Alante Brown recovering from 'mild concussive symptoms'; Michigan State expands medical evaluation to include video replay

East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State’s athletic medical staff will expand its use of video replays to assist in evaluating injuries on gamedays, as a result of an inquiry into an injury Alante Brown sustained during Friday’s football game against Central Michigan.

Brown was carried off the field on a spine board after he was involved in a heavy collision during the opening kickoff of Friday’s game.

According to a statement released by the university on Thursday, Brown initially tested negative to neck injury, neurological injury and concussion. 

Brown returned to the game and had a 16-yard kickoff return late in the second quarter. 

According to a statement from Michigan State Director of Athletic Medicine Dr. Jeff Kovan, Michigan State medical personnel saw a replay of the collision at some point after Brown had returned to the game, and that’s what led to the decision to hold Brown out for the remainder of the game.

On Saturday morning, Brown “displayed mild concussive symptoms on his repeat examinations,” according to Kovan’s statement in a university press release which was issued at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Kovan reports that Brown is “currently doing well and progressing through concussion protocol.”

Kovan indicated that Michigan State medical officials did not witness the collision in real time, nor did they view a replay of the collision before allowing Brown to return to the game. The decision to clear Brown to return to the game was based on tests and evaluations done by medical personnel, off the playing field. 

Brown, a Chicago native, is a senior wide receiver and first-year transfer from the University of Nebraska.

“For me, those decisions are all medical,” Michigan State head coach Mel Tucker said on Monday. “If a guy plays, if he doesn’t play, if he practices or doesn’t practice, it’s all medical. I don’t have anything to do with that. If they tell me he is up and ready to go, he goes. If he’s out, he’s out.”

Kovan’s complete statement regarding the injury and his staff’s inquiry:

“Following Friday night’s game, I conducted an inquiry of the events around Alante Brown’s injury, subsequent return to the game, and eventual medical removal from the contest. I analyzed the actions and verbal statements from all involved members of the sports medicine staff to ensure accuracy and consistency.

“Initial on-field evaluation of Brown’s injury included a head and neck screen, which prompted spine boarding and precautionary removal to the tunnel. Per all reports, none of the Athletic training staff or physician medical staff had direct vision of the injury when it occurred. Evaluation in the tunnel, while still on the spine board, was negative relative to a neck injury, neurological injury or concussion. Subsequent x-rays were performed in the stadium and were also negative. Repeat examination (for neck injury, neurological injury and concussion) after x-ray continued to be negative. Based on interviews, an isolated replay of the injury was not part of initial sideline video review.

“Based on the negative clinical examination and x-ray, activity progression occurred on an exercise bike on the sideline and Brown remained asymptomatic and therefore was allowed to return to play (for Michigan State). 

“At halftime, an additional detailed neurological and concussion examination remained negative. At that time, sports medicine staff were able to view the isolated television copy replay of the initial injury. Based on what was viewed, a decision was made to withhold Brown from further play despite continuing to have normal examination for precautionary reasons.

“The following morning, Brown displayed mild concussive symptoms on his repeat examinations. He’s currently doing well and progressing through concussion protocol.

“Moving forward, we will expand our use of video access as a tool to assist our healthcare providers in evaluating injuries and potential return to play.”