Michigan coach Brady Hoke, still facing questions and criticism for his handling of Shane Morris’ health, said Monday that the sophomore quarterback sustained a high-ankle sprain in Saturday’s loss to Minnesota on Saturday.
Furthermore, Hoke maintained that Morris did not sustain a concussion, and that if he had suffered any kind of traumatic injury, he would err on the side of caution.
“I would never put a kid in that situation,” Hoke said. “Never have and never will.”
The health status of quarterback Shane Morris during Saturday's game has come into question. (Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports)
When asked if a concussion has been ruled out, Hoke said a statement from Michigan’s medical department regarding Morris’ health will be released later Monday.
Morris was hit by Minnesota’s Thieren Cockran and appeared wobbly as he came up from the ground and had to be steadied by teammate Ben Braden. Morris was replaced by Devin Gardner on the next snap and then returned after Gardner lost his helmet before he was removed from the game.
The play and the coaching staff’s handling of Morris following Cockran’s hit has received national attention and national scrutiny.
–LSU freshman quarterback Brandon Harris will make his first college start in Saturday’s road game against No. 5 Auburn.
LSU coach Les Miles made the announcement. Harris had been battling sophomore Anthony Jennings for the job and Harris’ performance against New Mexico State provided evidence that Harris should start. Harris was 11-for-14 for 178 yards and three touchdowns in that game.
–Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher refuted accusations of North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren, who accused the Seminoles of faking injuries in Saturday’s game in Raleigh, N.C.
“The tempo we had (in the first quarter) was working until all the crazy fall down things were going on and the clock kept stopping,” Doeren said, according to the Rocky Mountain Telegram. “You know the refs can’t do anything about that, but it’s horrible the way the tempo gets slow downed by these injuries. We went fast in the first-quarter, I guess there were no fake injuries.”
On Monday, Fisher responded by saying, according to the Orlando Sentinel, “I accuse him of not knowing what he’s talking about. We did not fake injuries, no one fakes injuries. We’ll coach Florida State, he can coach North Carolina State.”
–The NCAA and Big 12 Conference both denied Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield’s appeal for immediate eligibility, the Daily Oklahoman reported.
Mayfield was the Big 12 offensive freshman of the year last season when he played in eight games as a walk-on for Texas Tech. Despite his success on the field, Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury said Mayfield would not be granted a scholarship.
Mayfield decided to transfer to Oklahoma and was given immediate eligibility. But Texas Tech blocked Mayfield’s transfer.
