Week One Injury Report

by 40AS on Sep 7, 2009 5:38 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns Football

No doubt the most important injury affecting Texas' national title chances came not in Austin but 200 miles up the road in Dallas. Sam Bradford's shoulder sprain could devastate Oklahoma's now uphill climb to a national title or it could be just a road bump--only time will tell for sure. Meanwhile, the Horns had their own injury problems:

Jared Norton and Michael Huey will both be OUT for the Wyoming game. Both players suffered ankle injuries against ULM (EDIT: Norton allegedly hurt his shoulder, not his ankle) although Huey appeared to suffer the more severe injury. Junior Tray Allen will be moved to backup LG to replace David Snow, who will replace Huey as the starting RG, possibly ending Allen's stint as a jack-of-all-trades at DT and on special teams. According to the new depth chart, Rodderick Muckelroy will move to MLB and Keenan Robinson will get his first start at weakside LB. There's no word on how long either player will be out but it is not encouraging that Mack announced on Monday that they wouldn't play on Saturday; that means that there is no chance of full recovery in the next five days. Granted, sitting Norton and Huey could be merely precautionary since this is another pre-conference game. Nobody likes losing two starters, but we won't complain too loudly given what transpired in Dallas.

No new word on Fozzy Whittaker but he posted a "DNP" for the second straight opener. He remains third on the depth chart but he has now been joined by DJ Monroe, who had a spectacular game, as the third option.

Finally, Deon Beasley, Christian Scott and Brandon Collins were academic casualties. There has been no official word on how long the players will be suspended but we suspect an answer will be forthcoming within the week. Either they're suspended because of academics or they performed well enough in the classroom to play, right?

We'll post further updates later in the week as information comes out.

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Norton injury

During the game it looked like he hurt his shoulder the way he was holding his arm, which makes sense because he had surgery on his shoulder in the off season. However, the media outlets I can find are calling it an ankle injury. I guess it doesn’t really matter in the end because he won’t be playing this weekend.

by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Sep 7, 2009 6:04 PM CDT reply actions

i think the AAS...

…said shoulder, but the writer also said “he was fine”

by vy til i die on Sep 7, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Didn't see the injury

But ESPN article said it was ankle, wouldn’t be surprised if it was shoulder though

by 40AS on Sep 7, 2009 6:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Chip Brown has confirmation

of the injury as a shoulder tweak ($).

by Wescott Eberts (GoBR) on Sep 7, 2009 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for injury info

Long way from it mattering at this point . . . but Huey and Norton never redshirted, so . . . same with Beasley and Collins on the academic issue. Christian Scott did RS in 2007.

by edsp on Sep 7, 2009 6:50 PM CDT reply actions

Any Gossip?

Are the academic issues affecting the trio NCAA related or just internal discipline?

by realmccoy on Sep 7, 2009 6:52 PM CDT reply actions

Failure to demonstrate sufficient progress toward a degree

I.e. they’ve passed classes, but the classes don’t cobble together toward a degree plan.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Sep 7, 2009 7:05 PM CDT up reply actions

That Sound Like It is a Problem that cannot be solved until end of semester?

by realmccoy on Sep 8, 2009 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions

As I understand it, that would be the case if the players lose their appeal

Once players start their junior/senior year the requirements for overall progress up by about 10% of the degree plan per semester. That’s still only about 12 hours a semester, but if you’re coming from behind, by say six hours vis a vis the NCAA’s progress milestones, an 18 hour semester of courses in your degree plan is a serious obstacle.

Good and average students probably never face this problem but a less skilled student could find themselves in a situation where they were enrolled only in courses toward a degree (i.e. more difficult) and a lot of them (relatively speaking).

I don’t know the situation with the three players, somebody else may, but I gather they’re applying for one a page’s worth of exemptions to the rules.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Sep 8, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

I should probably mention that’s junior by years, not by hour (perhaps, hence the problem) or athletically.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Sep 8, 2009 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Sam Bradford and Gresham

Most people were surprised that Bradford and Gresham didn’t go pro last year. If their injuries are season ending, is there any chance that either of them would return to OU in 2010?

Personally, I thought Bradford was nuts to come back this year to an inexperienced line and unproven receiving corp, but he seems to want to stay in college. Gresham had a few things to work on this year, and his injury is more surprising. Bradford’s injury isn’t really surprising since we all know that he had a new OL. I think Bradford undervalued just how much his prior OL helped him buy time and post great stats.

by Wrangler86 on Sep 7, 2009 6:54 PM CDT reply actions

Bradford

Hindsight is 20/20, but I actually think he made the right call in going back for another year. Stafford is the prototypical pro QB and had he gone pro he would’ve had to compete with Stafford and Sanchez for the top spot. He may not have been a top ten pick in the 2009 draft. The 2010 draft is weaker and it gives him a year to solidify his positioning as the #1 overall pick. The risk is that he gets hurt or exposed this season, I guess we’ll see what’s what.

by 40AS on Sep 7, 2009 7:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Draft

They could also have a new CBA in place by 2010. Should he decide to return NEXT year there could possibly be a new rookie slotting system in place that would preclude the ridiculous guaranteed money the top guys are getting. What did Stafford get, like $35 guaranteed?

by rchorns on Sep 7, 2009 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry

Meant to say there could be a new CBA and slotting system for 2011, which is the draft he would enter should his injury keep him back for his senior year.

by rchorns on Sep 7, 2009 7:39 PM CDT up reply actions

i read that the salary cap would not even be considered until 2011

by MJY6087 on Sep 7, 2009 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Has

anyone heard of this ncaa rule about failure to demonstate progress towards a degree before?? I understand the basic need for rule like this, but to be possibly academically ineligible for an entire season even when you’re going to class and passing seems extremely absurd.

by silky51 on Sep 7, 2009 8:21 PM CDT reply actions

True.

I know people that have taken their first 2 years in college to get every elective possible out of the way in order to have fun for those first couple of years. That shows no progress toward any kind of degree but they are still paving a way for themselves (in a rather silly manner, but still).

I would need more information on what the exact situation is with Beasley, Collins, Scott but I just don’t see any reason for holding them out for a year.

by HornPossessed on Sep 7, 2009 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions

yep

many, many people I know took nothing but electives their first 2 years. And yes, I wish I knew more about this rule, and why all the late notice…….why did this all pop up just a few days before game 1?

by silky51 on Sep 7, 2009 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions

This was the offset to loosening the entrance requirements

a couple of years ago. I don’t know all of the specifics, but I seriously doubt if they are very difficult and anywhere close to setting a pace for full graduation in under 5 years.

This rule is another reason why so many players are graduating early and enrolling in the spring, or at the very least, starting classes in the summer right after graduation, in order to get a headstart on hours before their first year even begins.

by Horncasting on Sep 7, 2009 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

The UT six year plan is incompatible with NCAA mores evidently

Here’s the info from the NCAA bylaws.

There are a lot of hourly requirements for those who don’t want to look, but one of the more thorough provisions is a mandate that students have 40% of their degree plan finished by the start of their third year, 60% before the fourth and 80% before the fifth.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Sep 7, 2009 9:05 PM CDT up reply actions

This seems a little harsh

So any regular student can drag their feet and aim at no major in particular and its “ok”, but if you play football its suddenly not “ok”.

True story two of my friends:
We are all juniors.
friend 1: started in anthropology, only now in her third year she has switched to education. Obviously way behind schedule, lots of her courses are incompatible.
friend 2: basically scheduled every class with friend 1 the first 2 years with no declared major and now has vague aspirations in advertising.

Both their academic careers are a bit laughable at this point but hey, its their money, their education, their life. Do they get punished at all? No and they really shouldn’t be either.

by owenh on Sep 7, 2009 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions

but again...

…it’s not REALLY their own money. They are on scholarship, and I guess it’s like academic scholarships where they can retract it if they don’t follow the standards set of said scholarship.

by vy til i die on Sep 7, 2009 10:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Right, I probably should have mentioned the waiver system

On a case by case basis the team can apply to the NCAA to have the degree progress requirements waived, but they’ve got to demonstrate why they need the variance, their graduation plan under the proposed change etc.

If the kids have taken the core courses that are more readily switched between majors (i.e. basic reqs for language, math, government, history etc.) it shouldn’t be much of a problem. If on the other hand, they’ve loaded up on bowling, human sex, and that Czech class that goes on a brewery tour it could be problematic.

There’s also a minimum GPA requirement to graduate from UT, and the kids have to be within 90% of it after their first year, 95% after their second, and maintain 100% after their third.

Lots of rules, and a late date on summer school grade release could make the process even longer.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Sep 8, 2009 5:54 AM CDT up reply actions

NCAA is slow

Apparently Texas submitted the information to the NCAA clearinghouse a while ago, but they haven’t received a ruling on the matter.

The pride and winning tradition of The University of Texas will not be entrusted to the weak or the timid.

Hook'em

by longhorns1 on Sep 7, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Bradford Update

ESPN reporting that Bradford will be back within 2 – 4 weeks and thus requires no surgery.

Hook 'em.

by 4th and 5 on Sep 7, 2009 10:45 PM CDT reply actions

just in time...

…for another whooping the next week! Hook ’em!

by vy til i die on Sep 7, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Careful what you wish for!

Remember what happened the last time a starting QB was injured and then subsequently taken out of the RRS after aggravating that injury.

Of course knee does not = throwing shoulder, and Landry Jones does not = a decent backup QB yet, but I’d still not get all excited about what this means for our chances in Dallas. I’d rather we focus on the things we CAN control, e.g. our own players, coaches and game plans.

Still a Blaine Irby fan

by patienthornsfan on Sep 8, 2009 5:14 AM CDT up reply actions

I firmly believe that 2-4 weeks would be rushing it and Stoops is behind this decision.

Bradford should wait until his arm is completely healed with no pain so he doesn’t risk any complications or further injury.

That being said, it will be great to have him at the RRS.

by HornPossessed on Sep 7, 2009 10:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I totally agree

It’s his freaking throwing shoulder.

"From the waist down, Earl Campbell has the biggest legs I have ever seen on a running back." -John Madden

by run Bevo run on Sep 7, 2009 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Take some time

While he’s rehabilitating his shoulder, he should evaluate how the o-line’s playing before he decides he wants to play at 75% or wherever he’s at at that point in time. I’d rather take them out with Bradford at the helm…or at least start the game until he’s ushered out by Sergio & Co. With a couple easy games and a bye week, OU would be better off getting Landry Jones ready rather than splitting their preparation between the two.

In the meantime Texas needs to take care of its own business. There’s plenty of things to improve on its “Leave No Doubt” tour to the MNC.

The pride and winning tradition of The University of Texas will not be entrusted to the weak or the timid.

Hook'em

by longhorns1 on Sep 7, 2009 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Trips RIght over at BC made a good point about this

What impact does the injury have on his insurance policy? I have no idea, but I would imagine the insurance companies are going to feel more heavily invested in Bradford’s shoulder than certain coaches who shall not be named.

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Sep 8, 2009 5:57 AM CDT up reply actions