Published September 17, 2012 - 8:14pm
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If it were up to Arkansas quarterback Tyler WIlson, he likely would have been on the field last Saturday against Alabama. And it probably wouldn’t have made the game much more competitive. The reality is that Arkansas has a number of problems in addition to their Heisman-caliber quarterback getting concussed against ULM.
As Arkansas looks to a tough non-conference game against Rutgers, Wilson is chomping at the bit to get back on the field.
We made it clear last week that we would be shocked if Wilson took the field, and today, I’m still somewhat skeptical. Concussions are one of the hottest topics in football today, and doctors are not messing around with the risk of these head injuries. Doctors will be less willing to clear players who suffer concussions than in previous years. Nobody knows the specifics of Wilson’s health other than those close to him, so this is all speculation, but I will not be surprised to see Wilson sit out the Rutgers game.
If I’m Wilson’s parents or advisors, this is a no brainer. Sorry, but Arkansas has lost two games straight and is not going to compete for an SEC West divisional crown this year. The season is essentially already lost when you consider the expectations prior to the season.
Wilson needs to put himself first here. Jeopardizing his future career is not worth beating Rutgers. It’s not worth trying to ensure Arkansas goes to the Music City Bowl (or worse).
When Wilson went down with the injury to ULM, we weren’t entirely sure if it was a concussion or a collar bone injury. While the collar bone would have likely ended his season, the concussion is potentially worse for Wilson. NFL teams might avoid drafting Wilson due to him having multiple concussions on his record.
Tyler Wilson is a very talented kid, and I’m rooting for a long football career for him. We don’t like to talk about the money when it comes to professional athletes, but the money that is at stake for Wilson is not worth jeopardizing in order to get a win against Rutgers. We’re talking tens of millions of dollars potentially.
Arkansas’ protection has been abysmal for as long as WIlson has been their starting quarterback. He takes hits no matter what colors the opposing defense is wearing. Every Arkansas fan knows the toughness he has shown on the field, always willing to stand in the pocket and fire off a throw downfield mere seconds before getting blasted. Wilson has always been willing to put the Razorbacks first.
It’s time for Tyler Wilson to put Tyler Wilson first.
Arkansas fans have already adjusted their expectations for this season, but if Wilson doesn’t play and the Hogs lose to Rutgers, the fans will go into complete “I don’t give a damn mode” and apathy will set in. The fans are now hoping for Arkansas to just get to a bowl, and if they lose to Rutgers, most think it won’t happen. Neither do I. If Wilson is deemed healthy by team doctors, he should play, and the Hogs offense should be in max protect most of the game and Paul Petrino should run the ball much more. But Wilson must be on the field for Arkansas to have any chance of winning any more games. I am in favor of Tyler doing what’s best for himself, but I want to see the Hogs win too. Many fans are conflicted on this subject.