Mike Valenti Says U-M Absolutely Has To Remove Dave Brandon; Witness Says Trainers Were Screaming After Shane Morris Injury
ANN ARBOR (CBS Detroit) Fans of the Valenti & Foster show had to expect fire and brimstone when the show opened Tuesday, hours after a 1 a.m. press release announced Shane Morris did have a concussion when he played this weekend for the University of Michigan.
"Brady should refuse to go on that podium," Mike Valenti said, addding Coach Brady Hoke verbally hung himself with things like saying Morris did not have a concussion to the media on Monday, after he was apparently diagnosed Sunday. Hoke also said to the media Monday he hadn't talked to Athletic Director Dave Brandon -- and then said during another talk Tuesday they had spoken in the last "48 hours."
Valenti & Foster had a guest named Joseph on the show, who said he was on the Michigan sideline when the incident happened. "When he took the big hit, and he went to get up ... The trainers were signaling for him to 'lay down, lay down' but he didn't want to do it," said Joseph, who was vetted before the show by Terry Foster.
Joseph added everyone on the sideline was going crazy when Morris seemed to "faint in mid air," held up only by a teammate, and said "beyond a shadow of a doubt" Hoke had to hear the screaming.
The witness added Hoke probably couldn't see Morris' legs go out from his vantage point, but there was "no way" he didn't know about it because "everyone was screaming."
"A lot of people were really, really scared ... It was absolute pandemonium," Joseph said about people on the sidelines, adding there was no way Hoke could have been unaware.
Among many things about the incident, Valenti took exception with the fact the university's release about Morris said he had a "mild" concussion.
"You are either concussed or not concussed, there are no levels of concussion," Valenti said.
The story led the CBS Evening News and was in the New York Post, Valenti said, adding the university absolutely has to remove Brandon.
"It is a complete disaster," Valenti said. "It's like having a wildfire and then you put wind fans behind it ... It's absurd."
Terry Foster, especially, took exception to the 1 a.m. press release about the concussion, saying it should have come out at 9 a.m.
@MikeValenti971 Bus?! Brandon tied Hoke to the train tracks then pulled up a lawn chair to watch the show.
— Dan Derus (@Derus40) September 30, 2014
The diagnosis on shane known Sunday. Not given to head coach until after presser monday. That's a big effing bus you just got thrown under
— The Valenti Show with Rico (@ValentiPodcast) September 30, 2014
Man I just wish we had something that could help sideline communication. To get everyone on same page...like a headset or something.
— The Valenti Show with Rico (@ValentiPodcast) September 30, 2014
Note: a press release after midnight actually draws more attention and questions. It's like hiding behind a Festivus pole. We still see you.
— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) September 30, 2014
It also shows how stupid they think you are. 1am. Vague. Holes everywhere. Like the story will vanish? You made it worse idiots.
— The Valenti Show with Rico (@ValentiPodcast) September 30, 2014
It's either Hoke is a huge liar or Davey letting him hang by design. The old distance yourself then dump routine. You pick.
— The Valenti Show with Rico (@ValentiPodcast) September 30, 2014
"Hoke's a dead man walking," Valenti said, adding the university needs Hoke to finish out the year, but Brandon has to go immediately.