University of Michigan Coach Brady Hoke Defends Use of Dazed Quarterback

— -- University of Michigan football coach Brady Hoke defended his team's handling of quarterback Shane Morris, who stayed in Saturday’s game despite appearing dazed and wobbly following a vicious hit.

"We would never ever put a guy on the field when there is a possibility with head trauma," Hoke said at a news conference today.

He added, "Guys play beat up every day."

Morris, already suffering from a leg injury in the fourth quarter of the 30-14 loss on Saturday, was steamrolled by Minnesota’s Theiren Cockran, sending the quarterback sprawling backward.

Morris flipped on the ground and grabbed his face mask. Upon standing, the quarterback appeared wobbly and shaky, leaning on a teammate for support. Despite being visibly dazed, Morris remained in the game for the next play -- and even waved off someone on the sideline, possibly signaling that he wanted to play. He returned for another play later in the quarter.

Hoke said his quarterback remained in the game "because he felt like he could still play."

Following the game, Hoke said he didn't know Morris was wobbling and he made the decision to keep Morris on the field.

“I didn’t see it,” he said. “I can only answer for me.

“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,” Hoke said today. “I would never put a kid in that situation never have and never will. You get into this to coach kids, believe me, and that’s what this game is all about.”

Hoke said only medical staff members can determine if and when an injured player can return to action. Michigan does not provide details about the health status of any of its players.

"[Morris] was evaluated by our experienced athletic trainers and team physicians, and we're confident proper medical decisions were made," Hoke said in a statement on Sunday. "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," Hoke said in a statement.

Concussions have been an ongoing focal point in football. A documentary and book released last year, both titled “League of Denial,” investigated traumatic brain injuries in the professional ranks, and retired players and the NFL faced off in court over a class-action settlement. Awareness has also shifted to the collegiate ranks. This season, two Division I football quarterbacks -- the University of Connecticut’s Casey Cochran and University of Texas QB David Ash -- called it quits after sustaining multiple concussions.

Dr. Kelley Anderson, a sports medicine physician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said it’s important for team personnel to be vigilant about concussion concerns, especially with players doing all they can to stay on the field.

“When [players] take multiple hits like that, you’ve got to watch them,” Anderson said. “So often, these athletes will minimize their symptoms.”

ESPN’s injury analyst, Stephania Bell, said the University of Michigan could have handled the situation differently, given the potential for a concussion.

“You can’t make the diagnosis purely on observation, but there were certainly elements that you saw in his behavior that raise concern,” she said.