The football players who make their way through injuries are often lauded for their determination and strength. The excitement and zeal are highly loved by the supporters.
However, the extent to which a player is suffering and coming back is often overlooked. The unflinching resolve shown by the players is a mark of true grit but the risk of reinjuring oneself is ignored.
The players are often open to sustaining injuries in the game and head injuries are major injuries that require crucial care and time. One of the injuries that has garnered attention happened in the game between the Florida Gators and the Florida State Seminoles.
According to Awful Announcing, Seminoles quarterback Tate Rodemaker took a major hit. In the play, the quarterback was on the run when he was thrashed down by two Gators players, safety Bryce Thornton and cornerback Jaydon Hill.
Cornerback Hill was emitted from the game following the head hit to quarterback Rodemaker. After sustaining the disintegrating head hit, the quarterback was taken out of the game and assessed.
However, surprisingly, the quarterback returned to the game in the span of seven minutes. The ESPN college football commentator, Kirk Herbstreit, praised the quarterback for his stability and strength.
This was the hit that knocked Rodemaker out of the game.
Roughly seven minutes passed between this hit and Rodemaker's return. pic.twitter.com/QeuxVCm8Ya
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 26, 2023
He shared, “After that hit, I thought, man, in the world we live in today with quarterbacks and concussion protocol and that hit, I thought, alright, 18’s done,”
“Now, still, let’s see what (Florida State coach) Mike Norvell when he looks to his left, see…He is, he is. Good for him. Tough guy. Love it.”
Herbstreit’s reaction has irked some fans, who have responded with their own sentiments regarding how injuries, especially head injuries, should have been considered.
This stuff has to stop – regardless if the player came back into the game or not, announcers need to stop glorifying it in this way. It's one thing to say, "He's coming back, I was worried about him." It's another to say, "Good for him. Tough guy. I love it." That's the problem. https://t.co/MQxIxXxwtv
— Damin Esper (@DaminEsper) November 26, 2023
Maybe we should stop calling players “tough” for coming back after head hits
— bob saccamano (@bobsaccamano13) November 26, 2023
Well, as long as Kirk Herbstreit is happy. Who cares about the collateral damage.
— Manprin (@Manprin) November 26, 2023
Second guy in the same amount of weeks that has come back after looking like he was out cold. What changed? https://t.co/8ziONR7HH7
— Schwamp (@OleSwamp) November 26, 2023
I am certain the med staff wouldn’t return a player that was concussed…
However, if there was LOC he should have remained out…
As for the 7 minutes; that would be on the low end of a thorough enough assessment for in game “go” or “no-go”, IMHO… https://t.co/AQL6Zall2s
— The Concussion Blog (@concussionblog) November 26, 2023
The nature of Rodemaker’s head injury has also raised questions about whether he was properly addressed or not. He came back into the game after a very short period of time, keeping in mind the hit that his head took. The NCAA rules and regulations state that player safety must be given precedence.
