott.
October 2nd, 2017 at 10:53 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:04 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:02 AM ^
As tuned in as this place is, there is a part of me that approached blogs citing other blogs very carefully and admittedly with some trepidation. Still, if this is indeed the injury that he sustained, then hopefully his recovery is full and speedy and I do agree with others, that hit on Speight was totally unnecessary and Jeff Brohm can eat shit if he disagrees.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:08 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:11 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:12 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:15 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:15 AM ^
The Purdue player who took the cheap shot on Wilton should be suspended for the year. If he plays vs. Michigan next year, his ACL needs to be popped. It was a horrible cheap shot on a defensless player. The game was filled with those.
To hell with Jeff Brom too.
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:21 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:25 AM ^
October 2nd, 2017 at 11:48 AM ^