UNI’s Kollmorgen confirms concussion, possibly done for good

CEDAR FALLS — The story of Sawyer Kollmorgen and concussions isn't a short one. And unfortunately for the Northern Iowa football team and its senior quarterback, there's another chapter.

Kollmorgen confirmed Tuesday at UNI football practice he did, in fact, sustain another concussion against Western Illinois. Pending a doctor's appointment later this week, it's possible Panther fans have seen him in uniform for the last time.

'I got another concussion on one of those plays where I got wrapped up, and his arms were over my arms, so when we went down, it was all my body weight and all of his body weight went on my head,' Kollmorgen said Tuesday. 'I lost some vision in my left eye. That's kind of the main thing is some vision problems right now that I'm trying to work through. I'll go and see the neurologist on Thursday again, so we'll see what she says.

'We'll see how it goes. I don't know how long I'll be out for or when I'll be back. This is my fourth one, so I've got to make some decisions, talk to family and see what that is.'

The concussion is Kollmorgen's second this season alone, and the second in as many weeks. He suffered a minor one that kept him out of the second half of the North Dakota State game, but he was able to return and start the next week against Western Illinois.

If he is done, Kollmorgen leaves having completed 490 of 852 passes for 6,291 yards (57.5 percent), 49 touchdowns and 22 interceptions in 35 career games from 2012-15. He helped the Panthers to one FCS Playoff berth, last year's second-round exit to Illinois State.

The Jenks, Okla., native appeared to be on a meteoric trajectory when he debuted as a freshman in 2012, throwing for 2,460 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Year and finishing second in the voting for the Jerry Rice Award. But injuries and quarterback battles limited that path. The fondness both his teammates — current and former — have for Kollmorgen is perhaps surpassed only by a fan base who clamored for more of him this season, both in the stands and on social media.

Kollmorgen said this is especially hard given it's his final year at UNI, but he's certainly still going to be visible as a Panther if he can't be on the field.

'I talked to Coach (Mark) Farley and Coach (Joe) Davis and told them I want to be part of the program in any way I can — come back, if I can. If not, stay around and help; do whatever,' Kollmorgen said. 'It's difficult, but it's life. Life throws a bunch of curveballs at you, and it's how you look at it and how you handle it. I'm trying to be positive about it and look at it as an opportunity to help Aaron (Bailey) out, help Eli (Dunne) out; help the team out and share some of my knowledge.

'None of that will change. I'll do my best to come here every day with a good attitude. It's just a way for me to show guys that something bad can happen, but it's all about how you handle it.'

Farley declined to comment on Kollmorgen's condition, other than to confirm he won't play Saturday against South Dakota at the UNI-Dome. He preferred to let his quarterback speak for himself.

The two stood together for several minutes as practice started Tuesday, joking with each other and having an animated conversation about a few different offensive situations.

That's a view to the future, potentially, should the decision be that Kollmorgen is done for good. He hinted at a future in coaching, and if he can't play anymore, he'll get a head start on a new career.

'I think so; I think it's an opportunity to improve my coaching,' Kollmorgen said. 'It'll be kind of difficult because these are my peers, they're the same age as me; I've been playing with these guys. But at the same time, Aaron listens to me (because) I show respect to him and he shows respect to me. We kind of have that relationship where I'm not trying to tell him what to do, I'm just telling him what I see.

'It's the approach I'm going to have to take. I'll have to go to meetings with the coaches, learn more about what Coach Davis sees, what Coach Davis was talking about that I can maybe relate to Aaron a little bit better because we're the same age.'

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