NCAA Football FanHouse

Cal's Jahvid Best Diagnosed With Concussion After Scary Fall

Brian Grummell — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:55:00 EST

Filed under: California, Oregon State, Injuries

Cal's electric tailback Jahvid Best, once a Heisman Trophy candidate was diagnosed with a concussion after taking a serious spill against Oregon State Saturday night. Midway through the second quarter, Best rose high into the air to hurdle Oregon State safety Cameron Collins on the way to a touchdown, but fell onto his back and neck and was left immobile from the play.

Best's helmet flew off from the impact with the ground and his arms immediately went stiff.

The running back was carted off the field on a stretcher and transported to a local emergency room for observation. According to Cal spokesman Herb Benenson, Best had feeling in all his extremities but suffered a concussion.

Best suffered what the team called a "mild concussion" last week against Arizona.

But coach Jeff Tedford said all other tests were negative.

"He's in good shape," Tedford told the media.

Video of the play after the jump.

Best's score with 6:07 left in the second quarter cut the Oregon State lead to 14-7, but the Beavers would hold on for a 31-14 lead.

Best, a junior, has rushed for 838 yards and 11 touchdowns this season.

This was the second violent impact Best has been involved with. Maryland's Kevin Barnes leveled a brutal hit on Best last season that forced the tailback to vomit on the field.

Cal's Jahvid Best Diagnosed With Concussion After Scary Fall originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iowa's Ricky Stanzi Out With Injury as Hawkeyes Lose

Mark Hasty — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa, Injuries

Breathe easier, America: the Iowa Hawkeyes' luck finally ran out. Quarterback Ricky Stanzi was injured just before halftime of today's 17-10 loss to Northwestern in Iowa City. Stanzi was tackled in his own end zone by Northwestern's Corey Wootton. He sprained his right ankle and fumbled the ball. Northwestern recovered the fumble for a touchdown.

Stanzi did not return to the game. Redshirt freshman James Vandenberg, who holds most of the state of Iowa's high school passing records, replaced him. Vandenberg's first pass was intercepted by the Wildcats.

ESPN cameras showed Stanzi on crutches and in a protective boot during the second half.

Both teams had quarterback trouble. Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa left the game with a hand injury. Mike Kafka came in but was clearly still nursing a hamstring injury from last week.

Vandenberg finished 9-of-27 for 81 yards with one interception. He showed promise but frequently overthrew or underthrew open receivers. The Hawkeyes travel to Columbus to face the Buckeyes next week in a game they will have to win to keep their Big Ten title hopes alive.

Iowa's Ricky Stanzi Out With Injury as Hawkeyes Lose originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iowa State's Arnaud Set to Return

Terrance Harris — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:18:00 EST

Filed under: Iowa State, Big 12, Injuries

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads says junior quarterback Austen Arnaud is ready to return to the Cyclones starting lineup this week when they take on Oklahoma State.

Arnaud, a two-year starter for the Cyclones, has been sidelined the last weeks with a bruised throwing hand. He was injured during the Oct. 17 win over Baylor.

Rhoads says Arnaud was close to returning to the lineup last Saturday at Texas A&M but that his velocity just wasn't there so he stuck with redshirt freshman Jerome Tiller for one more week.

"He was awfully close Saturday, but there was just enough velocity that was off that he would not have been a good position to help us win the football game," Rhoads said during Monday's Big 12 football teleconference. "Jerome threw two interceptions, he threw both balls pretty good and A&M's speed was able to capitalize and still make interceptions. Austen didn't even have that much on the ball.

"But (Arnaud) was much further along and he will start against Oklahoma State."

In his absence Tiller performed well enough to lead the Iowa State Cyclones to a 1-1 record in two weeks, which included an upset of Nebraska on Oct. 24. ISU, however, is coming off a 35-10 loss at A&M on Saturday.

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Florida linebacker Brandon Spikes, center, celebrates with his teammates after intercepting a pass and scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter during a NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009 in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

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Central Florida running back Brynn Harvey (34) celebrates as Marshall offensive lineman C.J. Wood (75) walks off the field after Central Florida won in the closing moments, 21-20, in an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Marshall cornerback DeQuan Bembry (17) breaks up a pass intended for Central Florida wide receiver Kamar Aiken during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. Central Florida won 21-20. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Central Florida wide receiver Kamar Aiken, center, is stopped at the 1-yard line by Marshall defensive end Albert McClellan (96) and cornerback DeQuan Bembry (17) during the final seconds of an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. Central Florida scored a touchdown on the next play and won 21-20. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Central Florida quarterback Brett Hodges (11) scrambles with the ball as he is chased by Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry, right, during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. Central Florida won 21-20. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Central Florida head coach George O'Leary talks to quarterback Brett Hodges, left, and other players as the Knights faced Marshall at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2009. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

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Central Florida running back Jonathan Davis runs the ball against Marshall at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2009. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

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Central Florida quarterback Brett Hodges is sacked by Marshall defensive tackle Delvin Johnson during a college football game at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2009. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

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Central Florida Adam Nissley hauls in a pass in front of Marshall defensive back Omar Brown during a college football game at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2009. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

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Central Florida cornerback Josh Robinson (20) intercepts a pass against Marshall in the end zone beside teammate Kemal Ishmael (18) during a college football game at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, November 1, 2009. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/MCT)

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Rhoads said Arnaud returned to practice Sunday and he expects him to practice every day this week leading up to the matchup against the Cowboys.

"We still kept him out quite a bit last week," said Rhoads, who's team is in second place in the Big 12 North standings with a 5-3, 2-2 conference record. "The main issue has been his grip on the ball and we did not want the swelling to flair back up by over practicing so we tried to go into Saturday and see what he could do. The swelling is all gone now and he's grasping the ball fine, we expect him to practice through a normal routine this week."

Iowa State's Arnaud Set to Return originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bradford Calls Off Press Conference to Address Injury, Future

Terrance Harris — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Big 12, Injuries, Heisman

It's the great mystery in Norman, Okla., right now.

Is quarterback Sam Bradford's career over at Oklahoma? Will the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner opt for surgery to repair the sprained AC joint in his right shoulder? Could he play again this season or next?

Those are all burning questions that Sam Bradford was supposed to address following Wednesday's Oklahoma Sooners practice, but he called off a scheduled press conference. Oklahoma associate athletic director for media relations Kenny Mossman told FanHouse that Bradford wants to gather more information. There is no rescheduled date set and that Bob Stoops will not be taking any questions on Bradford after practice.

Speculation is rampant Bradford, a junior, will elect to have season-ending surgery. His decision to call off the press conference seems to support that theory.

What this all means for his OU career is very much up in the air. Coming into the season, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Bradford would leave early for the NFL following this season after turning down a chance to be an early first-round selection in last spring's NFL draft.

The injury and the need to prove to NFL brass he's fully healed after surgery may force Bradford to come back to school for another season to re-elevate his stock.

Bradford originally injured the shoulder during the season-opening loss to BYU. He missed the next three Sooner games while rehabbing the injury and consulting with a specialist in Alabama. He returned to the playing field two weeks ago against Baylor, but last week was knocked out of the game when the shoulder was re-injured during the second offensive series of the Red River Rivalry against Texas.

Stoops said earlier this week that there was no further damage done to Bradford's shoulder but expected to make an announcement about his future at some point this week. Bradford has been ruled out of playing in Saturday's game at Kansas since Monday.

It seems to make sense Bradford will opt to have the surgery to repair the shoulder because the 3-3 Sooners are definitely out of the BCS national championship picture and are even in an uphill battle to win their fourth straight Big 12 title. One of the reasons Bradford returned to school this year after getting beat by Florida in last season's national championship game was to help OU take home the national title.

Bradford Calls Off Press Conference to Address Injury, Future originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stoops Silent on Bradford's Future

Terrance Harris — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:12:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Big 12, Injuries, Heisman

Whether or not Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford returns to the Sooners this season, or if he has indeed played his last college game, seems to be anybody's guess.

The only thing that was certain Monday is no decision has been made on the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner or his injured right shoulder aside from the fact he will not play in Saturday's game at Kansas. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said during the Big 12 coaches' conference call Monday the medical team was still in the fact-finding mode after Bradford reinjured the shoulder Saturday. He suffered a third-degree sprain of the AC Joint during the season opener.

Other than that, the Oklahoma Sooners coach had little to say about his quarterback's status.

"They will have a lot for the doctors to look at and visit with here in the next day or two," Stoops said. "I'm not going to have anything to say until at least Wednesday."

Bradford was knocked out of Saturday's 16-13 loss to No.3 Texas during the second offensive series of the first quarter when got hit hard on a corner blitz. Some reports Sunday said tests have shown no additional damage to the shoulder, though that is unconfirmed. So far this season, Bradford has played in just one complete game for the 3-3 Sooners.

But Stoops, whose team has also been hit hard with injuries to All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham and star receiver Ryan Broyles, wasn't in any mood Monday to feel sorry for himself or the tough luck the Sooners have had so far this season.

Oklahoma came into the season as a top three team with an eye toward returning to the BCS national championship season, but after suffering their third overall loss and a key defeat to Big 12 South foe Texas even a fourth straight conference title seems in doubt.

The Sooners have lost the three games by a total of just five points.

"There are challenges, of course. Injuries are still an issue," Stoops said. "But I still feel we obviously played a great football team in Texas the other night and we are there with them toe-to-toe until the end.

"It's easy to see like any other one-point losses, we can be better in a play or two on either side of the ball. In certain circumstances we could be and we have an opportunity to be in a lot better situation. So it isn't like we aren't competing, it isn't like we are out of it. So their confidence level, they see they are not far off in making a play or two to be with these other teams that are ranked really high."

Stoops also cautioned against any notion the 25th-ranked Sooners are out contention for the Big 12 title. The Sooners lost to UT during last year's Red River Rivalry, yet they still ended up representing the South division in the Big 12 championship game after finishing out the remainder of the regular-season schedule undefeated.

Pulling off another similar run might prove difficult against a slate that includes a tough road game this week against No. 24 Kansas followed by back-to-back rival games against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State to end the regular season. Also throw in the uncertainty at quarterback with Bradford's injury and the youth of redshirt freshman Landry Jones and it might be near impossible for the Sooners to duplicate last season.

But Stoops offered his own spin Monday.

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Police vehicles are parked at the crime scene where University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard was stabbed and killed early Sunday morning, in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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Texas head football coach Mack Brown calls on a questioner during an NCAA football media opportunity Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Austin, Texas. With the Oklahoma Sooners behind them, the Texas Longhorns look ahead to a two-game road swing at Missouri and at No. 14 Oklahoma State. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

Texas head football coach Mack Brown speaks during an NCAA football media opportunity Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Austin, Texas. With the Oklahoma Sooners game behind them, the Texas Longhorns look ahead to a two-game road swing at Missouri and at No. 14 Oklahoma State. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

Texas senior quarterback Colt McCoy is shown during an NCAA football media opportunity Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Austin, Texas. With the Oklahoma Sooners game behind them, the Texas Longhorns look ahead to a two-game road swing at Missouri and at No. 14 Oklahoma State. McCoy says he'll probably lose his the nail on his bruised right thumb, but the injury won't keep him from playing this week against Missouri. McCoy hurt the thumb on his throwing hand in the second quarter of No. 3 Texas' 16-13 win Saturday over No. 25 Oklahoma. He struggled through one of the worst passing games of his career, completing 21 of 40 for 127 yards with one touchdown and one interception. (AP Photo/Harry Cabluck)

In this undated photo provided by the University of Connecticut, Jasper Howard is seen. Howard, 20, of Miami, and another student were stabbed during a fight after a fire alarm was pulled during a university sponsored dance at the UConn Student Union just after 12:30 a.m., police said. (AP Photo/University of Connecticut) **NO SALES**

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Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall speaks during a news conference about the stabbing death of playerJasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, speaks at a news conference about the stabbing death of player Jasper Howard as university president Michael J. Hogan, second from left, Major Ron Blichter of UConn Police, center, UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway, second from right, and player Desi Cullen, right, listen in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, comforts senior captain Desi Cullen, right, during a news conference about the stabbing death of teammate Jasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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A student walks by yellow tape marking the crime scene where University of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard was stabbed and killed early Sunday morning, in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Twenty-year-old Howard, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Connecticut football head coach Randy Edsall, left, comforts senior captain Desi Cullen, right, during a news conference about the stabbing death of teammate Jasper Howard in Storrs, Conn., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. Howard, 20, of Miami, a junior and starting cornerback, and a second person were stabbed during a fight early Sunday after someone pulled a fire alarm during a dance at the UConn Student Union, police said. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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"We've only lost one Big 12 game," he said. "A lot was said going into our game that Texas had won three of the last four matchups of ours, but we have won three of the last four Big 12 championships. So obviously that game isn't the end all. It's what you do through the whole year and a lot can happen in this conference with other teams and other injuries. You've got to keep playing and you never know what can happen by the end of the year."

The Sooners are strong defensively, but a lot will depend on what happens at quarterback. There is a good chance Jones could finish out the remainder of the season as Bradford and his family figures what is best for his full recovery. Jones is 2-1 in starts this season, but the two wins came against the likes of Idaho State and Tulsa.

The competition will be much stiffer the rest of the way.

Stoops Silent on Bradford's Future originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:12:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bradford Returns to Lead Okie Rout

Terrance Harris — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Big 12, Injuries, Heisman

Sam Bradford at times looked a little rusty, and he and his receivers seemed out of synch, but the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback returned after a nearly one-month layoff to lead the 19th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners to a 33-7 win over Baylor on Saturday in Norman, Okla.

Bradford, who had missed three games after spraining the AC joint in his (right) throwing shoulder in the first half of the season opener, passed for 389 yards and a touchdown in a relatively easy Big 12 opener. The real test comes next Saturday when the Sooners take on No. 2 Texas in the annual Red River Rivalry in Dallas.

"It's extremely gratifying just to get back out on the field," Bradford said. "Just to be out there with the guys that I have put in so much work with in the offseason and just the simple things like handoffs. Everything out there, it's just exciting to be back."

But if there were any doubts Saturday about the stamina of Bradford's shoulder after such an injury and lengthy rehab process, they were quickly erased when he attempted 49 passes -- the second-most of his career -- against the Bears. Bradford completed 27 of those passes while not throwing an interception.

"It feels good," Bradford said when asked about how his shoulder felt. "It's felt a lot better this week compared to last week."

All was not smooth as several of Bradford's passes were dropped by receivers, while on at least a few other occasions the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner was off the mark, either overthrowing or underthrowing his receivers.

"He played really well. To have been off as much as he has and to go out there for his first go at it and to play as well as he did, I thought he played great," said OU coach Bob Stoops, whose team improved to 3-2 overall, 1-0 in the Big 12. "He stays away from the negative plays, the bad plays. He had a great night with seven, eight or nine drops. You can cut that and say there were five legitimate drops that were in their hands, he had an incredible night. He is a great competitor and talking to him in the locker afterwards,

"I asked him how if felt and he said it felt great. Right now, he doesn't have any discomfort and that is encouraging. He will only get better from this. In practicing, he will trust it more and I think in another week he will get stronger with his throws and he will continue to get better."

There was a scary moment early in the first quarter when Bradford appeared to tweak his knee while throwing an incomplete pass. He was seem grimacing on the sideline immediately after and backup Landry Jones, who started the previous three games in his absence, began to warm up on the sideline.

Bradford, however, did not miss a snap until being pulled from the game in the fourth quarter with the outcome all but decided.

The Sooners' offense produced 592 yards of total offense and had 34 first downs and no turnovers in Bradford's return.

"Obviously, like Coach (Stoops) said, it was important to get back but at the same time I wanted to make sure I was ready," Bradford said. "Going through the week, I felt like I had a good week of preparation and I felt like I was ready. To get out there and make some of the throws that I made today, it really does give me confidence."

Bradford Returns to Lead Okie Rout originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 20:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Concussions and Repercussions

John Walters — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:25:00 EST

Filed under: Notre Dame, Washington, Injuries, Daily Domer

SOUTH BEND, Ind -- The first and last plays of last Saturday's Washington-Notre Dame contest had something more in common than being the bookends of one of the most entertaining games waged in South Bend in years.

Each play featured a jarring hit that left one player with a concussion ... and those two concussions were only half the total the game rendered on its participants.

In all, four players -- Notre Dame special teams players Anthony McDonald and David Posluszny and Washington wideout D'Andre Goodwin and strong safety Nate Williams -- suffered concussions in the 37-30 overtime thriller.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow may be the poster boy of concussions this season, but the disturbing truth is that he is far from alone. And that it takes a player of his magnitude being carted off the field in a daze to shed light on this darker side of the sport.

"What a bizarre coincidence," says Jeanne-Marie Laskas, whose story about the perils of repeated concussions in NFL players appears in the October issue of GQ magazine. "The hit on Tebow reaffirms what we said in the article. The danger appears long before players make it to the NFL."

The GQ piece by Laskas, an English professor at the University of Pittsburgh, reads in part like a cloak-and-dagger suspense novel. Back in 2002, Bennett Omalu, a mild-mannered, Nigerian-born pathologist, performs an autopsy on former Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster. Omalu's curiosity leads him to spend up to $100,000 of his own money examining slides of the brains of both Webster and another former Steeler, Terry Long, both of whom suffered severe dementia before their deaths at the age of 50 and 45, respectively (Webster died of a heart attack while Long killed himself by drinking anti-freeze).

What Omalu finds is an inordinately high build-up of tau proteins, which are commonly found in Alzheimer's sufferers. Except that he discovers more tau proteins, and this is confirmed by an Alzheimer's specialist, Dr. Peter Davies, who serves as a consultant to the NFL, than seen in the most advanced cases of the disease.

Being a scientist, Omalu seeks more data. He examines the brains of other deceased ex-NFL players who exhibited signs of dementia or suicidal tendencies before their untimely deaths: Justin Strzelczyk, Andre Waters, Tom McHale, etc. All show the same evidence of excessive tau proteins. Omalu even coins a name for this "disease": Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE.

Omalu's findings are published in the peer-review journal Neurosurgery. The NFL's response? Three scientists on the league's payroll demand that the article be retracted because of its "serious flaws."

It's a fascinating piece and Omalu is a courageous voice in the wilderness. But the NFL has a Players' Association that hopefully serves the best interests of its members.

What does the NCAA have? The most popular parlor-game of the past 10 days among college football pundits is whether Tim Tebow will play when top-ranked Florida visits No. 4 LSU in its most difficult game of the season.

Granted, the University of Florida seems to have put that decision in the hands of team doctors, but Tebow's case is easily the most highly publicized perhaps in the history of college football. What about everyone else who just do not happen to be the most visible player in their sport, the one some have suggested is "the greatest college football player of all time?"

Last Saturday in South Bend, four players suffered concussions. Williams took a knee to the helmet in the third quarter, while Posluszny was injured on a kickoff. The hit on Goodwin, in which he received twin blows from Notre Dame safeties Kyle McCarthy and Harrison Smith a fraction of a second apart, was legal but gruesome. McCarthy launched himself into Goodwin's left side as the pass arrived, sending his momentum into Smith, who struck him at full speed, their helmets colliding. The ball, as well as Goodwin's helmet, went flying, as McCarthy and Smith understandably celebrated the hit that sealed the Irish victory.

In the aftermath, Goodwin lay in a daze on the turf for at least a minute or two while Washington trainers and teammates surrounded him. NBC's focus, however, was on the Irish victory. Watch past the 1:12 mark of the video, as announcers Tom Hammond and Pat Haden, oblivious to the fact that a player has been seriously injured, discuss "what a game" it was as two replays of the concussive hit are shown.

That oversight is not necessarily the fault of Hammond and Haden, by the way. A more alert producer would have recognized that Goodwin's condition was a priority. That, at the least, it deserved attention.

And yet the blow Goodwin suffered was not the most unsettling. Watch this clip of the opening kickoff and keep your eyes on the upper right portion of the screen. Anthony McDonald, a sophomore on the Irish kickoff unit, fails to see a Husky player approach from the outside and deliver a hit with his helmet into McDonald's facemask. McDonald falls backward in the background; you can see him stumble drunkenly-like to regain his balance. McDonald, as Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis noted on Sunday, is actually running in the opposite direction of the play. After the whistle McDonald, clearly in a fog, begins to jog over to the Washington sideline.

Weis, who has been a football coach at all three levels for nearly three decades, described the moment.

"I'm yelling for a trainer," Weis said Sunday. "I'm not even watching the kickoff now because I see him dazed and confused. I'm almost wanting to go out on the field myself because I'm yelling for the trainers, because you knew this is a guy who was knocked down on his feet at the time. He starts that way, then he starts running to their bench. I'm just yelling for the trainers to get over to him."

Collisions, and hence concussions, are inevitable in football -- at every level. "The helmet protects your skull," says Laskas, "but the incredible G-forces of the collisions do not protect the brain, which floats inside your skull, from banging against it. And in fact the helmet acts as a weapon."

None of this is news, and Laskas is the first to point out that "the incredible part of my story is that there is nothing new inside of it. No new studies."

What has changed, over the past two decades or so, is the size and speed of the young men who play college football. In 1985, a 300-pounder on an NFL roster was akin to having a 7-4 guy on an NBA roster. Today? Only one of the 10 offensive linemen on Notre Dame's two-deep chart weighs fewer than 300 pounds.

"If I'm a parent of a college football player at that level," says Laskas, "my first question is, 'Who's taking care of my kid?' "

To the degree that anyone knows, major college programs are acting responsibly in terms of treating concussions. Notre Dame, for example, issues its players a baseline cognitive test so that a player who suffered a concussion can be tested against that. Both McDonald and Posluszny were tested this week. At U-Dub the same holds true and it appears that neither Goodwin nor Williams will play on Saturday.

Yet, because of student-privacy laws, coaches are under no requirement to report player injuries or the severity of such. For example, quarterback Jimmy Clausen walks around in a boot each day and we are told it is only turf toe, but who outside of the Notre Dame program really knows for sure? Would a coach ever be so desperate as to play someone who hasn't adequately recovered from a concussion?

"The thing about concussions," says Laskas, "is that we just don't know the long-term effects. Not every NFL player who ever suffered a concussion went down the path that Webster and Long did. What is important is to make these kids aware of the potential danger they put themselves in. Things such as torn ACLs or even spinal-cord injuries, kids know about that. But do they realize that all those hits to the head could potentially drive them crazy?"

On Sept. 12, SMU cornerback Derrius Bell suffered a concussion in a game at UAB. Bell was sidelined for three weeks and returned for last Saturday's game with TCU. On his first play of the game, Bell hit Horned Frogs wideout Ryan Christian after a reception, forcing a fumble. Both Bell and Christian suffered concussions on the play. On Monday, with Bell still dizzy, SMU announced that he was done for the season.

"I'm afraid that's the best thing for him," coach June Jones told the Dallas Morning News. "Probably not the best for us, but it's in his best interest."

Said Bell, "I don't want to keep getting knocked out."

Concussions and Repercussions originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam Bradford to Return This Week

Terrance Harris — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Big 12, Injuries

After two weeks of will he or won't he, Oklahoma announced Friday that Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford will return to the lineup for Saturday's Big 12 opener against Baylor.

Bradford, a junior, has missed the Sooners' (2-2) last three games and has been sidelined since the end of the first half of their season-opening loss to BYU (Sept. 5) with a sprained A-C Joint in his right throwing shoulder. There had been some speculation Bradford might return last week for the Miami game when he started throwing with the team for the first time, but it was determined the shoulder wasn't quite ready.

Head coach Bob Stoops began this week saying Bradford would continue to work and rehab the shoulder but he waited until Friday to declare his quarterback healthy enough to return to competition. Redshirt freshman Landry Jones has started for the 17th-ranked Sooners in Bradord's place the last three games, with the team going 2-1 after last week's loss to the Hurricanes.

"Sam has had a great week of practice and is ready to play," Stoops said after a morning meeting with Bradford on Friday. "We're obviously excited to have him back.

"We remain very pleased with the work Landry Jones did in replacing Sam and our entire program has a lot of confidence in his ability."

The timing of Bradford's return to the Sooners is huge, as they have one week before facing No. 2 Texas in the annual Red River Showdown in Dallas. The Sooners have all but fallen out of the BCS national title mix with two non-conferences losses, but a fourth straight Big 12 South title is still certainly in front of them.

Having Bradford back certainly helps in that quest after there were times when some questioned whether he would or should attempt to return. Bradford turned down a chance to go into last spring's NFL draft as a potential top pick.

The 2008 Heisman Trophy winners figures to be the top quarterback taken in next spring's draft if he is healthy. So there is a risk but Bradford has said that's something he's not concerned with at this point. Bradford and his family have been told there is no risk of further injuring the shoulder by playing.

"I really don't think there's much concern for me taking a hit," Bradford said. "From everything that I've received from the doctors, it's like taking any other hit. It can't do much more damage. The odds of me hurting it now are just like the odds of me hurting it before anything happened to it."

Sam Bradford to Return This Week originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sam Bradford's Return Still Up in Air

Terrance Harris — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:50:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Big 12, Injuries, Heisman

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford seems like he wants to return to the field with the Sooners after being sidelined since the season opener with a Grade 3 sprain of the A-C joint in his throwing shoulder.

The burning question is when?

Bradford began throwing with the team for the first time last week, leading to speculation he might return in time for last Saturday's non-conference showdown at Miami. Soreness in his shoulder as the week progressed caused the coaching staff and Bradford to nix that plan even after doctors cleared him to play.

Now there is speculation the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback will give it a shot during Saturday's Big 12 opener against Baylor if all goes well in practice this week. That would seem most ideal with the rivalry game with Texas coming up on Oct. 17 in Dallas.

Bradford, who talked with reporters in Norman, Okla., on Tuesday for the first time in a few weeks, said he feels much better but was still not sure when or if his return would be officially announced.

"I don't know as far as a day," Bradford said. "I think that's up to our coaches. I'm assuming it's probably going to be Thursday or Friday."

Coach Bob Stoops also said he isn't sure when announcement will come, though the speculation is it will be Thursday. Stoops says he wants to see how Bradford handles practice this week and how his shoulder responds before announcing Bradford will either assume his starting job or split time this week with redshirt freshman Landry Jones.

"It's making all the throws, making them comfortably, being able to execute the offense and make the throws he needs to be to throw," Stoops said. "He needs to be able to do them in a precise way and a way that he feels comfortable that he is not aggravating it."

When pressed on if there was a chance Bradford could play this week, Stoops responded, "Yeah there is a chance. There was a chance he could have played last week. That doesn't mean a lot. There are a lot of percentages you could put on it.

"Everyone wants me to give an answer that you can't give. Don't know."

One of the reasons there is so much attention being placed on his return is because of growing speculation Bradford's college playing career could be over. Thought to be an early first-round NFL draft pick when he decided last winter to return to school, Bradford's stock could drop considerably if he is injured again or if his shoulder hasn't healed properly. Bradford and his family have also consulted with a private doctor in Alabama.

Making things more complicated is that the Sooners are not as strong as they were a season ago with a rebuilding offensive line and no reliable receivers, with Ryan Broyles sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks with a broken shoulder and with All-America tight end Jermaine Gresham done for the season with a serious knee injury.

Oklahoma (2-2), which began the season ranked third in the nation, has dropped to 19th in the country and presumably out of the BCS national championship picture after suffering non-conference losses to BYU and Miami.

Stoops said Monday he expects Bradford to play for the Sooners at some point this season. But Bradford didn't commit fully either way Tuesday, while admitting surgery could still be an option.

"I don't know if I can give you a definite answer, but I do feel like yes, I will be back at some point this year to play," he said when asked a direct question about whether he would play this season or not.

All Bradford wants to do now is continue working and see where things are by the end of the week.

"It's always good to get back into the flow of things, get back out there with my teammates," he said. "I think these next two days are important just for the fact that this is when we get the most work against our defense during those periods. It's as close to a game-like situation as we get. Obviously me not playing in a game in a couple weeks, it's going to be important for me to get those reps."

Sam Bradford's Return Still Up in Air originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Tebow Returns to Practice

Brian Grummell — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, LSU, USC, Washington, SEC, Injuries

Its a simple headline but the implications are immense. Florida quarterback Tim Tebow returned to practice -- albeit in a limited manner -- Tuesday. This more than a week after a concussion against Kentucky left him a physical, hospitalized mess on national television. Florida has yet to publicly name Tebow's backup John Brantley the starter ahead of this week's game against LSU.

Its probably head games, but even if Tebow is 'cleared' Florida would have to be insane to play him. Head injuries are no joke and Tebow has well earned that baby rhinocerus nickname. Mix in his all-out style with LSU's terrific hitting and its an easy call: sit him. LSU is prepared for either quarterback and delaying only makes Meyer look desperate while potentially undermining Brantley before his first career start.

Similar delay arguably affected how USC quarterback Aaron Corp performed while the program stalled hoping freshman Matt Barkley's shoulder would improve in time for the eventual defeat against Washington. It didn't improve, Barkley never took a throw until Friday walk throughs when all game prep had already been handled, and Corp bombed when USC waited until the start of the game to acknowledge him the starter.

Brantley is no Tebow, but he's had plenty of live game reps and several years in the system. There's simply no preparation for going into Death Valley at night, but being a Florida quarterback means knowing that is on the horizon at some point in one's career, which is about as much prep as anyone can have. If his nerves are right, Brantley will be fine.

Tim Tebow Returns to Practice originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sooners Suffer Another Major Injury

Terrance Harris — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:57:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, BCS, Big 12, Injuries

The news just seems to keep getting worse for the Oklahoma Sooners.

Coach Bob Stoops confirmed Monday that leading receiver Ryan Broyles (right) will miss the next four to six weeks with a broken left shoulder. Broyles, who has caught 23 passes for 346 yards and seven touchdowns, broke his shoulder during Saturday's 21-20 loss at Miami.

The Sooners are still awaiting word on when Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford can return to action. He has been out since suffering a shoulder sprain during the season-opening loss to BYU. Stoops acknowledged Bradford's progress last week when he began working with the team for the first time, but it was determined he wasn't healthy enough to return to the lineup against the Hurricanes.

There is a chance he could be back this week for the Sooners' Big 12 opener against Baylor. But Stoops says he hasn't made that determination and declined to speculate about his chances of playing this week during Monday's Big 12 Coaches Conference Call.

"The plans are the same as last week," Stoops said. "Until he's capable and fully capable, that's what we will do."

Additionally, OU lost All-American tight end Jermaine Gresham for the year before the season began due to a knee injury.

Now, throw in the fact that the 19th-Sooners (2-2) have lost two non-conference games, which has all but put them out of contention for the BCS national title chase before they can even begin Big 12 play.

It's obviously been a rough start to the season for a team that has won the last three Big 12 championships, and entered the year as the co-preseason favorite to win the Big 12 South with Texas. The Sooners came in to 2009 as the preseason No.3-ranked team in the country.

"They've hung in there pretty well," Stoops said of his team. "In the end you deal with the circumstances and the hand you are dealt and they understand that.

"We won't make excuses. Other guys have to step in and step up and make plays."

Sooners Suffer Another Major Injury originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Taylor Potts Released From Hospital After Apparent Concussion

Terrance Harris — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Texas Tech, Big 12, Injuries

Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts was released from the hospital Sunday afternoon after being kept overnight from complications of an apparent concussion suffered in the second quarter of the Red Raiders' 48-28 win over New Mexico.

An operator at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock, Tex. confirmed to FanHouse that Potts was discharged Sunday while free safety Nathan Stone remains hospitalized with what is believed to be some type of spinal cord injury. The hospital would not release any information on the health of the two players.

But the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported Potts suffered a concussion and that Stone had a spinal injury.

Potts got hit a few times in the first half and was then knocked out on a hard hit near the sideline in the second quarter. Former walk-on Steven Sheffield came in for Potts with the score tied 7-7 and guided the Raiders to a 35-7 lead. Seeing the most extensive time of his career, Sheffield finished the night with 238 yards and three touchdowns while completing 16-of-23 passes.

Meanwhile, Potts' availability for this week's game against Kansas State remains uncertain. But if he did sustain a concussion it's highly likely he will be cleared to play, making it very well possible that coach Mike Leach will have his starting quarterback miss a game for the first time in Leach's 10-year tenure.

But don't expect Leach to provide much insight into any of the injuries or the possible availability of Potts anytime soon.

"Well I expect everybody to be back since there hasn't been an injury around here in five years or whatever it started," Leach said to reporters after his team stopped a two-game losing streak Saturday night. "I don't know why this week would be any different. And so, you know, we'll go out and practice and see what happens."

Taylor Potts Released From Hospital After Apparent Concussion originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bradford Won't Start Against Miami

Terrance Harris — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:05:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Big 12, Injuries, Heisman

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops confirmed Thursday that Landry Jones will be the starting quarterback when the No.8 Sooners take on the 17th-ranked Miami Hurricanes in Miami on Saturday.

Heisman Trophy wining quarterback Sam Bradford, who has been out since suffering a shoulder joint sprain in the season opener, had practiced with the team this week and for a while looked ready to return under center. But Stoops feels his star needs more time.

"Sam has made daily progress, but we don't feel like he's quite where he needs to be yet," Stoops said in a statement released Thursday afternoon. "Our team has a lot of confidence in Landry's ability and we're looking forward to going into the game with him at quarterback. Our approach will be the same that it has been in the last two games"

Jones, a redshirt freshman, has shown he is no slouch since taking over as the starter the last two games. He set a school record in his last outing two weeks ago with six touchdown passes in a 45-0 win over Tulsa. He has completed 49-of-81 passes for 673 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions in the Sooners first three games this season.

Bradford, who has been out since the end of the first half of the opening loss to BYU on Sept. 5, could be ready to return next week during the Sooners' Big 12 opener against Baylor and certainly by the Red River Showdown against rival Texas on Oct. 17 in Dallas.

Bradford was expected to be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks after sustaining a shoulder joint sprain to his right throwing shoulder.

Bradford Won't Start Against Miami originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What Next For Stafon Johnson, USC?

Brian Grummell — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: USC, Injuries

Folks around USC are experiencing those classic feelings of relief Tuesday after senior back Stafon Johnson came out of surgery alive and with a good prognosis after his dramatic weight lifting incident Monday afternoon.

Johnson emerged from seven hours of complicated surgery conscious and cognizant, but unable to speak, communicating through writing and hand signals. He is expected to remain in the hospital for a while and will likely miss the rest of this season.

So, where does that leave his career? And how does USC move forward without its most effective short yardage runner since LenDale White? In the short term there's tremendous uncertainty for both although each has unusual resources at their disposal that could make for a special reunion if the parties can individually clear particular hurdles.

The best news, blunt as it is, is that Johnson's alive. From the first moment the news broke and it was clear he'd been hurt in the throat and neck area, Johnson's situation was made particularly serious. How serious was only later revealed, as reports indicated he had needed medical assistance to simply breathe.

Equally serious, even with breathing assistance his survival was no sure thing. Said Dr. Gudata Hinika, trauma director at California Hospital Medical Center:

Had that been any one of us, meaning me, I would not have survived. His neck was so solid and so muscular, that actually helped maintain his airway. And the discipline one learns from being athletic also really helped him to calm down and just do what he needed to do. He took instruction really well. He's a brilliant guy who understood his situation and handled it well.

Crazy.

Most reports out there point towards his eventual recovery and the doctors are sounding positive, but Conquest Chronicles writer Jim Wyzard, sounds skeptical of a return to football.

Remember this was major surgery. The next few weeks are going to be critical just to get past the complication stage then he will have months of rehab to learn how to breath and swallow in as normal fashion as possible.

I would be ecstatic if Stafon got on the field again...

But after talking to a few MD's I work with here in NYC, I just don't hold out much hope due to the nature of the injury, the apparent extensive reconstruction and the nature of Stafon's position as a running back. He takes a lot of pounding as it is.

Football is the least of Stafon's worries.

So 2010 is up in the air, but that doctor's quote is stirring. If he can somehow return to football, who wouldn't want to be in the trenches with a guy like that who could keep his cool in such dire straits?

The praise came from other corners as well, including USCFootball.com reporter Dan Woike.

Johnson is more than a name or a number. He's not an anonymous guy with a helmet carrying the football. No, Johnson is a person with a huge personality, and he never let anyone forget it.

He's always gracious with his time after practice, even after jokingly telling USC sports information that he's too busy.

He didn't flinch when USC coaches reduced his role this season, asking him to sacrifice carries in order to serve as the team's short-yardage specialist.

No, Johnson put his team before his own goals.

This wasn't the same kid who struggled with his playing time as a freshman. This was a grown up. This was a father. This was what Stafon Johnson had become.

Strong praise.

Johnson's eligibility is a concern, having participated in four years of football that clock is set to expire once the season ends. However, USC's official blog asserts he has a case for a 'medical hardship' redshirt with the NCAA. Mechanics below:

According to NCAA rules, players can apply for a "medical hardship" to receive an extra year of eligibility if they play in 30 percent of the team's games (fractions are rounded up) during the first half of the season and then suffer serious season-ending injuries.

So, in the cases of Johnson, [defensive tackle Hebron] Fangupo and [safety Marshall] Jones, all played in either three or four games, which qualifies them for a hardship since 30 percent of a 12 game season is 3.6, which is rounded up to four games. A bowl game would make the season 13 games, and 30 percent of that is 3.9, which is again rounded up to four games. Either way, all three players meet the criteria for a medical hardship under the NCAA rules.

As for USC, they will most certainly miss Johnson's uncanny skills in goal line and short yardage situations. Johnson may not have had Joe McKnight's burst and explosiveness, but in the last year he developed an uncanny, unteachable ability to find the end zone and gain tough yards under pressure. Whether that can be replicated is unknown, but if any team can summon those skills from its roster, its USC.

The obvious beneficiary here is McKnight, already the Trojans' featured back as the gap between him and his backfield mates just widened. Johnson had been little used so far between the 20's, those carries going to McKnight and powerful, speedy Allen Bradford. What little he received, will now likely go to C.J. Gable who has seen his role shrink in 2009.

Once inside the 20's, the obvious choice might be the 230-pound Bradford but I have my doubts. His one cut skills could come in handy in power looks, but he's never shown the ability to gain yards on plays where patience and instincts are needed. Little-used but plus-sized Marc Tyler could be an answer, but his health has held him back. Once again that task might fall upon McKnight or an outsider: fullback Stanley Havili.

Havili has seen his workload, particularly carries, increase in recent games. He is a legitimate offensive force who has shown he can get into the end zone during his career. Whether any of those options is enough to replace Johnson is unknown but likely to be settled very soon as USC enters a dangerous stretch at Cal, at Notre Dame, home against Oregon State, at Oregon and at surprising defensive standout Arizona State.

USC is fortunate to have the backfield depth it does, but outside of raw speed, no skill is harder to find or teach than the ability to make plays in short yardage situations and inside the red zone and at the goal line.

As for how this affects the team, its clear from the support he's received that Johnson is an outspoken team leader type. He'll clearly be missed by a team facing great expectations still finding its way. Perhaps they'll slump in the shock of what's happened, or perhaps they'll come together, similar to the publicized Lean On Me song incident. Who knows.

What a reunion that might be, a guy capable of commanding immediate respect for what he's gone through. Something similar happened when USC welcomed back defensive back Antuan Simmons in 2001. Simmons nearly died in 2000 when doctors discovered a benign abdominal tumor that required a pair of dangerous surgeries that had clergy reading him his death rites several times.

Before the ordeal he was an All-America candidate, but he never quite recovered. He rallied enough to make it onto the field his senior year as a solid free safety and made a spectacular between-the-legs interception he returned for a touchdown in USC's 27-0 stonewalling of rival UCLA that kickstarted the program late in Pete Carroll's first season at Troy.

Johnson doesn't need to make as spectacular a return, simply being on the field would be inspirational enough.

What Next For Stafon Johnson, USC? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stafon Johnson's Season Likely Over After Serious Lifting Injury

Brian Grummell — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:48:00 EST

Filed under: USC, Injuries

Update: Stafon Johnson left surgery around midnight last night, after doctors worked on him for around seven hours. Johnson is expected to make a full recovery but is unlikely to play again this season.

Earlier: USC's official football blog says the bar slipped out of his right hand and fell at an angle onto his throat. He is now having surgery on his throat. USC says he had a spotter but it was an extremely unusual situation.

Earlier: ESPN's SportsCenter is reporting that USC tailback Stafon Johnson was hospitalized after a lifting accident. A bar apparently fell on Johnson's throat while lifting. Little else is known at this time. ESPN's Shelley Smith said Johnson was coughing up blood and bleeding from the nose, adding that his situation is "very serious" and that possibly he would need surgery.

Head strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle, who was within 10 feet of the incident, said he was shocked something like this could happen.

"I've seen players have the bar slip and fall onto their chest, but never in my 25 years of coaching have I heard of someone dropping a bar on their throat," Carlisle said. "We're fortunate he was being spotted."

The bench press is commonly regarded as one of the safest exercises in the weight room, especially with a spotter, Carlisle said. An assistant strength and conditioning coach was spotting Johnson this morning.

Johnson is a senior running back who has found a role as the Trojans' go-to runner in tight situations -- third downs and near the goal line. He tops USC this year with five rushing touchdowns.

Stafon Johnson's Season Likely Over After Serious Lifting Injury originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bradford's Status Still in Doubt

Terrance Harris — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:17:00 EST

Filed under: Oklahoma, Big 12, Injuries, Heisman

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops isn't sure yet about Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford's status this week, but he is pleased with the progress the star quarterback has made.

That could mean Bradford will be available for Saturday's game at No. 17 Miami. But then again, it could mean he still needs more time to heal the AC joint sprain in his right throwing shoulder he suffered during the first half of the Sooners' season-opening 14-13 loss to BYU on Sept 5.

"All his rehab to this point has been positive," Stoops said during Monday's Big 12 football media teleconference. "We just have to feel comfortable that he's healthy, that he feels good enough to make the throws we need to make and he's ready to do it."

As far as what his chances are of playing, Stoops snapped, "I'm not going to talk about his chances."

The time line for recovery was set at four to six weeks. If Bradford did return this week, it would be closer to the low end of the recovery period after he missed two games and the Sooners had a bye this past week. Stoops said he hoped to know later this week if Bradford is capable of returning Saturday.

"I would think we would know later in the week what Sam is able to handle and where we feel we are at with it," Stoops said. "I wouldn't think it would be earlier than that."

It's unusual for college coaches to divulge the availability of injured players prior to the game since there are no rules forcing their hands as there are in the NFL. But Stoops indicated he likely will announce Bradford's status prior to game time.

"I'm not much on being coy or evasive on stuff," Stoops said. "I pretty much usually call it as it is and when we don't know, I say we don't know just yet.

"I'm not smart enough to deal with all of that, so I just kind of call it as it is and that's what I will (do) here. We'll just see how the week goes."

Should Bradford not be ready to go, redshirt freshman Landry Jones would remain the Sooners starting quarterback. Jones has led the eighth-ranked Sooners to two straight wins, including a 45-0 win over Tulsa in which he set a school record with six touchdown passes.

Stoops said he doesn't expect it to be much of a problem not knowing exactly who his quarterback will be until later in the week. The offense doesn't change much with either quarterback in the game.

Bradford began doing some throwing last week in practice, but Jones continued to get most of the work with the offense.

"The game plan is the same for each," he said. "It's not like one is a scrambling wildcat type of guy and you've got a whole different ballgame for him. As far as game plans go, it's not challenging in that we will have the same one for both of them.

"That's how it's been the last couple weeks and it's worked well for Landry. He's a similar thrower and style of guy. So in the end it's just getting each of them the number of snaps to be comfortable and evaluating Sam through the week."

Bradford spent the weekend in Alabama seeing a specialist, Dr. James Andrews, to further evaluate his shoulder and its progress. Stoops said Andrews has been kept in the look on all medical evaluations and rehabilitation procedures the OU medical staff have performed.

"I think our guys have been awesome in their evaluations," he said. "When it all first happened they got multiple opinions and everybody's were all pretty similar and felt our guys were definitely on the right track and doing the right things. I think that was the outcome the other day, as well."

Stoops became a little testy when asked if Bradford had visited with Andrews prior to the weekend and if the OU medical staff had been keeping Andrews informed. The Bradford family, not Oklahoma, sought Andrews for a second opinion.

"I will let Sam answer those questions," Stoops said. "Our doctors, through all the MRIs and stuff, visited with many many people in regard to it and including Dr. Andrews.

"X-rays and MRIs have been sent to multiple, multiple, multiple people."

Bradford's Status Still in Doubt originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baylor's Robert Griffin Out for the Season

Terrance Harris — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Baylor, Big 12, Injuries

The Baylor Bears' hopes of ending a 15-year bowl drought this season suffered a devastating blow with Sunday's announcement that sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

Griffin sustained an isolated tear to the ACL of his right knee during the first quarter of Saturday night's 68-13 win over Northwestern State. Griffin, one of the most exciting players in college football, had renewed hope that the Bears could turn it around after he put together an impressive season as a true freshman last year. He accounted for 28 touchdowns (15 passing, 13 rushing) last season.

During the first half of Saturday's game, Griffin completed 13-of-19 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns before spending the second half on the sidelines on crutches.

The win was even more costly for Baylor (2-1) because kickoff returner/defensive back Mikail Baker was also lost for the season with an ACL injury to his knee. Backup quarterback Blake Szymanski also suffered a shoulder injury; the Baylor training staff has him listed as day-to-day.

Tailback Jay Finley, who sat out Saturday's game, is listed as probable for Saturday's final non-conference game against Kent State. The Bears begin Big 12 play Oct. 10 at Oklahoma.

Baylor's Robert Griffin Out for the Season originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Should Tebow Have Been in the Game?

Clay Travis — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:44:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Kentucky, Injuries

UPDATE: Tebow's Condition Improving

We all know Tim Tebow is a demi-god on the football field. His statistics are exceptional and his performance against some of the most fearsome and athletic defenses in college football has been nothing short of otherworldly. But a chink appeared in Tebow's armor Saturday night when Kentucky defensive end Taylor Wyndham came unblocked on a third down play late in the third quarter, sacked the former Heisman winner and drove his head into teammate Marcus Gilbert's knee.

At the time, Florida led comfortably 31-7. Tebow, playing sick, had already carried the ball 16 times for 123 yards.

Superman got whiplashed. And then he got sick on the sideline. Florida pronounced him "fine," but Tebow was taken to the hospital before the game ended and will stay there overnight reportedly with a "bad concussion." Whether or not it was the illness combined with the hit, or just the hit, the question has to be asked: Should Tim Tebow still have been in the game?

Video: Tebow Taken Down

Everyone felt sick when Tebow went down, or at least they should have. The Kentucky defense didn't exactly have a moment of silence immediately afterward; I thought Kentucky's players celebrated for way too long in the immediate aftermath of the hit. Tebow doesn't milk attention. Generally when he gets hit, no matter how hard, he immediately gets back up. That's the kind of player he is. When he went down and stayed down, Kentucky's defenders should have shown a little class and stopped celebrating. After all, they were still losing by 24 points, it's not like they'd just won the game.

Second, what the hell happened with ESPN2 suddenly going to commercial as Tebow lay on the ground immobile? And coming back with an advertisement? This was the potential story of the college football season so far and for about five minutes they completely bungled the coverage. Millions of people were sitting on the edge of their seats when they abruptly cut away. There was no explanation at all. It's rare that ESPN's coverage completely flunks in a crucial situation, but ESPN2 pulled it off.

Finally, the shot of Tebow being carted off the field puking into a bag was borderline too much. In fact, the whole puking angle was way overplayed during this game. Plenty of guys puke before big games, sick or otherwise, why do we need to see it for this game and no other? What's more, why do we need to hear Bob Davie commentating on the puking? I think we know what puking looks like.

But back to the question we began this column with, did Urban Meyer do Tim Tebow a disservice by leaving him in the game too long?

No matter what angle you consider it from, this wasn't an easy call.

Was the game decided or wasn't it? That really depends on your perspective. So let's break down Meyer's decision to leave his starting quarterback in the game with a classic pro and con style. Remember when we all read the choose your own adventure books, well, this is choose your own quarterback. I'm genuinely interested in what you guys think as well.

Pro: Florida led 31-7. With a little less than 20 minutes left, that's just a three-score lead.

Meyer likely wanted one more score, touchdown or field goal, to put this game away. Going up by four scores with 20 minutes left, the likelihood of a serious contest emerging becomes much less. Then it would have been safe to pull Tebow.

Con: Florida scored 31 points in the first quarter. Since that point, they'd been milking down the game, playing out the thread on a contest they'd already won.

My point, Florida could have named its score. In fact, here's an even more amazing stat for you, adding up the last four quarters of their game last season and the first quarter of this season's game, the Gators had outscored Kentucky 94-5.

Let me repeat that, 94-5!

For whatever reason, Kentucky just can't play with the Gators. This game was over after the first quarter and both sides knew it. Florida took its foot off the gas.

Pro: On the drive he was injured, Florida's took possession of the football with 8:23 remaining in the second half. It was just their second drive of the second half.

The first drive only lasted four plays. So Tebow really hadn't been in the game for that long. If you're not pulling him at the half, why not allow him to go a couple of series into the second half?

Con: Three score lead implies that Kentucky is going to score three touchdowns, convert three two-point conversions, and even then they're only tied. If the game gets close, bring Tebow back in.

This isn't baseball. Once Tebow came out of the game, he's perfectly fine to come back in. Why not go ahead and get him some rest, allow your second-string quarterback to get some live-game action for a change? If the game really tightens up, bring Tebow back in.

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Rafael Eubanks #52 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates a 21-10 victory over the Penn State Nittnay Lions on September 26, 2009 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rafael Eubanks

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Adam Robinson #32 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a fourth quarter touchdown trough the tackle of Josh Hull #43 of the Penn State Nittnay Lions on September 26, 2009 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. Iowa won the game 21-10. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Adam Robinson;Josh Hull

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Ricky Stanzi #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes along with Adam Robinson #32 and Brett Morse #36 celebrate a 21-10 victory over the Penn State Nittnay Lions with Iowa fans on September 26, 2009 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Stanzi;Adam Robinson;Brett Morse

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Adrian Clayborn #94 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates a 21-10 victory over the Penn State Nittnay Lions on September 26, 2009 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Adrian Clayborn

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STATE COLLEGE, PA - SEPTEMBER 26: Ricky Stanzi #12 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrates a 21-10 victory over the Penn State Nittnay Lions with Travis Meade #61 on September 26, 2009 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Stanzi;Travis Meade

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Taylor Potts #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drops back in the pocket against the Houston Cougars at Robertson Stadium on September 26, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Potts

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Running back Bryce Beall #25 of the Houston Cougars runs through the tackle of linebacker Marlon Williams #39 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Robertson Stadium on September 26, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bryce Beall;Marlon Williams

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Running back Baron Batch #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders rushes for a touchdown against the Houston Cougars at Robertson Stadium on September 26, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Baron Batch

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Kevin Sumlin of the Houston Cougars runs out to the field through smoke while the Houston Cougars are introduced before playing against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Robertson Stadium on September 26, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Sumlin

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Pro: Florida has a young receiving corps, a new offensive coordinator, and Tebow needs real game action to get in sync with them before a real road test at LSU.

After the performance against Tennessee when Florida didn't complete a single pass to their receiving corps for more than 14 yards, Tebow needs the reps with these guys. Not to mention their new offensive coordinator, Steve Addazio, is only coaching his second game in the SEC. Finally, after a bye week, LSU looms in a night game. Now is the time to get the reps in.

Con: If your goal is to work on the passing game, then why did Tebow carry the ball at all in the second half. He carried three times, two of the four plays on the first drive, and the play immediately before the injury. Several more carries were called back for penalties.

If you really want to work on your passing game, then Tebow shouldn't touch the ball in the running game. Period.

Pro: Tebow wanted to stay in, and next week is a bye week. He has plenty of time to recover.

No doubt he did. But Tebow would want to stay in if opposing linebackers were armed with machetes. That's the kind of player he is, his coach needed to protect him from himself.

Con: Tebow is going to be relied upon to carry the load in the remaining eight games. Preserve him even if this game ends up a bit closer. Especially when he's already sick.

As I wrote about after Floria's win over Tennessee, Tebow is going to have to play more like his 2007 self, than his 2008 self. He needs to be Tebow as battering ram, the avenging archangel of football. So he needs to take as few hits as possible, and spared whenever possible, such as late in the third quarter of an apparent win. Finally, he was sick. Get him out of the game for that reason. He's already gutted it out to get you a win. Exerting yourself while sick almost certainly takes a greater toll.

But I think Meyer was in the right.

The new offensive coordinator, the new receivers, the upcoming bye week where live action wouldn't happen, the fact that it was the second drive of the second half, the fact that up until now Tebow has been indestructible, all of these things would militate in favor of playing Tebow.

But that's just my opinion, as you can see from the arguments above, reasonable minds can differ when it comes to making a decision in this situation.

The only thing I would criticize Meyer for is Tebow carrying the ball at all in the second half. I wouldn't have allowed it. Tebow was hurt on a passing play, and I think that's a risk worth taking given Florida's offensive shortcomings in the passing game, but there is no way Tebow should have been carrying the ball up by 24. I would have grabbed him by the facemask and said, "Tim, if you run the football for any reason other than to get away from a sack, I am pulling your butt."

But that didn't happen, and let's just hope Tebow is completely recovered in time for the night game at LSU. Concussions are scary business, particularly for a player like Tebow who is making a run at college football immortality and has played the game with reckless abandon to this point.

Let's see how he comes back from the first hit that has shown us he is, in fact, a mortal man.

Should Tebow Have Been in the Game? originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tim Tebow Hurt Against Kentucky, Taken to Hospital

Michael David Smith — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:33:00 EST

Filed under: Florida, Kentucky, Injuries

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was injured after being on the receiving end of a brutal -- but legal -- hit from Kentucky defensive end Taylor Wyndham Saturday, staying down on the field for several anxious moments before eventually walking off the field under his own power.

Wyndham rushed in virtually untouched from his right defensive end position and drilled Tebow when he was looking in the opposite direction -- and as Tebow went down, his head was hit by the leg of a Florida offensive lineman. Tebow at first appeared to have suffered a head or neck injury in the collision, and the entire Florida team walked toward the field to show support for their leader. Video of the hit after the jump.

(Video via Buster Sports)

But after a couple minutes being attended to by Florida's medical personnel, Tebow eventually sat up, eliciting a huge cheer from the crowd at Kentucky's Commonwealth Stadium. The game was in the third quarter with Florida up 34-7 when Tebow went down, and he won't return. Tebow initially sat on the bench but after vomiting he was taken to the locker room.

Tebow was already ailing heading into Saturday's game, having been diagnosed with what Florida is describing as a respiratory problem but what some media reports have speculated could be swine flu.

UPDATE: Tebow was shown leaving the stadium in an ambulance, still in uniform.

UPDATE: Head coach Urban Meyer said he believes it to be a concussion.

Clay Travis: Is Urban Meyer to Blame for Tebow's Injury?

Tim Tebow Hurt Against Kentucky, Taken to Hospital originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 20:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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South Florida Quarterback Matt Grothe Out for Season With Torn ACL

Brett McMurphy — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:20:00 EST

Filed under: South Florida, Injuries

TAMPA, Fla. -- University of South Florida senior quarterback Matt Grothe, who set the Big East's career total offense record just a week ago, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee Saturday against Charleston Southern, ending his spectacular USF career.

Grothe's injury occurred with 2:54 remaining the second quarter of the Bulls' 59-0 blowout victory.

"Obviously, I am disappointed, because you never think this could happen to you," Grothe said in a statement. "It's a team game, and I am still going to be very involved with my teammates and the coaches. I am going to do everything I can to help the Bulls continue to win."

USF coach Jim Leavitt reiterated his thoughts from after Saturday night's game.

"Matt's a franchise guy and an even better human being," Leavitt said. "We all know that. What he's done in college football is extraordinary. He has been one of the greatest names out there. We all know that and our entire program feels bad for him. Matt is a special, special guy."

Since the second game of his freshman season, Grothe had started every game of his USF career.

Without Grothe, the Bulls head into their biggest game of the year Saturday at Florida State with redshirt freshman B.J. Daniels as the starter. Daniels is a native of Tallahassee and former two-sport star at Lincoln High School.

FSU coach Bobby Bowden was unaware of Grothe's injury. The Seminoles stunned No. 7 BYU 54-28 Saturday in Provo.

"That's a shame. I've been watching him for the past two years. He's one of the best I've seen," Bowden said during his Sunday teleconference with the media.

South Florida Quarterback Matt Grothe Out for Season With Torn ACL originally appeared on NCAA Football FanHouse on Sun, 20 Sep 2009 13:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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