Lost amidst the tumult of the Shane Morris saga is the player himself.
The Michigan quarterback is at the epicenter of what’s become a national debate over concussion protocols -- and the continued viability of Brady Hoke and Dave Brandon as UM’s head coach and athletic director, respectively -- after his apparently concussed self was reinserted into the Minnesota game last Saturday. At least according to his coach, the player is doing just fine both physically and mentally.
“He’s doing great, he’s doing wonderful,” Hoke said on his radio show Wednesday night by way of mlive.com. “I don’t like to talk about injuries, but from a health point of view he’s doing great.
“Attitude-wise he’s fantastic.”
That said, Hoke laments what’s happening to Morris and those close to him on at least one front.
“I felt bad and do feel bad that Shane had to deal with some things,” Hoke added. “People calling his home, wanting to talk to his parents. All that bull.
“That’s not the right way to do things.”
Morris has not yet commented publicly since the debacle this past Saturday. On Twitter Tuesday, however, he let his feelings be known.
I just want to play football.
— Shane Morris (@ShaneMorris_7) September 30, 2014
In addition to the concussion, Morris also suffered a high-ankle sprain in the loss to the Gophers. How long he’ll be sidelined is unknown, although the ankle issue is one that can linger for weeks if not months depending on the severity.
The injuries came in Morris’ first regular-season start. Hoke had previously announced that Devin Gardner would return to the starting lineup against Rutgers Saturday.
