Football: Savage expected to play at Virginia Tech Oct. 12

Pitt quarterback Tom Savage is expected to play at Virginia Tech Oct. 12 after reporting concussion-like symptoms in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game, the University announced Monday. 

Pitt athletics spokesman E.J. Borghetti said in a press release that Savage has shown only mild symptoms and continues to make progress on a daily basis.

Savage exited Pitt’s 14-3 victory over Virginia prematurely Saturday, as he suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit on a rush attempt late in the third quarter. Savage was flushed from the backfield by the Cavaliers’ pass rush and gave himself up when he slid to Pitt’s 30-yard line after a 14-yard carry. 

As Savage slid, Virginia linebacker Daquan Romero came in and made helmet-to-helmet contact with Savage, leaving Pitt’s quarterback prone and in pain. 

Receiver Tyler Boyd was close to the play when it happened, and he said Savage got up slowly when Boyd tried to help him up.

“It looked like he got down and the guy just rushed him, hit him while he was sliding, straight head-on-head,” Boyd said. “I think they should’ve thrown a flag on it.” 

The type of hit made by Romero, where he led with the crown of his helmet, is one the NCAA has been trying to eliminate from play this season due to the severe injuries it can cause. 

Evidence in support of this initiative was on full display Saturday. When head coach Paul Chryst was asked if this was an example of the kind of hit the NCAA is trying to eliminate, he said “Yes, I think so.” 

But no flag was thrown on the play when Savage took the helmet-to-helmet hit, which Chryst said he “thinks” was the play on which he sustained his concussion. 

“I really believe there is not one official that isn’t for that,” Chryst said, “I’m going to stop there.”

The hit occurred at the end of the third quarter, and Savage came back onto the field to start the fourth. He was not pulled from the game until later in the fourth quarter, after having finished the drive in which he took the hit and having played another series behind center. According to Borghetti, Savage was removed from the game as soon as the medical staff became aware of Savage’s concussion-like symptoms. 

Savage completed his next three passing attempts after the hit from Romero: a 17-yard pass to Rachid Ibrahim, a 32-yard completion to receiver Devin Street and a 5-yard toss to Kevin Weatherspoon. On that series, Savage was sacked for the seventh time. 

Pitt punted and took back possession just more than a minute and a half later, at which point Savage threw an incomplete pass to Isaac Bennett.  

More than 11 minutes after Savage took Romero’s hit, Chryst decided that Savage’s day was done.

“[Savage] went and saw everyone, and we felt it was best to go with Chad [Voytik],” Chryst said. 

During the eight plays he was on the field following the hit from Romero, Savage’s teammates noticed something was not right in the huddle. Boyd described him as “wavy.”

“He kept looking drowsy, like he wasn’t right,” Boyd said. “He said he was cool, but I knew there was something that was bothering him.”

In the huddle, Street also said Savage was gagging. 

“He was a little dazed and confused,” Street said. “He wasn’t OK. I think he got his bell rung for sure.”