Will Grier has decided to focus on preparing for the NFL draft, but his decision to skip West Virginia’s bowl game has resulted in a ridiculous criticism.
Fox Sports analyst and show host Doug Gottlieb called the decision “comical” and asserted no quarterback has ever been injured in a bowl game.
Will Grier sitting out a Bowl Game is comical. Guy can really play, but has there ever even been a QB injured in a bowl game? Stop it already
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) December 12, 2018
Well, here we go.
Last season, Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson tore his right ACL. In the same game, Kentucky’s Stephen Johnson missed a half due to injury.
During the 2016 Sun Bowl, then-Stanford signal-caller Keller Chryst tore his right ACL. The previous season, Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg exited the TaxSlayer Bowl due to a sprained throwing shoulder.
Most notably, Colt McCoy left the 2010 BCS National Championship because a first-quarter hit pinched a nerve in his throwing shoulder. Alabama cruised to Nick Saban’s first national title, sparking today’s dynasty.
So, yes, quarterbacks have been injured. It’s foolish to say otherwise.
Gottlieb’s defense is that bowls are “showcases” for quarterbacks. We can assure you the Camping World Bowl would have little to zero effect on Grier’s scouting report, unless a career-altering injury occurred.
The risk far outweighs minimal reward.