The growing information about football injuries leads me to conclude that football may be, and should be abandoned. Here, a case of a 33 year old.

Ex-NFL TE Suffering From Memory Loss Writes Heartwarming Song For Family
Monday, June 30, 2014 2:43 pm
Written by: ThePostGame Staff

903
41

20



After a football career that included five diagnosed concussions, former Colts and Bengals tight end Ben Utecht began experiencing memory loss at age 30.

A father of three daughters, Utecht has testified on Capitol Hill that one of his girls told the family doctor that she sometimes becomes afraid of her father during his dark spells at home.

"That broke my heart," Utecht told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "It was a wakeup call."

To ensure that his daughters always know he cares for them, even if his concussions rob him of much of his memory, Utecht penned and recorded a heartwarming new song titled "You Will Always Be My Girls."

Why stop at football?

Yes

Eliminate football....ummm, that's about as popular as leaving the UC system for the State system.

we have no choice but to compete in football as we have committed too much money to the SAHPC project to quit to the sport.

I think it becomes more of a personal decision for families when kids are starting out playing the sport in high school. Should they allow their kids to play football now knowing the risks of permanent brain injury? It wouldnt surprise me though if some high schools drop the sport, especially those with low enrollment but Cal is past being in a position where they can afford to drop the sport.

Why drive cars? Why fly on airplanes? Why walk down the street? Why go swimming? Why eat different foods?

Why live life at all?

bearchamp;842329813 said:

---

The growing information about football injuries leads me to conclude that football may be, and should be abandoned. Here, a case of a 33 year old.

Ex-NFL TE Suffering From Memory Loss Writes Heartwarming Song For Family
Monday, June 30, 2014 2:43 pm
Written by: ThePostGame Staff

903
41

20



After a football career that included five diagnosed concussions, former Colts and Bengals tight end Ben Utecht began experiencing memory loss at age 30.

A father of three daughters, Utecht has testified on Capitol Hill that one of his girls told the family doctor that she sometimes becomes afraid of her father during his dark spells at home.

"That broke my heart," Utecht told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "It was a wakeup call."

To ensure that his daughters always know he cares for them, even if his concussions rob him of much of his memory, Utecht penned and recorded a heartwarming new song titled "You Will Always Be My Girls."

---

Is that you Teddy?!

bearchamp;842329813 said:

---

The growing information about football injuries leads me to conclude that football may be, and should be abandoned. Here, a case of a 33 year old.

Ex-NFL TE Suffering From Memory Loss Writes Heartwarming Song For Family
Monday, June 30, 2014 2:43 pm
Written by: ThePostGame Staff

903
41

20



After a football career that included five diagnosed concussions, former Colts and Bengals tight end Ben Utecht began experiencing memory loss at age 30.

A father of three daughters, Utecht has testified on Capitol Hill that one of his girls told the family doctor that she sometimes becomes afraid of her father during his dark spells at home.

"That broke my heart," Utecht told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "It was a wakeup call."

To ensure that his daughters always know he cares for them, even if his concussions rob him of much of his memory, Utecht penned and recorded a heartwarming new song titled "You Will Always Be My Girls."

---

I understand that Soccer also presents a significant risk of injury to the players especially the younger players. But even the more experienced players are subject to brain injuries in the long run due to hitting the player's head with the ball or vice-versa. Not as much as American football but still some significant risk. Rugby also but to a lesser degree.

In fact this is true for any sport which has repeated significant blows to the head (whether blows by a body or by a ball) or blows to the body which cause the head to snap forward or backward or side-to-side or one major blow to the head or major head snap.

bearchamp;842329813 said:

---

The growing information about football injuries leads me to conclude that football may be, and should be abandoned. Here, a case of a 33 year old.

Ex-NFL TE Suffering From Memory Loss Writes Heartwarming Song For Family
Monday, June 30, 2014 2:43 pm
Written by: ThePostGame Staff

903
41

20



After a football career that included five diagnosed concussions, former Colts and Bengals tight end Ben Utecht began experiencing memory loss at age 30.

A father of three daughters, Utecht has testified on Capitol Hill that one of his girls told the family doctor that she sometimes becomes afraid of her father during his dark spells at home.

"That broke my heart," Utecht told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "It was a wakeup call."

To ensure that his daughters always know he cares for them, even if his concussions rob him of much of his memory, Utecht penned and recorded a heartwarming new song titled "You Will Always Be My Girls."

---

The real answer, disturbing as it may be, is that with the money that just got borrowed on the basis of future football ticket sales, the case is going to have to be very convincing and it isn't statistically there yet.

That being said, not sure it is fair to only pick on football. Both men's and women's soccer account for a lot of brain injury, though they tend to be due to repetitive impact rather than concussions. But if you are punch drunk, you don't much care how you got that way.

I am having increasing doubts about Cal football for many reasons. For sure it doesn't make sense for Cal to continue in the pac-12 unless they restructure the relationship with academics at Cal.

Cal's identity crisis with regard to revenue sports is really damaging everyone involved. Maybe with new leadership more definitive decisions will be made.

As far as the frequency and intensity of blows to the head, only boxing is worse than football. Rugby and soccer are much safer relatively. I've been a soccer bum for nearly 30 years and have never had any head issues or come close to a concussion.

Football is too culturally entrenched to not survive in the short run but its long term survival is not a given. It might start at the grassroots level with parents steering their kids away from football, and high schools dropping the sport for liability issues. I think the sport is going to become a lot more controversial in the 2020s and 30s.

What will eliminate football across the board is the concussion lawsuits that will be coming in the future. When damages in the millions hits the schools, they will start ending their individual football team and that will be the end. You can talk all you want about other sports concussions but football is the most damaging. Why was boxing eliminated in all of the colleges and universities across the county. There may be one or two left but I do not believe that there are anymore. Head injuries were the problem. And they ended the sport at the collegiate level. I believe the same will happen with football unless there are some major rules changes and enforcements.

bearchamp;842329813 said:

---

Should the University be in Football

---

Cal88;842329857 said:

---

As far as the frequency and intensity of blows to the head, only boxing is worse than football. Rugby and soccer are much safer relatively. I've been a soccer bum for nearly 30 years and have never had any head issues or come close to a concussion.

Football is too culturally entrenched to not survive in the short run but its long term survival is not a given. It might start at the grassroots level with parents steering their kids away from football, and high schools dropping the sport for liability issues. I think the sport is going to become a lot more controversial in the 2020s and 30s.

---

"Safer relatively" yes. But there is still significant risk of long term damage especially for soccer slightly less for Rugby.

Once you start on the slippery slope of trying to protect the student athlete from significant risk of brain damage when the athlete gets past 40-50 years old, how can a school justify any material risk?

Good bye, FB , Soccer, Rugby, maybe BB since one major head slam to the hardwood floor may be enough for major head trauma and long term brain damage. And Baseball must provide for protection to hitter and pitcher. No more high inside pitches, better batting helmets. (I assume wrestling and boxing are already gone.)

GivemTheAxe;842329867 said:

---

"Safer relatively" yes. But there is still significant risk of long term damage especially for soccer slightly less for Rugby.

---

1st, the risk in Football is twice the risk of Soccer, even for girls (who have a higher risk) See below

2nd, if the risk ever threatens the sport, soccer has some reasonable (not easy) fixes. Stop heading (you already can't play the ball with your hand) Obviously that would diminish the game, but if that's what it takes to keep playing, it can be done. But there are also half measures - no heading outside the penalty area. you'd cut incidence of heading (and thus risk of concussion) substantially.

There is no similar change that can save football. It is doomed.

Reported H.S. Concussion Rates per 10,000 athletic exposures, as reported by athletic trainers, by sport:Source: National Academy of Sciences, Datalys Center (2010-12)

Sport Boys Girls
Football 11.2 NA
Lacrosse 6.9 5.2
Soccer 4.2 6.7
Wrestling 6.2 NA
Basketball 2.8 5.6
Field HockeyNA 4.2
Softball NA 1.6
Baseball 1.2 NA

For soccer, helmets (as worn recently by Petr Cech and Rooney) would be the first easy change that would be implemented, it wouldn't affect the game and it would reduce the risk significantly. I think they're going to become standard gear in American youth soccer at some point.

Cal88;842329887 said:

---

For soccer, helmets (as worn recently by Petr Cech and Rooney) would be the first easy change that would be implemented, it wouldn't affect the game and it would reduce the risk significantly. I think they're going to become standard gear in American youth soccer at some point.

---

I'm not so sure. Similar to football in some respects, the headgear gives the wearer a false impression they are protected more than they really are, which can result in more aggressive play and more head injuries. I think some of the early studies on those "full 90" headgears showed there was little reduction, if any, of head injuries. Maybe better for Keepers like Cech, who has a history of concussions and isn't heading the ball, but does have collisions with other players in his goalkeeping play.

i have two daughters that played soccer, about 16 years each, through college. They both had concussions on a couple of occasions, and each of them had one that likely would not have been prevented with a helmet. I do know, through them, at least two college level players that quit the game because of repeated concussions. Goalkeepers are particularly vulnerable, they are at risk of getting kicked in the head every time they go on the ground for 50-50 balls, or kicked or hit by a head when trying to punch or save balls in the air. The data shows the incidence rate is less than football, but it's still significant and a huge concern for the sport. Frankly, it's irresponsible to not have baseline monitoring/testing on all players and subsequent testing after concussions prior to allowing players (soccer) to participate again. I'm pretty sure Cal a does this now, many local high school programs have been doing this for 4-5 years, and at least some of the major area club teams as well.

Cal88;842329857 said:

---

As far as the frequency and intensity of blows to the head, only boxing is worse than football. Rugby and soccer are much safer relatively. I've been a soccer bum for nearly 30 years and have never had any head issues or come close to a concussion.

---

Have you been watching the World Cup?
I'm guessing you really don't know what a concussion is.

Actually womens soccer has just as many head trauma as mens football at the high school level in terms of concussions and micro-tears based on head hits. Each time your girls head a ball it is like being hit by a linebacker.

Similarly, Lacrosse (which many suburban families think is the answer for their football fueled progeny) is almost as damaging.

Modern football practices would / should be different than the practices in the 70's / 80's / 90's where kida were just hitting their heads. If the coach of your kids is doing the Oklahoma drill all day then that is a problem. Coaching is the key to keeping people safe, as it always was. Unfortunately, too many NFL and College coaches are dinosaurs.

I do think that there will be some issues / lawsuits - but frankly that is settled by a waiver - just like Paintball or being a fan at a baseball game. Injury happens in sports.

mdcspe69;842329858 said:

---

What will eliminate football across the board is the concussion lawsuits that will be coming in the future. When damages in the millions hits the schools, they will start ending their individual football team and that will be the end. You can talk all you want about other sports concussions but football is the most damaging. Why was boxing eliminated in all of the colleges and universities across the county. There may be one or two left but I do not believe that there are anymore. Head injuries were the problem. And they ended the sport at the collegiate level. I believe the same will happen with football unless there are some major rules changes and enforcements.

---

Makes you wonder whether the stadium financing should also include a line item under debt for the millions related to head injury lawsuits.

One limitation in this debate is that we simply have NO information (hopefully someone is doing he epidemiology) on how much of a problem any (football, soccer, etc.) is for the non-professional. Pretty clear that those playing in the NFL for extended periods of time - with ridiculous pressure to play after concussion and with hits of much greater force are at greater risk of long-term damage. What we don't know is how much greater risk individuals are taking by playing Youth, HS, and College ball. But I would be skeptical about trying to equate the damage done to the brain of even a 30 year old that has been playing football all his life with a kid who plays HS.

In addition (to complicate the epidemiology even more....did you know CAL has a GREAT school of public health.... ;-), there is a small percentage of adults that will get early onset dementia. The vast majority of these are not public figures who have their own wiki pages. So when it happens in an NFL'er it is amplified. It could be that rather than have TBI, Utecht is tragically suffering from something else. So until the studies are done we should be slow to draw conclusions.

Is football dangerous? Surely. So is skiing, biking, hiking, swimming, running, and playing hoops. Probably sitting on ones but playing video games is also pretty dangerous for long term damage to one's heart. I personally believe the right approach - right now - is one of informed caution. We know there are issues....but rather than jump the shark lets let the science progress and figure out just how much of a risk there is.

Oski87;842329911 said:

---

Actually womens soccer has just as many head trauma as mens football at the high school level in terms of concussions and micro-tears based on head hits. Each time your girls head a ball it is like being hit by a linebacker.

---

I am not being difficult. I am truly interested. I am a HS Girls coach. I don't see it. If it is as bad as you say, I need to change some things...

Go!Bears;842329929 said:

---

I am not being difficult. I am truly interested. I am a HS Girls coach. I don't see it. If it is as bad as you say, I need to change some things...

---

No time but this weekend (or Friday), NPR ran a story about a bunch of well known women soccer players forming an association along with the American Pediatric society to encourage youth soccer to ban heading by girls below the age of HS. Look for it - post if you can't find it and I will dig as well.

goldenokiebear;842329895 said:

---

I'm not so sure. Similar to football in some respects, the headgear gives the wearer a false impression they are protected more than they really are, which can result in more aggressive play and more head injuries. I think some of the early studies on those "full 90" headgears showed there was little reduction, if any, of head injuries.

---

I used to be a big fan of the Full-90's and they are probably better than nothing, but for girls the high incidence is the result of weak neck muscles. In boys those muscles act as a kind of shock absorber for head to ground contact and there is less "brain shaking". The helmets help with head to hard object injuries, but not the shaking injuries. That is really football's problem. There is not much that can be done to get that out of the game. Soccer has options.

As a coach, I do not need to wait for FIFA to change the rules, I can change expectations on my team. No heading outside the box - Team rule, players will learn it and change their behavior. I had a player, prone to concussions because of her style of play, never quit on a ball attitude. She had already had two concussions before joining the team. She was banned from heading. No drills, not in a game. Against our rival she begged to be taken off the leash and I agreed, but only as a shot on goal, nothing else. We got her through the season without incident. Soccer can reduce its concussion risk. I don't think football can.

socaltownie;842329944 said:

---

No time but this weekend (or Friday), NPR ran a story about a bunch of well known women soccer players forming an association along with the American Pediatric society to encourage youth soccer to ban heading by girls below the age of HS. Look for it - post if you can't find it and I will dig as well.

---

I also coach a U13 team, I am seriously considering a no-header policy. The goal is to keep them playing, concussions end careers...

Cal88;842329857 said:

---

I've been a soccer bum for nearly 30 years and have never had any head issues or come close to a concussion.

---

How have you missed the several serious head injuries this WC alone?

The problem is that our brains are contained in a poorly designed BHG, and we engage in activities that involve maximum effort and movement.

There is no way to have athletics and not have brain injury. It is doing something to the edge of your ability, with your BHG hanging out in the open with the risk of getting knocked around.

EVERY athletic sport has this risk. Contact or not.

Go!Bears;842329947 said:

---

I used to be a big fan of the Full-90's and they are probably better than nothing, but for girls the high incidence is the result of weak neck muscles. In boys those muscles act as a kind of shock absorber for head to ground contact and there is less "brain shaking". The helmets help with head to hard object injuries, but not the shaking injuries. That is really football's problem. There is not much that can be done to get that out of the game. Soccer has options.

As a coach, I do not need to wait for FIFA to change the rules, I can change expectations on my team. No heading outside the box - Team rule, players will learn it and change their behavior. I had a player, prone to concussions because of her style of play, never quit on a ball attitude. She had already had two concussions before joining the team. She was banned from heading. No drills, not in a game. Against our rival she begged to be taken off the leash and I agreed, but only as a shot on goal, nothing else. We got her through the season without incident. Soccer can reduce its concussion risk. I don't think football can.

---

I don't understand the "no heading outside the box" idea I've heard in a couple of posts here - it's more likely one will get a concussion heading in the penalty area, I've seen a few result from head knocking in the penalty area because it's more congested and there's more at stake close to the goal. It's not just the act of heading the ball that results in many concussions, rather the impact when an opponent hits you in the temple or head, kicks you, etc. - strong neck muscles may not help at all in those instances. The only issue no heading "out of the box" addresses is the repetitive stress, which is a concern, but not the only one.

Yes, football can reduce the risk just as soccer can - it's called touch or flag football. Not that I'm suggesting that, quite the contrary, just pointing out an extreme change, just as restricting heading in soccer would be. Restricting heading at younger ages makes good sense, but I think I don't see it for older ages of youth soccer. Heading is part of the game - educate all about the risks, manage risks within reason & let people decide if they want to participate - maybe there will be leagues in the future for "no heading" soccer, like touch football?! I know my daughters would have had nothing to do with that, but others probably would. And personally I have no interest in watching soccer if heading is restricted.

It is reasonable to protect players with sensible measures, but as others have pointed out, there are risks inherent in everything we do. As much as many want to have an idyllic, risk-free world, it just doesn't exist.

socaltownie;842329921 said:

---

One limitation in this debate is that we simply have NO information (hopefully someone is doing he epidemiology) on how much of a problem any (football, soccer, etc.) is for the non-professional. Pretty clear that those playing in the NFL for extended periods of time - with ridiculous pressure to play after concussion and with hits of much greater force are at greater risk of long-term damage. What we don't know is how much greater risk individuals are taking by playing Youth, HS, and College ball. But I would be skeptical about trying to equate the damage done to the brain of even a 30 year old that has been playing football all his life with a kid who plays HS.

In addition (to complicate the epidemiology even more....did you know CAL has a GREAT school of public health.... ;-), there is a small percentage of adults that will get early onset dementia. The vast majority of these are not public figures who have their own wiki pages. So when it happens in an NFL'er it is amplified. It could be that rather than have TBI, Utecht is tragically suffering from something else. So until the studies are done we should be slow to draw conclusions.

Is football dangerous? Surely. So is skiing, biking, hiking, swimming, running, and playing hoops. Probably sitting on ones but playing video games is also pretty dangerous for long term damage to one's heart. I personally believe the right approach - right now - is one of informed caution. We know there are issues....but rather than jump the shark lets let the science progress and figure out just how much of a risk there is.

---

Bravo. the most salient, logical comment on this subject that I have ever read.

The technology is there to monitor head injuries or impact with sensors, wi-fi and data collection. I don't think it could prevent injuries to start but once enough data and information is gather, patterns should arise with some clear ideas on how to reduce/prevent injuries would happen. The thing is, the NFL and NCAA don't seem interested in the idea, might be an admission of guilt or something. I think something like this will come along. The question is if the NFL and NCAA takes it serious or just punts the whole head injury thing down the road.

CALiforniALUM;842329916 said:

---

Makes you wonder whether the stadium financing should also include a line item under debt for the millions related to head injury lawsuits.

---

Using that reasoning, when the Bay Bridge was retrofitted the financing should have included a line item to pay for all liability claims that might be asserted in connection with any activity on the bridge -- primarily auto traffic.
:headbang

socaltownie;842329921 said:

---

One limitation in this debate is that we simply have NO information (hopefully someone is doing he epidemiology) on how much of a problem any (football, soccer, etc.) is for the non-professional. Pretty clear that those playing in the NFL for extended periods of time - with ridiculous pressure to play after concussion and with hits of much greater force are at greater risk of long-term damage. What we don't know is how much greater risk individuals are taking by playing Youth, HS, and College ball. But I would be skeptical about trying to equate the damage done to the brain of even a 30 year old that has been playing football all his life with a kid who plays HS.

In addition (to complicate the epidemiology even more....did you know CAL has a GREAT school of public health.... ;-), there is a small percentage of adults that will get early onset dementia. The vast majority of these are not public figures who have their own wiki pages. So when it happens in an NFL'er it is amplified. It could be that rather than have TBI, Utecht is tragically suffering from something else. So until the studies are done we should be slow to draw conclusions.

Is football dangerous? Surely. So is skiing, biking, hiking, swimming, running, and playing hoops. Probably sitting on ones but playing video games is also pretty dangerous for long term damage to one's heart. I personally believe the right approach - right now - is one of informed caution. We know there are issues....but rather than jump the shark lets let the science progress and figure out just how much of a risk there is.

---

Really good post.

BI is filled with posts that speak in absolutes, when often times we don't really know all the facts. For all the football players that have been struck down with brain issues, there are many more players who played the same positions for even more years, suffered more contact, and don't show any signs of brain issues. The question is why are some players more vulnerable than others? Is it their own body structure? Could it be they took more of a certain type of hit? Were rushed back on the field to soon? The equipment? Other factors? We don't know. I'm all for more research and when the findings come out, then making some rationale decisions.

In the interim, the best parents can tell their sons and daughters is that there are inherent risks to many sports, and then they can decide what to do.

Phantomfan;842329957 said:

---

The problem is that our brains are contained in a poorly designed BHG, and we engage in activities that involve maximum effort and movement.

There is no way to have athletics and not have brain injury. It is doing something to the edge of your ability, with your BHG hanging out in the open with the risk of getting knocked around.

EVERY athletic sport has this risk. Contact or not.

---

Clearly causes brain trauma, but not the concussion/brain injury kind. Unless, of course, you cheat on your wife and when you return to your home in Florida, she is brandishing a short iron.

wifeisafurd;842330030 said:

---

Clearly causes brain trauma, but not the concussion/brain injury kind. Unless, of course, you cheat on your wife and when you return to your home in Florida, she is brandishing a short iron.

---

Golf is a "sport" that gives an 11 y/o a chance against adults.

Phantomfan;842330033 said:

---

Golf is a "sport" that gives an 11 y/o a chance against adults.

---

Embarrass adults on the track, the tennis court, in soccer, in the pool, the lacrosse field and on and on. I assume you are talking about the young lady who qualified for the Women's US Open, who is an extreme case, in a sport where the tour contestants are just figuring out fitness (and women's golf is changing).

Men's golf is now dominated by guys that look like Duston Johnson and Adam Scott. To give you an example, [U]close your eyes[/U], stand on one foot and raise the other foot in the air to knee level (you bend your knee that is in the air). The average male tour pro now has the core strength to hold the position for hours. The average amateur, about 10 seconds.