Concussions and the Future of College Football

[brianlsanders]

Originally Posted by volnpowell

No, and actually I do not care for hockey. I only watch hockey and soccer when it is olympics and even then if I just happen to see it on. I just think if for nothing else they do get hit more often during each game, both are violent. Football is the best sport to play and watch imo.

Ive gotten to the point where i enjoy the NHL more than the NFL.

Its not a pansy game like the new "Goodell" NFL.

The NHL understands that the game is inherently violent. If someone goes overboard they get penalized and suspended. But they dont get fined for just playing the game.

NFL blows IMO

[volnpowell]

Originally Posted by brianlsanders

Ive gotten to the point where i enjoy the NHL more than the NFL.

Its not a pansy game like the new "Goodell" NFL.

The NHL understands that the game is inherently violent. If someone goes overboard they get penalized and suspended. But they dont get fined for just playing the game.

NFL blows IMO

I think the reason most people such as myself do not like hockey, is that most do not care to learn to skate. Also it needs to be cold to play. ( outside for free)

[brianlsanders]

Originally Posted by volnpowell

I think the reason most people such as myself do not like hockey, is that most do not care to learn to skate. Also it needs to be cold to play. ( outside for free)

Being from the south ive never skated and i never watched a hockey game till i was like 23.

Had a friend i went to school with thats from Erie PA. He took me to a Preds game and ive been a fan since. Ive really gotten into it the last couple of years.

The NHL playoffs is one of the most exciting things in sports. If you havent tuned in I highly recommend it.

[DjCrenshaw]

Going to watch the ice bears is fun, it's like a boxing match and a hockey game breaks out. If Hockey was as rough on the body as some may think... I don't see how they can play as many games as they do and almost never miss any games due to injury.

[Escape Goat]

Originally Posted by kcvols1

I know.

Its just like that time they shut McDonald's down for making everybody too fat.

Oh, wait...

Nothing repulsed me more than to see some whale driving down the road while stuffing it's face with a cheese burger.

[Escape Goat]

Simma down now, don't make me concuss you.

Originally Posted by VolMaster14

I haven't heard any reports that Junior Seau's suicide was concussion related. Also, the other players that have committed suicide is from the days where they wouldnt even sit a play out if they were concussed. What Dr's and teams now know about concussions and will continue to learn will help immensely in the future. I do agree though, equipment upgrades really wont help just for the simple fact the impact from the hits from these players are just to intense. You're gonna see a lot more than now, players forced to sit out as many games as it takes to get them healthy. I just dont see football ever going away. I respect the players as human beings not just athletes but they know what they are getting into, especially in todays game. The only way football goes away is because parents just dont let their kids play in the first place and we dont have enough players.

[brianlsanders]

Originally Posted by DjCrenshaw

Going to watch the ice bears is fun, it's like a boxing match and a hockey game breaks out. If Hockey was as rough on the body as some may think... I don't see how they can play as many games as they do and almost never miss any games due to injury.

Its very rare for a player to play a whole season without missing a few games

[DjCrenshaw]

Originally Posted by brianlsanders

Its very rare for a player to play a whole season without missing a few games

a few out of 100 something isn't really missing much

[knoxvols1]

It's going way of roman gladiators!
Posted via VolNation Mobile

[Negateer]

Originally Posted by TNGlen

Quite true, however, you have to understand the cause of the concussion. A helmet to helmet, helmet to knee, or a helmet to ground impact can all cause concussions. The point that many are trying to make here is, using the helmet as a weapon (i.e. helmet to helmet) wouldn't necessarily stop, however, if you make it so painful to make that hit, the hitter will find another part of the body to hit that causes less pain. We had some concussions in HS football, but NO WHERE near what happen today. Simple explaination is that the improved padding and design of the helmets makes it literally painless to hit someone hard enough to bounce the brain. That is the problem, not the hit, but how hard the hit is. I doubt seriously that you and I could stand toe to toe and headbutt each other and get a serious brain rattle. It just hurts the skin and skull too much to do that.

Good points. Hard to follow, but on spot-on IMO.

Originally Posted by volnpowell

No, and actually I do not care for hockey. I only watch hockey and soccer when it is olympics and even then if I just happen to see it on. I just think if for nothing else they do get hit more often during each game, both are violent. Football is the best sport to play and watch imo.

The hockey world championships are starting soon. That's even better than the Olympics for me. I also don't follow pro hockey, but always catch the olympics and the world championships.

Originally Posted by brianlsanders

This is quite the overreation. College football will not go away. Will they ruin the game much like the NFL is? Probably.

The game will still be played but the new version wont be worth a sh!t.

It's already been so wussified. I refer you to the 'janzen hit that guy too hard' penalty during the Music City Bowl.

[CountVolcula]

I never saw football listed on the 10 most dangerous jobs list

Must be keeping it a secret

[82_VOL_83]

Originally Posted by onefesternation

Not sure I'm following? Make the helmet more painful to hit with, but keep the protection there for the player getting hit? I'm sure that would be ideal, but if we had that technology available currently, I'm sure it would be in use. The best they've come up with so far is penalties and fines and/or suspensions to deter these "head-hunting" hits. I think that's a good start, but I see them going further with it in that direction.

I also think improvements in equipment will help as years go by, but I think advancements in medical treatment is where we will see a significant difference now that all the information is coming out about how bad concussions are for these players years down the road. OCI posted a link to an article where a doctor stated that players with concussions need complete and total rest for 2-3 days for the brain to recover from a concussion. Before, players just weren't allowed to fully practice, but I'm sure they were lifting weights, reading the playbook, going to meetings, etc. The doctor from the article suggested that the player basically should not be allowed to do any of that in order to fully recover. I think they'll start doing that for the players now that this information is out. Of course, the pending lawsuits will help push them that way as well.

Not offering a solution here. Just the fact that in the past, pain was the great equalizer for the hitter and hittee. That has all but been eliminated now. I honestly don't think that with player sizes and equipment advances that you would ever even consider going backwards. In fact, I don't think that preventing concussions via equipment changes is possible. I think you and many others here have pretty much covered what is going to happen in the the nature of increased fines, small rule changes, equipment improvements, effective concussion tracking, mandatory recovery periods, and Drs than can say enough is enough and basically "make" a player retire.

[Oskie Volum]

Originally Posted by brianlsanders

Being from the south ive never skated and i never watched a hockey game till i was like 23.

Had a friend i went to school with thats from Erie PA. He took me to a Preds game and ive been a fan since. Ive really gotten into it the last couple of years.

The NHL playoffs is one of the most exciting things in sports. If you havent tuned in I highly recommend it.

I think hockey is a cool sport but don't get the rules, so can't watch it. Don't know the strategies, etc. I can't sit at a bar and watch a game with the sound off, and know what's going on. Other than trying to make it in the net, and beat each other up. Wish I could though.

[Oskie Volum]

Sooooo how do u know if u got a concussion or just got knocked the f*** out????

[82_VOL_83]

Originally Posted by volnpowell

I think the reason most people such as myself do not like hockey, is that most do not care to learn to skate. Also it needs to be cold to play. ( outside for free)

Originally Posted by DjCrenshaw

Going to watch the ice bears is fun, it's like a boxing match and a hockey game breaks out. If Hockey was as rough on the body as some may think... I don't see how they can play as many games as they do and almost never miss any games due to injury.

Originally Posted by brianlsanders

Its very rare for a player to play a whole season without missing a few games

Originally Posted by DjCrenshaw

a few out of 100 something isn't really missing much

My comments about hockey vs football and concussions come basically from the HS level. Watching HS football for 6 years and coaching HS hockey during the same period of time....I noticed VERY few kids on the football team missing week to week unless they were out with injuries such as knees or broken bones. We had a kid or TWO missing every week in hockey for concussions. My kids had pretty expensive helmets, but no where near the level of an NHL player. Whereas, had my kids been playing football, I would have mortgaged the house to buy the best helmet available. I think the step change in equipment between youth and the pros in Hockey makes the youth and junior end of the sport more dangerous than the NHL level. However, in football, I think it is the opposite. Additionally, even thought the NHL is a violent sport, tackling the guy with the puck is NOT (contrary to popular belief) the point of the game whereas in football, that is the point.

Volinpowell, I think that most peeps don't like hockey because they don't understand the game. I didn't even watch a hockey game until my kids started playing (other than the Miracle on Ice season) in 98. I got involved in the pee wee end and didn't quit coaching until 3 years after my youngest son graduated from HS. I had skated a little in the past, but to coach youth hockey, you just have to learn the game and coach up the kids on the basics. We have in the past had a pretty good program in Knoxville. It comes and goes because as you point out, you have to skate, stick handle, shoot, and keep your head on a swivel. It takes more talent to play hockey than football, sorry, but that is the troof troof.