ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Brady Hoke publicly addressed the media Monday, responding to questions about the team's handling of sophomore quarterback Shane Morris' injury in Saturday's game against Minnesota.
Morris, who started for the first time this season following a poor offensive performance the previous week against Utah, appeared to need a teammate's help walking after a big hit in the fourth quarter. Morris stayed in the game after the hit, continuing to play until the next series, before senior Devin Gardner entered the game.
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Hoke has faced national criticism for leaving Morris in the game with an apparent injury, but Michigan's head coach said the incident was overblown.
"I would never put a kid in that situation," Hoke said about playing a kid with an injury. "Never have, never will."
During one play on Gardner's drive, the senior's helmet fell off. By rule, Gardner had to either sit out the next play or the team had to use a timeout. When Gardner went to the sideline, Morris came back out on the field for the next play to a chorus of boos, likely because of his obvious injury.
Hoke said he was talking with officials about whether or not Gardner had to sit out a play when Morris ran onto the field and took the next snap. He handed off to the running back and came out of the game afterwards.
"He felt like he could still play," Hoke said about Morris after the injury. "As a competitor he feels like he can play on it."
When asked if he thought the head coach should be making decisions on whether or not an injured player can return to a game, Hoke said the medical trainers are more qualified and skilled in that area, so he defers to their judgement.
He said the medical staff would make a statement later in the day.
Hoke said he didn't see the hit that appeared to injure Morris, and that the quarterback was limping because of his injury. He said his understanding is that there was no head injury suffered during the game.
Hoke says he has not talked to Athletic Director Dave Brandon about the incident or his performance as head coach of the football team. He did say he saw Morris Sunday and earlier on Monday.
As the head coach, Hoke believes the mentality of a player is that they love to compete and they love to play. He thinks his whole team has that mentality, but he added that if a player is hurt to a point where they don't think they can play, they're instructed to go down on the field and wait for treatment.
Hoke noted that he has to do a better job as a football coach and the team has to do a better job as a whole. He said Michigan had a great practice Sunday and he's excited about Saturday's game at Rutgers.
Morris was wearing a walking boot and using crutches around Michigan's campus Monday morning. His status going forward is unclear.
The Wolverines have lost three games in September for the first time in program history. They will carry a two-game losing streak into Rutgers Saturday night.