ANN ARBOR, Mich. – When quarterback Shane Morris limped to the line of scrimmage in the arms of offensive lineman Ben Braden toward the end of Saturday's Michigan-Minnesota game, he did so to a loud chorus of boos from fans frustrated by the determined stubbornness of head coach Brady Hoke.
A hit on the previous play sent Morris wobbling across the field, clearly in no condition to continue. However, he came back for one more play when senior quarterback Devin Gardner's helmet came off. Morris took the snap, handed the ball to the running back and went back to the sideline; but the point is that he returned even though we later found out he shouldn't have.
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Hoke was bashed for leaving Morris in the game, for leaving the decision to medical personnel, and for leaving the game without explaining his decision. But in the wee hours of Tuesday morning we heard from another important player--Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon--who finally issued a public statement around 1:00 a.m.
It's strange that Brandon let Hoke take the podium Monday morning to answer questions about Morris without making absolutely sure his head coach knew the most important news of the day: Michigan let the sophomore quarterback continue playing with a "probable, minor concussion."
"Unfortunately, there was inadequate communication between our physicians and medical staff and Coach Hoke was not provided the updated diagnosis before making a public statement on Monday," Brandon said in his statement.
How, then, was Hoke informed that "the medical staff will release a statement later in the day," a sentence he hid behind throughout his press conference?
It's hard not to feel a little sympathetic toward Hoke, who was thrown in front of a skeptical media without the necessary information to properly answer the question he and the university knew would be asked.
The simple fact is that Hoke had to find out about the pending medical statement from somebody, and that somebody also should have told him about the concussion results. Brandon, who is ultimately responsible for everything that happens within the Michigan Athletic Department, is ultimately responsible for ensuring his coach gets that information from athletic department doctors.
According to Hoke, he and Brandon had not spoken between Saturday's game and Monday's news conference. When asked if Morris suffered a concussion Monday, Hoke answered "everything that I know of, no."
Brandon's late-night statement begs an obvious follow-up question: "Why didn't Hoke know?"
If this was a miscommunication, Brandon could have quickly corrected the mistake by addressing the media immediately after hearing Hoke, who Brandon must have known was not saying things that were incorrect. Instead, Brandon waited a full 12 hours before releasing his explanation to the masses.
But that statement failed to answer a few crucial questions.
When Brandon learned of the test results, shouldn't his first call been to Hoke? He's the coach of the team, and he makes the decision on whether Morris will practice based on the severity of his injury.
It's impossible to guess what was going on around Brandon, but it might have been just the latest example of how this athletic director has struggled since taking over at Michigan.
Small Steps Forward, One Big Leap Backward
Brandon arrived in the athletic department with a reputation as an accomplished businessman. He was hired at Michigan to make money for the Athletic Department and improve the school's facilities, and he has excelled beyond all expectations.
The football stadium has seen incredible changes to the press boxes and concourse, and even more dramatic renovations have transformed the Crisler Center. What used to be a dark and rocky interior has turned into an arena with a top-notch practice facility and beautiful concourse, complete with Block M waterfall.
Brandon also developed the waiting list for tickets that required fans to make a $500 donation to the Athletic Department in exchange for the right to buy season tickets. He even made money fron the seat cushions placed around the Big House, which fans can purchase for the fair price of $49 per season. When the team played only six home games in 2012, the price of student season tickets increased; not because Brandon was being unfair, but because he knew the students would still buy them.
Brandon has also been central to the evolution of smaller sports at the University of Michigan. Those who walk up State Street will notice a new, fully-functional field hockey field south of Yost Ice Arena. He also offered those athletes free admission into sporting events like football games as an award for their hard work as student athletes.
And while that is great, Michigan has never been about having the best basketball arena or field hockey stadium. The school's athletic tradition is rooted in a winning football programs that does things the right way. Winning went out the window in 2008, and on Saturday, so did doing things the right way.
Shane Morris was the poster boy for Michigan football's revival when he was recruited. He represented the pocket passer with a huge arm that could bring back the pro-style offense responsible for Michigan's Big Ten Championships under coach Lloyd Carr.
Morris was hailed as the athlete and leader Michigan needed to return to its previous glory, but on Saturday he was treated like a rag doll.
Bigger Than Hoke
Hoke has been under fire for the football team's performance over the past two and a half seasons. His four- and five-star recruits have been consistently embarrassed by former two- and three-star recruits on the field. His team snapped a 30-year shutout streak during the final battle with longtime rival Notre Dame. On Saturday Michigan lost its third game in September for the first time in school history.
Yes, the head football coach deserves the criticism that comes with his position, but Hoke should not be accused of not caring about his players. Right or wrong, Hoke has always defended his players and his university, even when it brought all the heat down on him.
Brandon has created this new culture of Michigan athletics. He celebrates success in the past without showing any sign of any such success in the future, or commitment to the values that made Michigan great.
The jerseys of former great players are labeled as "legends," but who has played for the team in the last decade will such an honor in 20 years? Will Denard Robinson, who was a leader and electric playmaker, but never even won a Big Ten title, go down as a Michigan "legend"?
The incident with Morris may have exposed Hoke's ineptitude as the Michigan coach, but more importantly it also exposed broken football program. Where once Michigan was the "leaders and best," it is now a laughingstock and national punching bag.
Perhaps Brandon will learn from his mistakes and make the changes necessary to improve the state of Michigan football, but until then the Wolverines will continue to lose, attendance will continue to fall, and those traditions we celebrate will fade deeper into the past.