Football in the Long Term

[SMU2007]

I think I read somewhere that football participation among kids has been in decline for 20-30 years, and over the same timeframe, soccer and lacrosse participation has increased. A lot of this can be attributed to the safety concerns with football compared to other sports.

also, if anything, this shows that the two things (kid participation and popularity) are completely unrelated, as football has never been more popular than it is right now and the overall talent goes up year after year.

[CenTXpony]

[quote="birddogger"]Did anyone see the PBS Frontline documentary on football? I only read a synopsis and some commentary, but many folks believe football's future is cloudy because the sport is being revealed (and reviled by some) as truly dangerous.
[quote]

I'm making a list of other stuff that's dangerous for PBS Frontline:
-Driving a car is dangerous
-Walking through CougarKing's neighborhood is dangerous
-Alcohol and Mestengo is dangerous
-Shoes + Bus + Rain + TCU + Crappy Football is dangerous
-Austin Powers blackjack strategy is dangerous
-Being on the same putting surface when I lip out a 3 foot putt is dangerous
-Blackoutpony and malonish within 10 feet of one another is dangerous
-The Fried Food at the State Fair is dangerously awesome
-Volleyball Players, Motorcycles, and Bobby Petrino are dangerous

Feel free to make additions.

[malonish]

Did anyone see the PBS Frontline documentary on football? I only read a synopsis and some commentary, but many folks believe football's future is cloudy because the sport is being revealed (and reviled by some) as truly dangerous.

I'm making a list of other stuff that's dangerous for PBS Frontline:
-Driving a car is dangerous
-Walking through CougarKing's neighborhood is dangerous
-Alcohol and Mestengo is dangerous
-Shoes + Bus + Rain + TCU + Crappy Football is dangerous
-Austin Powers blackjack strategy is dangerous
-Being on the same putting surface when I lip out a 3 foot putt is dangerous
-Blackoutpony and malonish within 10 feet of one another is dangerous
-The Fried Food at the State Fair is dangerously awesome
-Volleyball Players, Motorcycles, and Bobby Petrino are dangerous

Feel free to make additions.

We're like best buds now. C'mon.

[birddogger]

I'm making a list of other stuff that's dangerous for PBS Frontline:
-Driving a car is dangerous
-Walking through CougarKing's neighborhood is dangerous
-Alcohol and Mestengo is dangerous
-Shoes + Bus + Rain + TCU + Crappy Football is dangerous
-Austin Powers blackjack strategy is dangerous
-Being on the same putting surface when I lip out a 3 foot putt is dangerous
-Blackoutpony and malonish within 10 feet of one another is dangerous
-The Fried Food at the State Fair is dangerously awesome
-Volleyball Players, Motorcycles, and Bobby Petrino are dangerous

Feel free to make additions.

Defending JJ?

[CenTXpony]

*Malonish and Blackoutpony within 10 feet of one another at one time was dangerous.

Fixed it. My B.

[Nacho]

they better outlaw headers in soccer. i have seen studies that they cause brain damage and lower iq. i am serious.

[CenTXpony]

I'm making a list of other stuff that's dangerous for PBS Frontline:
-Driving a car is dangerous
-Walking through CougarKing's neighborhood is dangerous
-Alcohol and Mestengo is dangerous
-Shoes + Bus + Rain + TCU + Crappy Football is dangerous
-Austin Powers blackjack strategy is dangerous
-Being on the same putting surface when I lip out a 3 foot putt is dangerous
-Blackoutpony and malonish within 10 feet of one another is dangerous
-The Fried Food at the State Fair is dangerously awesome
-Volleyball Players, Motorcycles, and Bobby Petrino are dangerous

Feel free to make additions.

Defending JJ?

Haha I don't understand how my comment comes off as any kind of reference to June. If you read my post on other threads regarding June you'd know which side of the fence I'm on when it comes to that matter. I'm referring to this consistently growing concern of football being dangerous and defending the sport by saying you know it has potential to be dangerous just like many other things in life (in a joking manner) so if football is going to be shutdown then so should other stuff like driving a car etc. etc. etc. Really I'm being a facetious smart @$$ towards PBS...

[alyssa]

My dad's side of the family is very large and I have a lot of cousins. Some of my cousins are grandparents now. My football playing brothers and cousins children mostly took up other sports. Right now I have about five 1st cousins once removed playing college sports. One is in football. Two are in baseball. One is in volleyball (and he can also run track hurdles very well). One is in athletics, cross country and track. Right now there aren't any girls playing college sports but they probably will when they graduate high school in cheerleading, softball and running.
One of my 1st cousin's boy started his junior year in high school and quit football, basketball and running. He will just train for health. He would have played at least at the FCS level.

[PonyKai]

Outlaw everything. No fun for anyone.

[Hoop Fan]

my son is playing on kickoff coverage right now for his high school. And linebacker. I'm not gonna lie, I don't like the kickoff coverage. Honestly, i don't love watching the SMU players on kickoffs either, full speed collisions are very dangerous. And if you don't think it matters, then your kid doesn't play, never played, or you don't have much concern or compassion for other peoples kids. Another thing, one of my son's linebacker mates is out with a concussion right now and hasn't been to school since last Friday because he can't concentrate. Thats nothing to dismiss lightly.

[CenTXpony]

Outlaw everything. No fun for anyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Otla5157c

YOLO! Avoid all danger!

[birddogger]

Haha I don't understand how my comment comes off as any kind of reference to June. If you read my post on other threads regarding June you'd know which side of the fence I'm on when it comes to that matter. I'm referring to this consistently growing concern of football being dangerous and defending the sport by saying you know it has potential to be dangerous just like many other things in life (in a joking manner) so if football is going to be shutdown then so should other stuff like driving a car etc. etc. etc. Really I'm being a facetious smart @$$ towards PBS...

Not a jab at you. Defending JJ on this board can be hazardous. I agree that PBS goes overboard on many things, but not so sure they're crying wolf on this topic.

The issue is whether big-time college-level football will be played by college-eligible players or by gladiators? Or can the game change?

[Hoop Fan]

Outlaw everything. No fun for anyone.

No, but what they are doing now to stop the torpedoing with the crown of the helmet is way overdue. Ask yourself this, were the players doing that in Doak's day? No, because the helmets weren't as good and no facemasks. The fact that the helmets are so good today actually makes the game more dangerous because the aggressor can just tee off on an opposition who he has better leverage than or who is in an awkward or unlucky position. thats not really football, thats assault, and you might like to watch it probably as long as its not your kid on the receiving end.

[smusic 00]

Real Sports has been following this subject for a long time. I recommend viewing their segments. It started with football but has spread to many other sports. Soccer players in some countries have much higher rates of ALS thought to be linked to 'headers' and such. There is evidence that Lou Gherig suffered several undiagnosed and mistreated concussions which could have led to his demise. Of course football is the most obvious, but studies are showing that the everyday helmet to helmet hits in practice (likened to minor car accidents) are most likely the main culprit of long term damage.

[smusic 00]

Outlaw everything. No fun for anyone.

No, but what they are doing now to stop the torpedoing with the crown of the helmet is way overdue. Ask yourself this, were the players doing that in Doak's day? No, because the helmets weren't as good and no facemasks. The fact that the helmets are so good today actually makes the game more dangerous because the aggressor can just tee off on an opposition who he has better leverage than or who is in an awkward or unlucky position. thats not really football, thats assault, and you might like to watch it probably as long as its not your kid on the receiving end.

Yes, this. Watch a rugby tackle.

Though at one point in football's history it was banned in many places due to too many deaths occurring on the field.