Recent Comments

Ken Ekanem looks great since the move to QB.

Evans is swole up.

In addition to the previous response you will see guys in blue performing in drills while guys in green usually do whatever they can on the side.

I'm glad someone said it about Mark Richt finally.

Biomech....great comments and I don't disagree that the CDC should research public health risks.

My comment was poorly stated, but let me try again.

To summarize my position, as concussions are a danger in ALL sports, then maybe the CDC should consider a study inclusive of ALL sports and not just football.

Taekwondo, boxing, rugby, hockey concussion risk exceeds football risk; risk for girls is much higher in similar sports than boys, and girls take longer to recover on average.

So why single out youth football?
Let me play with some numbers: The total number of high school football players in the US is about 1,000,000 or about 0.3% of our population. The incidence of concussions in football players is 0.53/1000, or 530. Let's round to 1000 concussions, so we are talking about the CDC funding a study focused on 0.0003% of our population!

The current political landscape seems anti-football to me and I am suspicious that, despite the conclusions noted above this study is powered towards that agenda; and not towards a more global risk assessment that would better serve all sports participants, both girl and boy.

There is a sub-section of the CDC named the Program Performance and Evaluation Office (PPEO) that is charged with assessing efficacy of certain programs and measures in improving health risks.
I would think (my opinion) that this division would be employed in determining which changes have best improved injury outcomes and avoidance. Ex. The NCAA and High School association outlawed spearing in 1976 and achieved a > 50% reduction in C-spine injuries.

CTE is very fascinating, but likely a different beast from simple concussions. We are certainly learning more with better neuro-imaging and there is much to learn, I agree.
But I leave this quote here:

This systematic review study emphasizes the need for further research into the epidemiology of CTE. Despite the lack of large scale systematic and randomized studies, the reporting of CTE in former professional American football players has led to wide spread speculation far beyond the conclusions that can be drawn based on the current state of CTE research. With CTE research in the early stages and the small number of current cases, there is no credible data with which to establish the incidence or prevalence of CTE in former contact sport participants.

Article here: 2015 Review of CTE in contact sports

I think more research is needed, but I don't feel that the CDC is the vehicle as (my opinion) there are more pressing public health threats for which tax dollars would support. (Touchy subject as I just paid my taxes.....)

Also, a great BMJ 2016 review of Brain injuries in youth sports here: Incidence of concussion in youth sports, BMJ

PS. Also a WFU grad.

Yeah how about improving that W avg and, you know, grabbing a few playoff appearances before that. Just a thought.

No, you don't. But let's say Fuente really starts blowing up the competition and Hokie Club membership shoots through the roof. You don't think some regular season ticket holders would start getting pushed out of theirs seats?

It's the principle of it all. Start this after the big wins start rolling in like NitWhitt says above.

I know there were public season ticket sales last season.

This is going to be a really dumb question, but don't you have to be a HC member to have the "privilege" to buy season tickets at whatever level of HC you donate/rank at? I have had season tickets in the SEZ for several years (since the big build around 02/03) and I swear they told me I could not purchase the tickets without being in the HC. Was that something that changed ticket sales started falling?

"They might watch the football of higher levels but they haven't developed the idea of just needing a big hit to impress people."

You didn't mention the age, but I can say from my personal experience many years ago, as well as closely observing youth football fairly recently, that by the time some kids hit the age of eleven, they want to rock somebody. There are VAST differences in how rough kids are that is highly correlated to their socio-economic status, upbringing, etc. Kids from tough neighborhoods are going to bring it at an early age.

I have been following this thread with great interest. I played football in the 70's, starting at age 12, and tackled guys leading with my helmet all the time. I was 5'10 150/lbs according to my first drivers license, but I figured out I got the most bang for my buck (PSI) hitting that way. I have no idea how I didn't break my neck, and I am certainly paying for it now in my old age. So I certainly agree with the notion that coaching correct tackling form is uber important, and coaches should know what they are doing at all levels. I can say that things are certainly much improved, but could still stand much improvement. It just seems the reality of what is necessary is an impossible task.

I also believe - call me a Neanderthal - that football makes men out of boys. And I didn't hesitate to put my son into the sport, push him when he needed it, support him, coach him, and be there with him the whole way. It's a scary thing for most young kids to step out there and try it, and I always told kids as a coach, that whether it worked out or not, just putting themselves out there proved they were cut from good cloth, and they should be proud of themselves. My son was pretty dang good by the time he played in HS, and was a 3 year starter. He's in his mid 20's now, and I am certain that the toughness he gained from the sport is helping him now.

It is definitely a dangerous game, and I wonder if we are seeing the beginning of the end. But it also offers such camaraderie, a sense of accomplishment, and teamwork/team spirit that cannot be matched (IMO) in other sports. I don't know if it is an American thing, a manly thing, or what, but the love for this game is unmatched. As a player, It is almost a trial by fire, and the pride you take in being a "football player" is something (Al Bundy jokes commence...3,2,1...now) that you keep your whole life.

We'll call it a flap jack.

Devon Hunter and Terajda Mitchell will be on campus this weekend for the spring game.

We currently lead for Hunter and Ricky Slade