The most important question of Utah’s football season: What to do with Cam Rising?
There’s one obvious answer: Sit him until doctors say he’s completely healthy and until he says he’s completely comfortable and, then, only then, turn him loose on the poor souls he’s going to beat.
The other candidate answers:
a) Let him play as soon as he believes he’s ready.
b) Play him as soon as his outside handlers say he’s ready.
c) Play him as soon as the doctors say he’s ready.
d) Play him when the coaches desperately need him.
e) Play him, come what may, when the season starts.
f) Play him when fans begin to cry for him.
g) Play him when program sponsors cry for him.
h) Sit him beyond when doctors say he’s officially cleared to play, beyond when he’s comfortable playing, straight through until league games commence, because OOC games don’t really matter, all so his pro future will not be put at risk.
i) Let him dress like a coach, collect his NIL money, and coach up the other quarterbacks. Just let extra losses come as the wheel heals.
Well. What say you?
Can he recover from an ACL injury suffered eight months ago that not infrequently requires 10 months to a year to come back from? Especially given the abandon with which the quarterback plays, a devil-may-care adventurousness that makes him a real threat, makes him a joy to watch, makes him what he is, made him what he was.
Let’s go ahead and keep that in the present tense or at least the future tense. Rising has overcome injury in the past to become not what he was … no, what he is … or no, what he in time can or will be again.
None of this would be so particularly significant were Rising not such a gifted quarterback and team leader. Utah has had many talented players over his time as a Ute, including a couple of NFL first-round picks. But he more than anyone else has been the program’s most valuable player. Without him, no way the Utes win back-to-back Pac-12 titles and make it to the Rose Bowl.
He’s the second-best quarterback — my opinion — in Utah’s history.
Think about what that’s meant for fans who’ve had terrific experiences, going to Pac-12 championship games, going to Pasadena and taking in all those trips have brought them, on account of the wins and despite the losses. Under Rising, the entire Utah program has been elevated to a level of consistent national respect. A whole lot of combined sacrifice, effort, performance has gone into that — effective work by players at every position, coaches and coordinators. But Rising has been the center point on the field.
When it came to vote in the preseason media poll last month as to where the Utes would finish this season, I had a choice to make: Should they be presumed No. 1, the two-time defending champs having to be knocked off their perch before losing that predicted spot?
There’s something to be said for that line of thinking.
I placed them No. 2, one slot behind USC. (Oregon State, Oregon, Washington will be good, too.)
The reason? Rising’s hurt ACL. Who knew back then how long it would take for Rising to return to full form? I didn’t. Kyle Whittingham still isn’t sure. Nobody’s sure.
Everyone’s asking who the starting QB will be when the season kicks off in the days ahead, what with Rising’s status uncertain, backup Brandon Rose being dinged, too. Looks to be Bryson Barnes, if Rising can’t go.
It’s no revolutionary statement to say that if Rising’s return is significantly delayed, it will set the Utes back in the defense of their Pac-12 titles. As much as Utah football has comprehensively improved over the past few years, without Rising, their chances at another trophy are between fat and slim. They — all his teammates and coaches — need him in order to, forgive the pun, rise to what they might otherwise be. Don’t even let the thought of what a premature return would bring, if it were to lead to additional injury.
Back to the original question. What should the Utes do with their star quarterback? What would you do?
The correct answer is the obvious one. The need for him changes nothing.
There’s no legitimate reason to hurry the thing up and there’s no legitimate reason to delay it.
Coming back from a serious injury is more complicated than a lot of folks want to make it, physically, mentally, emotionally. I’ve interviewed enough injured athletes — college and pro — to know there are unseen, unfelt challenges outsiders do not grasp. Yeah, these athletes, even relatively young ones, are freaking gladiators who put their bodies on the line every time they suit up. But they also are profoundly human.
One athlete told me overcoming his injury was the hardest thing he’s ever done. Another said he had to retrain his brain, after initially believing he was darn near immortal, having depended on his physical prowess for most of his life, and then, suddenly, realizing that in spite of his talents, when it came to vulnerability and the need to heal, he was just like everybody else. Immersing himself in that realization was a whole new deal, being forced to acknowledge it while not allowing it to undermine what remained in front of him.
Rising undoubtedly wants to heal and play and help his team win asap. In the far reaches of his mind, he likely does consider his future, wanting to be sound physically and mentally for what every college football player wants — a shot at the NFL.
All of that said, the plain answer is by far the best one, whenever those combined conditions arrive for Utah physicians and for the man himself. Let him heal, let him be where and what and who he needs to be, who he is, then … let him go.
Follow @GordonMonson