TCU Coach Gary Patterson Screamed at the Team Physician For Holding Concussed Running Back Out
TCU running back Ed Wesley landed on his head on this play against SMU in September and was knocked out. According to TCU head physician Samuel J. Haraldson, “[Wesley] was knocked unconscious, and any loss of consciousness is automatically considered a concussion.” But TCU was tangled in a surprisingly close game against SMU – the Horned Frogs eventually won, 41-24 – and according to Haraldson, TCU coach Gary Patterson wanted Wesley back in the game. Immediately.
Then five or six plays later, I literally was verbally accosted by the coach, screaming at me insanely at the top of his lungs that he doesn’t think [Wesley] has a concussion and what right do I have to hold him out.
According to Fort Worth Star Telegram, this one will be difficult for Patterson to deny, because the exchange was shown on national TV. (Hey Gameday, will this be a topic Saturday?)
The game was televised by ESPN and the verbal exchange was shown live. When asked about the incident the Sunday after the game Patterson said, “It’s none of your business. As far as I’m concerned [Wesley] was fine 10 minutes after he was hurt.”
Patterson said Wednesday he knew of the story but hadn’t read it.
“They didn’t talk to me about it,” Patterson said. “They didn’t even try to get a hold of me. The bottom line is Wesley didn’t play. And he played the next week.”
Patterson said he was waiting for the TCU administration to clear him to respond to the story. He later issued a statement that because of privacy laws, “we can’t divulge information about a specific player’s health.” He said TCU’s policy is to ensure athletes have the “best medical attention possible.”
Yes, it was a bad job by the magazine to not get in touch with Patterson. But hiding behind privacy laws, coach? Really?
Wesley leads the team in rushing (685 yards) and touchdowns (seven). Prediction: TCU loses at Utah on Nov. 6.

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95 Responses to “TCU Coach Gary Patterson Screamed at the Team Physician For Holding Concussed Running Back Out”
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October 21st, 2010 at 10:22 AM
But hiding behind privacy laws, coach? Really?
You don’t understand HIPPA laws I take it.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:23 AM
TCU running back Ed Wesley landed on his head on this play against SMU in September and was knocked out.
He also fumbled on that play. Stupid officials ruled he was down though.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:24 AM
You don’t understand HIPPA laws I take it.
Coaches talk about player injuries all the time though. Granted they are not required to on the college level, but coaches providing insight on an injury or why a player was held out is certainly convention at this point. Patterson didn’t want the subject matter of this exchange getting out and this is why he’s asserting privacy laws.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:26 AM
Eh, I think the system worked. Overhyped-up coach overruled by team doc in the heat of battle. I don’t see the issue here.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:27 AM
Good on the physician for doing what’s best for the player. Too often it seems that team physician are advocates for the team rather than the individual player (moreso at the pro level).
October 21st, 2010 at 10:27 AM
KC – I get HIPPA. He doesn’t have to go into the concussion details. But he could go into the quotes & video of him yelling at the team physician.
If this happened at a high-major school, this would be a major issue, IMO
October 21st, 2010 at 10:29 AM
Add this to the advantages TCU and Boise have over the BCS schools…no one cares enough to make this an issue.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:30 AM
not to be nitpicky, but it’s HIPAA.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Eh, I think the system worked. Overhyped-up coach overruled by team doc in the heat of battle. I don’t see the issue here.
Good point.
Patterson still despises the fact that we beat him in 2005 the week after TCU upset Oklahoma. He mentioned more in the week prior to the game this year than anyone at SMU did. So I can imagine him freaking out when we had a lead in the second half. The doctor definitely did his job here though and Wesley is better off for it.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Not too often you see a coach who is also a medical and concussion expert.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:30 AM
But he could go into the quotes & video of him yelling at the team physician.
I see what you are saying now. I don’t disagree with that, but I think the bigger thing out of this is that the system worked. Lots of coaches have been putting concussed players back in games forever. With the doctor having the ability to overrule the coach, I think that is a step forward.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:31 AM
I’m not sure this would be a bigger deal anywhere else. Jason Witten berated the team doctor for not letting him back in the game a couple of weeks ago, and it was a minor blip on the radar for about a day.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:32 AM
I can understand getting worked up in the heat of the battle, but he’s gotta come out and now and admit he was wrong about this.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:32 AM
i believe it’s actually hippo.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:32 AM
If this happened at a high-major school, this would be a major issue, IMO
I think it’s only an issue as big as you want it to be if the coach berated the doctor into giving in, which didn’t happen.
The coach may be castigated (in the media) for a day or two, but in the end, there’s nothing fireable about screaming at a team doctor.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:32 AM
i believe it’s actually hippo.
We call him Fatterson.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:33 AM
not to be nitpicky, but it’s HIPAA.
Nitpicker.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:33 AM
I agree. If the kid had ended up back in the game the coach would rightfully be in trouble.
But in terms of what actually happened, he looks like a bit of an uninformed bully, but I’m pretty sure that classification can be made of 90% of CFB coaches.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:34 AM
The coach may be castigated (in the media) for a day or two, but in the end, there’s nothing fireable about screaming at a team doctor.
I’m going to be screaming at a doctor this afternoon as he manipulates my fucked up knee to see what is wrong with it.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:34 AM
The coach may be castigated (in the media) for a day or two, but in the end, there’s nothing fireable about screaming at a team doctor.
I think there is an implication of a lack of caring for the well being of his players. But as KC said, the doctor had the ability to overrule the coach, he did, and it stuck.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:34 AM
I can understand getting worked up in the heat of the battle, but he’s gotta come out and now and admit he was wrong about this.
Good call CJ, he could avoid a bunch of tough questions if he stated that a) he understands the seriousness of head injuries and b) it was an important point in the game and he just over reacted.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:34 AM
hungry hungry hippo one of the best games ever!
October 21st, 2010 at 10:34 AM
You’re actually one of the few relatives that I can stomach, but – You’re the internist; I’m the orthopedist, remember? Bone, muscle, joint: me; runny nose, diarrhea, gonorrhea, pink eye: you. Got it?
October 21st, 2010 at 10:35 AM
aggie wont care about this when they hire him next year
October 21st, 2010 at 10:35 AM
I need James Harrison or Channing Crowder’s feelings on this before I can fully make a judgment.
Now, if they were on motorized scooters, this never would have happened.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Also, TCU has given up 3 points in their last three games. That’s fun.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Patterson has always been a dick.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:36 AM
I think Channing Crowder is legitimately retarded…he thinks he suffers a concussion every week
October 21st, 2010 at 10:36 AM
No, but if he yells at him enough to make the doctor let the guy play and something happens to the player as a result, then that is fireable. In a way the doctor is also protecting the coach.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:36 AM
I am a yuge Patterson fan, so I’m going to play mock-turlteneck’s advocate here. It was in the heat of a game, and there is a lot of yelling and coaches and spur of the moment crap that is said. My hope is looking back, Patterson respects the team physician for his decision.
/haven’t read the article yet
October 21st, 2010 at 10:37 AM
I’m going to be screaming at a doctor this afternoon as he manipulates my fucked up knee to see what is wrong with it.
You know what he’s going to tell you? That if you were an athlete, they’d probably do surgery, but that you can just suck it up and go to physical therapy.
Take whatever painkillers he gives you, too. But you won’t get a good result, because you’re old and busted.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Speaking of the Witten thing, if the league’s going to outlaw these helmet to helmet hits then they should make a HUGE DEAL any time a coach or player gets pissed for a doctor holding out a player because of a head injury. At least try to make it look like you actually care about head injuries instead of making it look like you’re only doing this for publicity.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:37 AM
but YL – players obviously want to go back in.
I think the Eagles LB (Bradley?) said he was fine after a concussion, and got back in (season opener?).
coach demanding is another story (IMO)
October 21st, 2010 at 10:37 AM
what is tcu
October 21st, 2010 at 10:39 AM
I said, “Tape. It. Up.”
October 21st, 2010 at 10:40 AM
coach demanding is another story
yeah, but the real story is the doctor having juice over the coach on medical issues. That’s new. What used to happen was they said “bell rung” and then the coach went over and told the kid that only pussies sit out, and the kid then jumps up to go back in.
Two days, that’s how long this story lasts. Until Saturday’s games (unless Oregon loses tonight, then it’s already over).
October 21st, 2010 at 10:40 AM
That’s a fair point. If the kid had gone back in, this is probably in the first segment on SportsCenter.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:40 AM
what is tcu
what is a horned frog? never seen one
October 21st, 2010 at 10:40 AM
It was Bradley, yes. Reid said the staff gave him initial tests, which he passed. Later he reported not feeling so great, they pulled him.
/take that for whatever you feel it’s worth
October 21st, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Okay, so he’s a dick. I like watching his team play defense though.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:40 AM
what is tcu
The school for people who don’t get into SMU.
/Homer’d.
//adjusts ascot.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:41 AM
That doctor would never try and pull that shit on Coach Bud Kilmer.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:42 AM
You don’t understand HIPAA laws I take it
No one does. I remember working as a reporter and an EMT spokesperson inexplicably used HIPAA laws to shield the sex, age, etc. Basically they just told me “a person was hit by a car and was rushed to the hospital”.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Okay, so he’s a dick. I like watching his team play defense though.
Agreed. He’s a great defensive coach and he can recruit linemen really well.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:42 AM
Could say the same for Belichick. Or switch defense with offense and say Polian. Most of these dudes are dicks. This ain’t the YMCA.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Chris Harris, although incredibly stupid, made a good point on twitter about the helmet to helmet rule. He mentioned something about running backs using their helmets as battering rams to get more yardage. These new helmets were created to protect guys from serious injury but all the players think they make their heads invincible.
If you made them practice without helmets they’d probably get used to not tackling or plowing into the defense head first.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:44 AM
what is a horned frog? never seen one
horny toads are awesome. They’re little desert lizards. I’ll look for a good picture. They’ve got the one species that shoots blood out of its eye at predators.
When I was a little kid, my uncle brought me two from the desert, and told me to feed them red ants. I gave them a scoop of fire ants, and they got killed. Sad.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:44 AM
That’s why Shan Daily is a turrible football coach. No mean streak, no attitude.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:45 AM
not necessarily…RB’s have been using their heads as battering rams for awhile now. take a look at earl campbell for evidence.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:45 AM
I hope that is a Best of the Best Eric Roberts (1:50)reference. Because if it is, you are awesomesauce my friend.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:45 AM
Exactly. The big story here is not that Patterson is/should be castigated…it’s that the system worked.
As for Patterson hiding behind HIPAA…I can’t imagine this was his decision. Someone told him to keep his mouth shut, so he did.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Louis CK
October 21st, 2010 at 10:46 AM
I agree. But some of the dickest coaches/people I’ve ever seen were from my days at the YMCA
October 21st, 2010 at 10:47 AM
No doubt, playa. Would hate to see him go to College Station and make A&M relevant again.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:47 AM
google images sucks.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:47 AM
We just had our state rules review meeting for basketball on Tuesday, and PA just enacted rules (for hoops for sure, but I believe it’s in all sports) that if an official sees ANY symptom of a concussion he is to remove the player from the game.
The onus is then on the coach/school to get a PHYSICIAN (i.e., an MD, not the trainer) to OK the player’s return. But, if the coach puts the kid back in, we as officials can’t deny him/her access to the game even if the kid wasn’t checked.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:48 AM
i totally paraphrased that St Bear. IT was out and out theft on my part.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:49 AM
the ants or the frogs?
October 21st, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Amen. My personal trainer is a YMCA man; last week I wanted to spear him with a trident.
/Like Brick did
October 21st, 2010 at 10:50 AM
No worries, I got the reference, just figured I’d do the leg work and find the link.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:50 AM
and told me to feed them red ants. I gave them a scoop of fire ants, and they got killed. Sad
very
October 21st, 2010 at 10:51 AM
the ants or the frogs?
the horned toads. They eat harvester ants (giant red ones) not fire ants. Fire ants are a fucking scourge, but they’re red. I didn’t follow the instructions very well.
So I killed off the two horned toads this guy had brought us in a bucket from 1000 miles away.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:52 AM
biggest tragedy in oscar history is the obvious bias against eric roberts
October 21st, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Tigers extend Inge
October 21st, 2010 at 10:52 AM
anyway, a horned frog is a lizard. I’m sure you have a million lizards by you Irish that nobody’s ever seen, too. I know when I lived in south texas, there were lizards everywhere. We’d catch geckos all the time.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Finally, we now know why dirt is so salty.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:54 AM
The dead guy he found didn’t phase him because the 2 frogs he killed as a kid have been following him his whole life.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Eric Robers is on celeb rehad because he is addicted to weed
October 21st, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Finally, we now know why dirt is so salty.
it’s been firmly established that I am a nice guy. That came down from management.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:55 AM
I’d watch a video of fire ants eating horned toads
October 21st, 2010 at 10:56 AM
As long as it’s not in a shitty Indiana Jones movie.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:56 AM
would have guessed painkillers after seeing that video
October 21st, 2010 at 10:57 AM
Eric Roberts. Semi-legend.
He was great in Mr. Brightside.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:57 AM
here’s a horned toad against ants it can beat.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:58 AM
What about fire ants eating Shia LeBoef?
October 21st, 2010 at 10:58 AM
My Netflix recommendations have been nagging me to see this for months and says I’d give it 4 and half stars. I’m almost afraid to ask what I’ve been missing out on.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:59 AM
You know what he’s going to tell you? That if you were an athlete, they’d probably do surgery, but that you can just suck it up and go to physical therapy.
Take whatever painkillers he gives you, too. But you won’t get a good result, because you’re old and busted.
I’ve been told this repeatedly over the past few days. I basically going in to get a prescription.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:59 AM
I opened that link, saw the words “blood squirting” and immediately closed the link.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:00 AM
It’s pretty awesome.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:01 AM
That’s why Shan Daily is a turrible football coach. No mean streak, no
attitude
SHUT YOUR WHORE MOUTH!!!!
/prays lefty is wrong
October 21st, 2010 at 11:01 AM
I basically going in to get a prescription.
don’t ask him how good whatever you get goes with booze, or he won’t give it. Just say you want refills.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:02 AM
One of the best awesomely terrible movies of the 80s. Chris Penn, Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, and that one asian guy who is fight coordinator in the movies. It’s worth a watch, especially the Eric Roberts scene with Phillip Rhee talking about when his wife died.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:02 AM
It’s pretty awesome.
Agreed, that was very awesome.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:02 AM
I opened that link, saw the words “blood squirting” and immediately closed the link.
you should have seen the selections I was offered in the right rail, with regard to squirting.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:03 AM
Unfortunately, I’m not. Great talent evaluator though.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:04 AM
Much like SMU is for those who didn’t get into Rice.
/burn
October 21st, 2010 at 11:06 AM
Much like SMU is for those who didn’t get into Rice.
/burn
Not really. Well maybe the kids who go to the Engineering School. But its more like the kids who didn’t get into UT because of the stupid top 10% rule here in Texas.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Between the blood-squirting lizard and the honey badger videos this place has done more to expand my animal knowledge than Jack Hanna’s Letterman appearances
October 21st, 2010 at 11:10 AM
Don’t go adding facts ms!
October 21st, 2010 at 11:15 AM
I watched the lizard video. The blood squirting out of its eyes was gross, but it was pretty funny when the narrator said something about the coyote being fast to catch the lizard when all it had to do was briskly walk.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Jay, did you go to any of the MMJ NY concerts?
October 21st, 2010 at 11:39 AM
That would be a great hire for A&M.
October 21st, 2010 at 11:53 AM
I was at this game. Front row, too, right behind TCU bench. Wesley did *not* look like he was aware of what happened. Putting him back in the game would have been a bad idea.
Oh, and fuck TCU.
October 21st, 2010 at 12:03 PM
agreed, so hopefully it never happens
/woo pig sooie
October 21st, 2010 at 1:59 PM
Schools violate HIPPA laws every day. You can’t reasonably claim that you’re forbidden from discussing one athlete’s situation if you release a weekly injury report that enumerates each player’s injury and probability of participation in that week’s game. Can’t have it both ways.