Sometimes we get so caught up in wins, losses and rants about coaches that we forget just how brutal a game football truly is.
The Miami Hurricanes had two players ejected in the fourth quarter against Nebraska last weekend for helmet-to-helmet contact—safeties Deon Bush and Jamal Carter both carrying their suspensions through the first half against Cincinnati next Thursday night.
For those wondering why the NCAA (and NFL) have cracked down on hits of this nature; look no further than Wednesday morning at Greentree Practice Field when UM linebacker Marques Gayot was airlifted to Ryder Trauma Center after a helmet-to-helmet collision—in practice and against a teammate no less; not an opponent gunning for meaningful yards or points.
“[Gayot] has undergone a battery of tests and will be kept overnight for precaution,” UM said in a statement mid-afternoon on Wednesday. “He will be placed in a neck collar and released [Thursday]. He is expected to be make a full recovery.”
That last sentence is all that matters. When Gayot comes back—some have said six weeks, others suggest a medical redshirt—it’s all meaningless. The fact this kid is expected to remain upright, walking and carrying on a normal life; give thanks as that’s often not a gimme.
Football-wise, sure, this is a blow for the Canes—who are already without linebacker Darrion Owens (season-ending knee injury against Florida Atlantic), while Jermaine Grace has a banged-up shoulder from last weekend’s win over Nebraska. Coupled with the first-half suspensions of Bush and Carter, things are going to be a bit thin defensively at Cincinnati a week from now.
As for Gayot—a converted safety new to the linebacker position—he’s been leaned on early this season and in his absence, the Canes will have to look towards other inexperienced players like Teraz McCray, James King, Jamie Gordinier, Mike Smith and Charley Perry, while defensive coaches work those hybrid ends into the linebacking equation—guys like Trent Harris and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
The football side of things will get worked out as the next-man-up mindset continues. More-importatly, Gayot dodged a huge bullet and is expected to be completely healthy, which is ALL that matters.
Get well soon, No. 13.
IN OTHER NEWS: As someone who has been wrong in the past; social media junkies, heed this advice—it’s better to be right than to be first.
For those who saw the news break on Wednesday afternoon, rumors began flying about a head-on car crash and not one, but two players were involved. C’mon now, Canes fam. (Same goes for a certain U-themed website who has since changed their headline, but did a write-up and mentioned two players and a car crash.)
In situations like these it’s better to wait and be right than to be first and wrong—especially when we’re talking about injured kids and their friends and family finding out misinformation via the internet.
Let those in the know do their jobs and when news is official, start the first-to-post process. Not when the scoop is coming from someone’s neighbor’s brother’s dogsitter’s cousin.