Injury reports: Yes or No?

[tsull]

I get it in today's paranoid sports world, coaches don't want to tip their hand on who is playing and who isn't. I get it, but as a fan, it's frustrating. Is Kainoa Jones, WOU starting QB, playing or not? Is he out for the year? Jones himself deserves better, he's given his heart and soul to the program, don't make him disappear. If he's out, he's out. If there's a timetable to return, print that. Don't treat your fans like idiots, we're more than just the parents and girlfriends of the players.

* Couple years ago half the WOU men's hoop team was out with injuries. I didn't know if they were kicked off or what. As the losses climbed and starters sat, I wondered what was going on. Speculation on grades, criminality, etc., went through my mind. In the end, it was injuries, which were never reported. To me, it's insane. This isn't pro sports. Report it. (Someone will throw HIPPA at me.)

[IronOre]

Gamblers would certainly appreciate it. But yeah, I see a player go down, I'd like to know how bad it is and if they're going to be out a while.

[tsull]

There has to be some sort of fan engagement. In Oregon, OSU is 20 miles from WOU on a quiet highway; UO is only 60 miles away. Fans have a choice. Small college football needs to get fans to the game. WOU opener was great for me, $8 ticket (as opposed to upwards of $60-$90 at OSU) and my parking (secret spot just off campus) was free. The concessions were cheap, the play was great, atmosphere was excellent, and the Football Hall of Fame induction at half was awesome.

The only bummer for me was Jones' injury. I really like him and as a fan, would like to know how he's doing.

Or we could leave it up to the internet where someone said he injured his ankle. He was holding his left wrist walking off the field.

[cwfenn]

I get it in today's paranoid sports world, coaches don't want to tip their hand on who is playing and who isn't. I get it, but as a fan, it's frustrating. Is Kainoa Jones, WOU starting QB, playing or not? Is he out for the year? Jones himself deserves better, he's given his heart and soul to the program, don't make him disappear. If he's out, he's out. If there's a timetable to return, print that. Don't treat your fans like idiots, we're more than just the parents and girlfriends of the players.

* Couple years ago half the WOU men's hoop team was out with injuries. I didn't know if they were kicked off or what. As the losses climbed and starters sat, I wondered what was going on. Speculation on grades, criminality, etc., went through my mind. In the end, it was injuries, which were never reported. To me, it's insane. This isn't pro sports. Report it. (Someone will throw HIPPA at me.)

Your point is valid - Two LSC quarterbacks are injured and possibly out, and all I could find is what I posted about the Angelo State quarterback in another thread about a calf injury. And believe me - I do a lot of digging and have gotten good at knowing who covers which team. I've even had incidences here where I'll only hear about an injury from a forum user who has an in with the program and they'll message me, sometimes in confidence.

Unfortunately I have seen this a lot, especially at lower levels. There isn't a real incentive for athletic departments to communicate these issues to the public, so they don't. Some athletics departments may not have the staff for it as well. You even see it with some smaller D1 schools too. I posted it in another thread last week - my alma mater's athletic department has gone from being extremely active with communication to doing barely the minimum after making the move to D1...I think it should be the opposite! As you mentioned, there may be privacy concerns and possible issues with sharing of student information (as a teacher, I'm told to be really careful with what I share and to who I share it with), but I can't tell you if that relates to sports injuries since I teach at a college that doesn't have athletics.

[Rambunctious1]

There has to be some sort of fan engagement. In Oregon, OSU is 20 miles from WOU on a quiet highway; UO is only 60 miles away. Fans have a choice. Small college football needs to get fans to the game. WOU opener was great for me, $8 ticket (as opposed to upwards of $60-$90 at OSU) and my parking (secret spot just off campus) was free. The concessions were cheap, the play was great, atmosphere was excellent, and the Football Hall of Fame induction at half was awesome.

The only bummer for me was Jones' injury. I really like him and as a fan, would like to know how he's doing.

Or we could leave it up to the internet where someone said he injured his ankle. He was holding his left wrist walking off the field.

I had Mom, have a sister, a brother, a daughter, son in law and a niece in the medical field. Lots of things that are mentioned may violate medical privacy rules. The families privacy should be respected first and they should be kept well informed. I am as curious as the next guy, but as a coach, I would be very careful about when and what I relayed about a player’s medical status unless it was ok with the individual and/or family. Not just from a sports strategic perspective, but not wanting to hamstring the kid if he has an opportunity to go to the next level. As you stated, the media, social or otherwise, will make their own mix regardless.

[tsull]

I had Mom, have a sister, a brother, a daughter, son in law and a niece in the medical field. Lots of things that are mentioned may violate medical privacy rules. The families privacy should be respected first and they should be kept well informed. I am as curious as the next guy, but as a coach, I would be very careful about when and what I relayed about a player’s medical status unless it was ok with the individual and/or family. Not just from a sports strategic perspective, but not wanting to hamstring the kid if he has an opportunity to go to the next level. As you stated, the media, social or otherwise, will make their own mix regardless.

How about this for wording: Jones will miss this week's game with an undisclosed injury. Would that cover it? Then next week if he's injured they could say Jones will miss this week's game with an undisclosed injury?

[Turbonium]

How about this for wording: Jones will miss this week's game with an undisclosed injury. Would that cover it? Then next week if he's injured they could say Jones will miss this week's game with an undisclosed injury?

What is the benefit to knowing this information as a fan?

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

What is the benefit to knowing this information as a fan?

In the D1 world as ironore stated above, gamblers are looking for that edge.

From a coaching standpoint, if the opposing coach knows 100% the starting QB is out, then it gives them the advantage of preparing their defense differently.

If Injured QB1 is an excellent RPO guy and QB2 is a freshman that hasnt sniffed the field, then you go from a more basic cautious defense with a spy to a more heavy defensive front to take away the run and pressure the hades out of the young inexperienced kid.

In the D2 world as a fan, absolutely no benefit except pissing off the 2 or 3 diehards that take the weekly pickem seriously and the close family and friends of the injured player that need to make a decision if they want to travel several hours just to see the injured kid warm the bench.

[Turbonium]

In the D1 world as ironore stated above, gamblers are looking for that edge.

From a coaching standpoint, if the opposing coach knows 100% the starting QB is out, then it gives them the advantage of preparing their defense differently.

If Injured QB1 is an excellent RPO guy and QB2 is a freshman that hasnt sniffed the field, then you go from a more basic cautious defense with a spy to a more heavy defensive front to take away the run and pressure the hades out of the young inexperienced kid.

In the D2 world as a fan, absolutely no benefit except pissing off the 2 or 3 diehards that take the weekly pickem seriously and the close family and friends of the injured player that need to make a decision if they want to travel several hours just to see the injured kid warm the bench.

Clearly from a coaching standpoint people know why injuries are not always disclosed, I'm asking as a fan why one would think they are owed this information. The answer is they aren't.

[Runnin' Cat]

What is the benefit to knowing this information as a fan?

For me it is important how I set my FFL line up.

This week it is a choice at QB of a team playing an FCS squad or a injured QB that may not play.

[IronOre]

In the D2 world as a fan, absolutely no benefit except pissing off the 2 or 3 diehards that take the weekly pickem seriously and the close family and friends of the injured player that need to make a decision if they want to travel several hours just to see the injured kid warm the bench.

Hey! You should all take the pick'em seriously!

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Hey! You should all take the pick'em seriously!

Of course I do. I have to let ASUPops know every year who the SR4 guru is. LOL.

[tsull]

What is the benefit to knowing this information as a fan?

I guess so you can follow the team like a normal fan, but I do know most small college admins/SIDs want the fans to buy the tickets, but not pay attention to what's really going on. When I was growing up, I knew who all the injured players were and no one died, got sued, etc. Jeez, I guess WOU should just throw the white flag up to UO and OSU, just say, "We don't care."

Seriously, two years ago HALF the men's hoop team was out and they never mentioned it until the season was over. I thought grades and criminality first (well, one might have been criminality), coach on a hot seat, no indication anyone was injured, just this mystery why 4 of 5 starters weren't playing. So yeah, they want the fans to NOT pay attention, buy the tickets, buy the gear, shut up, ignore everything ... and actually, travel to OSU games since we don't care.

Regarding this week, WOU QB2 is very good, so there's that. Usually not the case in Monmouth. I guess if QB1, QB2, and QB3 all broke their legs, it should be a complete mystery and fans should be in the dark.

[Turbonium]

I guess so you can follow the team like a normal fan, but I do know most small college admins/SIDs want the fans to buy the tickets, but not pay attention to what's really going on. When I was growing up, I knew who all the injured players were and no one died, got sued, etc. Jeez, I guess WOU should just throw the white flag up to UO and OSU, just say, "We don't care."

Seriously, two years ago HALF the men's hoop team was out and they never mentioned it until the season was over. I thought grades and criminality first (well, one might have been criminality), coach on a hot seat, no indication anyone was injured, just this mystery why 4 of 5 starters weren't playing. So yeah, they want the fans to NOT pay attention, buy the tickets, buy the gear, shut up, ignore everything ... and actually, travel to OSU games since we don't care.

Regarding this week, WOU QB2 is very good, so there's that. Usually not the case in Monmouth. I guess if QB1, QB2, and QB3 all broke their legs, it should be a complete mystery and fans should be in the dark.

Really strange and dramatic response. Yes, you are owed the information about what's going on with college athletes because you buy a ticket. Weird take.

[tsull]

Really strange and dramatic response. Yes, you are owed the information about what's going on with college athletes because you buy a ticket. Weird take.

What would you do if fans were curious about injuries?