A tricky situation presented itself at the Mizzou game last Saturday night before their victory over Arizona State. It was so tricky that in most cases we take it for granted. Only this time, it was front and center for a good reason.
Missouri starting quarterback James Franklin could not play because of a shoulder injury. It is a shoulder injury that players suffer from time to time. However, in this case, Franklin elected not to take any medication to ease the pain to the point he would be able to play.
Once it was disclosed that he was not going to play, rumors started to swirl from Columbia to St. Louis on what the deal really was. From religious beliefs to being accused of being a wuss were some of the accusations mentioned.
And just when you thought his head coach Gary Pinkel would come to his defense and state what the issue was and his understanding of his players lack of participation, Pinkel had this response.
“The decisions about medical issues with a player and whether that player will play are always going to be up to the player and the medical staff, not the coaching staff.”
There were some eyebrows raised on that one for sure as it may have gave the impression that Pinkel was throwing a player under the bus. I can see where that could have been what people thought, but think on this. In nearly every medical situation involving his players, Gary Pinkel has made that same statement from the day he got here.
He has been consistent on this one. Not one word from that statement has changed. This is a coach that lost a player on the practice field. This is a coach that understands the boundaries of coach and medical staff. After further review, I get it although some would think otherwise. You can question play-calling or who Pinkel may play or in some cases. But, when it comes to his players and their medical status, Pinkel has never jumped offside on this matter.
In football, there is always a sense of people having to prove how tough they are. You know, the old play ‘til it hurts and then play some more. Players over the years have played through a variety of aches, pains and injuries that some would question their sanity in the first place and yet they are considered tough guys.
Tough? Perhaps. Smart? That is a different story. As for James Franklin, I understand completely why he took a pass on the medication. It was reported that the medication would be a cortisone shot. Having had two in my life, I vowed never to have another one.
The reasons are simple. First, I am allergic to most any kind of needle. Those who know me will attest to some of my squeamish moments as a full grown adult. It does not make a difference what size, whether it is a sewing needle to the one they use for a cortisone shot. The size and pain that comes with it is something you do not soon forget. Throw in the fact that the cortisone is temporary and the pain eventually comes back.
For Franklin, he admitted that he has never taken medication for football related injuries not because of religious reasons or any other half-witted notion concocted be someone who was not in the loop. He simply wanted to monitor the pain and if it got worse and he could not continue.
I understand both parties here. Franklin wants to do the right thing by his body. Pinkel wanted to do the right thing as a man who coaches football and not make medical diagnoses or expectations. Of cours,e he would want Franklin to play but he said no.
For Pinkel to pat Franklin on the back leaves the door open for others to perhaps take advantage of a situation that a coach would give the impression that he was solely in charge of. Instead, he left it in the hands of the individual and the medical staff. As a parent, I appreciate that approach more than what we have seen in some programs and certainly in the pros where your manhood is questioned and he is expected to sacrifice his body for the good of the team.
I think we have seen enough of that over the years and the end result later when they are physically disabled. While I am not on board with everything Coach Pinkel is doing at Mizzou, I think he gets it right more than not. It sometimes takes the likes of a James Franklin to remind him that he is a coach and not part of the medical staff. Pinkel did not forget.
There are some who don’t look at the big picture here. They just think a guy should take the needle and play no matter what. If he doesn’t, then he is considered soft and should not be on the team. This normally comes from those who have never been in a real playing environment because of a lack of skill and perhaps heart.
It’s OK, someone has to question the heart of someone else only have a heart and understand what it takes to play. For those who feel it’s their duty to uphold the image of being a tough guy, you have to wonder how many marbles are still left for them as the physical sacrifice comes later in life.
If that does not get it perhaps I should question you as a parent. Pick the sport. If your kid was hurting and he or she refuses to take a shot that would just get them out there to play not knowing the further damage that could be done later? Would you want a coach to push them that much to the point that their well being could be jeopardized down the road? Or are you the parent that says it will make them tougher? Tougher?
Being tough is serving this country in some desolate outpost somewhere in the world where getting shot at is par for the course. Tough is being a teacher or a first responder in our society today. Tough is not taking a shot to play in a game. Tough is being James Franklin and Gary Pinkel for making the choices they have made. Then again they were not tough but more right.
