[Enlund's Blog] ACL injury for Otule

[Jay Bee]

If Otule is incapable of playing the remainder of the season, he could probably still have two years left to play. 

A redshirt is when you don't play at all in a season - not a second.

Chris did get a hardship waiver.  Now, the issue with be with respect to the Five-Year Rule. If he is unable to play the rest of this year and had 2 more years on his 5-year clock, no problem.. he'd be good on the hardship waiver requirements. 

However, this is his fourth year on the clock, so the issue becomes the Five-Year Rule, which is different in many ways.  However, based on his fact pattern, more likely than not he'd be granted an additional year, or sixth year, on his clock.. if requested of the NCAA Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement when the time is right.

(hardship waivers are generally administered by the conferences.. but, Chris' issue isn't going to be the hardship waiver requirements.. it's the Five-Year rule)

[mr.MUskie]

If he has gotten an MRI and they are saying ACL injury then I believe he could be back this year.  If its a torn ACL you see that on the MRI, can't be missed.

According to WebMD:
What is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury?
An anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, injury is a tear in one of the knee ligaments that joins the upper leg bone with the lower leg bone. The ACL keeps the knee stable.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/anterior-cruciate-ligament-acl-injuries-topic-overview

[DiaperDandy]

He will be back this year.  Just like Mbakwe came back.  No worries.

[MisterJaylenBrownMU]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves.  Yes, an ACL strain is a tear, much like pulling a muscle in your hamstring is usually a tear.  But not all ACL injuries are alike.

My little brother strained his ACL and MCL playing college football this year.  He missed one week, then was starting on the offensive line again the following Saturday.  

I'm not saying CO will be back in 2 weeks, but let's not assume that he tore his ACL in half, will never play again, and his game is going to take a massive dip in quality.  I understand that God invented the internet for blind speculation, but let's give this a few days.  The fact that they didn't announce it's a complete tear and that he's scheduled surgery is very good news.

[Keeyan Half Court Dunks]

I understand that Otule had a medical hardship waiver during his true Soph season.
Should the worst case be realized, and he is lost for the season, what are the chances that Otule can receive a second medical hardship waver??  I ask only because he played in 8 games.  I know there are rare cases of a player being in college for six yeas for this reason.  (Isn't Robbie Hummel in his 6th year?)

Of course this all depends on Chris wanting to be in school for 6 years, and who can blame him if he doesn't want to be.  I am just curious if anyone more knowledgeable on this topic can offer their 2 cents.

[GGGG]

Hummell is in fifth year. I addressed this in the other thread. He may apply for a sixth year after his eligibility is complete because he meets the requirements. However it is unclear if he would get it. Also if he gets it we have no more scholies to give for 13-14 and burton would be our only freshman unless someone leaves.

[Goose]

Hate to say it but that schollie can be better used down the road. Really like Chris and feel badly for him but too much medical history to roll the dice on redshirt.

[94Warrior]

Hate to say it but that schollie can be better used down the road. Really like Chris and feel badly for him but too much medical history to roll the dice on redshirt.

I didn't know we had a 4 or 5 star aircraft carrier waiting in the wings.  How come nobody shared this info with me? 

Just because you said 'I really like Chris' doesn't make up for the rest of your stupid post.  Keep your insensitive comments to yourself!

[JD]

I know there's multiple post, however I wanted everyone to know Chris himself said he wasn't sure of a timeframe yet on how long he'll be out.  He said he'd keep me posted.

[NCAARules]

Hummell is in fifth year. I addressed this in the other thread. He may apply for a sixth year after his eligibility is complete because he meets the requirements. However it is unclear if he would get it. Also if he gets it we have no more scholies to give for 13-14 and burton would be our only freshman unless someone leaves.

Hey Sultan

Just wanted to refer you to Jay Bee's post above, because he pretty much nailed the issue and the likely result.

The five-year clock extension requires two seasons where participation was denied by factors beyond the student-athlete's control. Medical Hardship is explicitly listed as exactly that type of circumstance. From where I sit, if CO does have to sit the rest of the year, this would be as close to certain as you can get when making this application.

But I really hope that this is all moot.

[MarquetteBamaFan]

ACL "strains" are pretty much a myth. The vast majority of ACL injuries will not return to this level of play without reconstruction/rehabilitation. My bet is this year is shot. Good luck to the kid, he's worked his ass off.

I'm no doctor, but I have torn my ACL a few times playing sports (most recently 4 years ago playing high school basketball).  I don't think we'll see Otule again this season, and if we do I don't imagine him being very effective.  I agree that ACL strains are a myth, especially when dealing with sports.  From what I understand, and from what my doctor told me, an ACL strain is either a slight tear or a stretching of the ACL. Neither of these are any good.  The first two times I hurt my knee my doctor described it as a strained ACL and put me in PT for 8 weeks.  It strengthened the muscles around my knee, but it doesn't help the ACL at all.  I completely tore the ACL within two weeks of going back to playing basketball both times.  In fact, many doctors say its better to completely tear your ACL than to strain it.  If you strain it or partially tear it, it puts more pressure on the other ligaments in the knee.  When you completely tear it, they can replace it and start rehab right away. The moment I saw Otule go down I figured it was an ACL.  Non contact injuries like that usually are.  It doesn't help that he's 6'10.  With all that weight on his knee, it's going to be tough for him to come back quickly.  Again, I'm not a doctor and I could be wrong, but I don't see Otule giving the team meaningful minutes again this season.

[brewcity77]

Hate to say it but that schollie can be better used down the road. Really like Chris and feel badly for him but too much medical history to roll the dice on redshirt.

Hmm...

Projected Starters
C - Chris Otule (Sr)
PF - Jamil Wilson (Sr)
SF - Juan Anderson (Jr)
G - Vander Blue (Sr)
G - Todd Mayo (Jr)

Projected Bench
C - Davante Gardner (Sr), Aaron Durley (So)
F - Jamail Jones (Sr), Steve Taylor (So), Jamal Ferguson (So), Deonte Burton (Fr)
G - Jake Thomas (Sr), Derrick Wilson (Jr), TJ Taylor (Jr)

For one year, I would love that kind of experience. A sixth-year center and fifth-year PF? Can you imagine that team on the defensive end? They would be terrifying. And only one freshman, so pretty much everyone would be on the same page and know the system well (especially since that freshman will be able to spend 2 years of spare time Hangin' at the Al).

Granted, I'd love to see a 5-star PG mixed in there, but in lieu of that, why wouldn't you want Chris back? It'd be for one year, and it's not like it'd kill you in 2014 either, when you'd still have a likely starting lineup with 3 seniors and 2 juniors again.

Now I'll be the first to admit I would rather have Otule back this year. I think this team has the chance to be really special and Chris is a massive part of that. But if he can't make it, I'd take a 6'11", 270 lb aircraft carrier that turned 24 mid-season and was a block machine over just about any freshman in the country, especially when we would have that scholarship open up in 2014 anyway.

[MUDPT]

A strain equals a tear, depends on how big the tear is.

My best guess, it's not a complete tear.  They will decide in the next few weeks if he is able to play on an incomplete tear.  They have to figure out  if he is able to run, jump, cut on a partial ACL tear with a probable brace.  This probably won't happen at the earliest in 2 weeks, as you have to let the possible pain and swelling go down.  I'm an eternal optimist.  If there is one person that could play D1 basketball on a torn ACL, it's  D1 basketball player. There muscle strength (obviously) is much better than some random guy off the street.  They are able to stabilize an unstable knee.

[downtown85]

 I understand that God invented the internet for blind speculation,

I love that quote!  But unfortunately you are wrong, Al Gore invented the internet!

[MUMac]

I love that quote!  But unfortunately you are wrong, Al Gore invented the internet!

But God invented Al Gore, ergo ...   

[GGGG]

Hey Sultan

Just wanted to refer you to Jay Bee's post above, because he pretty much nailed the issue and the likely result.

The five-year clock extension requires two seasons where participation was denied by factors beyond the student-athlete's control. Medical Hardship is explicitly listed as exactly that type of circumstance. From where I sit, if CO does have to sit the rest of the year, this would be as close to certain as you can get when making this application.

But I really hope that this is all moot.

JayBee and I essentially said the same thing.  I said "it was unclear"...he said "he could probably still have two years left to play."  We can't say definitively that he would get the sixth year.

The point is that he would have to apply and the NCAA has accepted and denied such applications in the past.  I am not sure on what grounds they justified those decisions.

[bilsu]

I think the only reason Otule stands a chance, is because his freshmen season was basically lost to his first broken foot. 4 seasons results broken foot, other broken foot, no injury, knee injury. You also have to wonder if having only one eye would give him some extra consideration. Why not give a benefit to a guy who has had a lot to overcome from day one. I certainly would include this in appeal for a sixth year.

[mu03eng]

A strain equals a tear, depends on how big the tear is.

My best guess, it's not a complete tear.  They will decide in the next few weeks if he is able to play on an incomplete tear.  They have to figure out  if he is able to run, jump, cut on a partial ACL tear with a probable brace.  This probably won't happen at the earliest in 2 weeks, as you have to let the possible pain and swelling go down.  I'm an eternal optimist.  If there is one person that could play D1 basketball on a torn ACL, it's  D1 basketball player. There muscle strength (obviously) is much better than some random guy off the street.  They are able to stabilize an unstable knee.

Todd Smith better start working the bejesus out of that quad if its only a partial tear.

But this brings up another point....even if it is a partial tear, he will have to have surgery at some point.  Do you take him this year season with the risk of a complete tear at some point and impact next year?  Worst case scenario he plays until February or early March and then completely tears it, has surgery and isn't ready to play until at least January of 2014.

Even if he makes it all the way through this season he will be doing so by exchanging that for some of next season as he recovers from the surgery

[RyanConroy]

Nevermind

[GGGG]

Scout board is saying that he is out for the year.

[TallTitan34]

Scout board is saying that he is out for the year.

Scout board is basing it off a facebook post for what it's worth.

[RyanConroy]

Scout board is saying that he is out for the year.

Unless something has changed very quickly over the past few hours, I don't find that to be accurate.

[tower912]

I want you to be right, but give a reason.   I recognize that the scout board thread is based off of a third party facebook post, but give us a reason it is wrong. 

[Windyplayer]

Unless something has changed very quickly over the past few hours, I don't find that to be accurate.

I really, really hate to say it, but deep down, we all know it was a tear. We saw the injury. I'd be shocked--in a very good way--if he plays again this year.

[4everwarriors]

Scout board is saying that he is out for the year.

Ya have to take that with a grain of salt. They have a habit of flying off at the handle.