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May 11, 2016

Not to make a shabby pun but the issue of concussions in football has reared its ugly head again.

There was an initial and prompt backlash toward Pat Narduzzi for what seemed to be a cavalier attitude towards the enormous problem of the effects of concussions on football players.

However, there was also the correct rollback by the media once the actual quotes, and Narduzzi’s intent, became clear.  There are a lot of media pieces about this but I think Craig Meyer (Werner’s sub) in his P-G Red Shirt Diaries lays it out the best.  Maybe that is because he was the reporter who asked Narduzzi the actual questions about the meeting’s discussions about the subject:

From Meyer: “I followed up by asking what the concussion discussion centered around and what kind of things they talked about. Were they talking about how to handle concussed players? Or how to possibly spot and diagnose whether a player has one?

Narduzzi’s response at that question was at first worrisome – mostly because readers and the pundits didn’t take the time to really cipher what he actual said.  Here is the quote:

“Hopefully coaches aren’t doing that. We’ve got a major problem in college football if coaches are diagnosing. There was a neurosurgeon who came in and explained some of the data and how they need to get more data so they can make decisions. I think when you look at all the results and all the talk, I think it’s media hyped. They’re talking about how they need to get more data and feedback on really what it is that’s causing these injuries.”

So Meyer followed up and good that he did.  Here is the next bit from Narduzzi that clears up his line of thinking:

“I apologize really for giving the impression I was minimizing concussions. I apologize for that. Basically, what I was talking about in there was in the conversation. It wasn’t about my philosophy or what I thought. It’s kind of coming from Dr. [Brian] Hainline [the NCAA chief medical officer], the specialist that came in and talked to us. That was the conversation, that there isn’t enough data. There’s not enough data they’re getting back to find out what’s going on. When you talk from the doctors’ perspective, not my perspective, they want more conclusive evidence of what’s going on.”

Folks – that is what good reporters and writers do when they think something on the surface doesn’t look right.  Most outlets ran with that statement in bold type in the first Narduzzi quote and sensationalized it… Werner stuck with it to bring the truth of the discussion to us readers.

From what I know and understand about Narduzzi it rang the wrong tone as soon as I read it yesterday.  He’s tough but not stupid. (By the way, a famous football coach, St. John’s (MN) Joe Gagliardi had a limited or no contact in practice rule and still won many championships.)

That said I still have some major problems with what came out of the meetings and what Narduzzi is saying.  To have, at this day and age, a doctor who is also hired by and represents the NCAA  minimizing the clear and present dangers of concussions on football players is very worrisome.

It smacks of the NFL’s efforts to sweep the concussion issue under the rug only a few years ago until they realized just how bad for business it was to do that.  Which in itself is sad when you think about it.  Their main concern should be the players’ health and well being first and foremost, then the integrity of the sport itself.  Without those two things safely intact then there is no NFL business in the future.

The NCAA seems to be moving backward on this issue and you have to wonder why in the world they would even consider trying to minimize this extant problem.

Secondly, the question of who should ‘diagnose’ a concussion should be a secondary issue.  The prime action shouldn’t be to even try to diagnose on the sidelines – it should be to remove the player from the field at the first whiff of any symptoms whatsoever.  Football staffs from Pee-Wee leagues on up need solid and consistent training on how to recognize those symptoms in a quick and accurate survey and to err on the side of the player’s safety each and every time.  Is there even a shred of doubt if he should go in again? Yes? Sit him down.

What needs to change is a win at all cost attitude at all levels of the sport. Of course the purpose of keeping score is to win games.  It is what the players want as much as anything else… along with the staff and fans. Winning is taught to us at a young age and is a good concept to know and to understand.

It isn’t worth risking a player’s future to do so though, especially at the level of play below adulthood.  But try telling that to the coaches who think that if their team wins at the expense of a kid if reflects glory onto their dreams… or the parents who see a start in the making with their child and yell and scream at the coach, and sometimes even at the kid himself, when that player is not capable of safely continuing.

Look, college and professional players know the score and are now (as opposed to when the issue wasn’t made public) able to understand the ramifications of their own actions should they choose to disregard medical evidence and risk their health.  At those levels of competition there are risk & reward decisions in every aspect of the game. But the players need to be told, and to made to understand, that they too have the permission of the staff to self-diagnose if possible.

There should be no negative ramifications toward the player if he takes himself off the field or tells the staff he doesn’t feel 100% capable of playing. Concussions, or even just ‘having the bell rung’, which is a mild confusion effect that isn’t lasting, is not the same as a physical injury where a player could be encouraged (or threatened) to play through.

Those two things are a whole different world then telling a player to “Suck it up and get out there”.

I believe there is another point to be made about putting players out there when they aren’t 100% capable of quick and decisive mental actions – it can easily lead to serious physical injury also.

When I was a kid playing pick-up football in Schenley Park an older guy used to always show up and watch us play – sometimes even throwing the ball around with us.  He said his name was Buddy Dial and we figured he was a boozer because of the way he moved and slurred his words.  i told my dad about this and he came with us on Saturday and met the guy.  Turns out it was the ex-Steeler WR and on the way home my dad told us ‘ He isn’t drunk – his head’s been scrambled from when he played football.’  And that was true and the first time I was made aware that could happen.

There is a bar/restaurant near where I now live, “Shooters” is its name, and when I first moved here 18 years ago I would watch the NFL in there every once in a while.  There were always five or six guys in their 50s and 60s who would get a table and watch the games also… actually they were there almost every day  They were old Baltimore Colt players from the 1950s and 1960s who played ball when no one even considered taking themselves out or even being sat down as long as they could move their body to play.

It was sad as hell to listen to them talk or to watch them shamble around the place almost like they were zombies. I’m not exaggerating much here either – it was so evident that the game, as it was played then, really took a toll both physically and mentally.

This isn’t an issue that needs more study.  At this point the time, energy and money needs to be spent to figure out the best way to ensure these problems and risks are minimized as much as humanly possible and still have a competitive and engaging sport to play.

It is going to take changing the game even more and the diehard football fans are not going to like it, but it won’t become a non-physical sport.  It will become a bit different but safer one.  Look at the way the rule protecting the QB has shown great and positive effects.  Fans hated the rule when it came out, some still do, but the fact is that we fans have become accustomed to it and it has cut down on QB concussions and serious injuries in a large measure.

We’ll figure out the right thing to do – it will just take time and some changes to the sport we love.  But putting one’s head in the sand doesn’t help anything in the long run.

About Joe Gagliardi’s no contact approach – watch the clip below…  also note that Bud Grant’s son is a coach and does this also.

 

 





Reed – the beat writer Craig Meyer is at the ACC meetings. He hijacked Werner’s blog. Apparently he’s doing double duty – primarily will be the new Pitt basketball beat writer but will also be “helping” Werner with football. Pitt fans may be getting their wish of more media coverage of Pitt football.

Fixed – Thanks.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 05.11.16 @ 9:00 am

Reed, excellent piece. At least the NFL is no longer denying the relationship between football head trauma and CTE.

I still think Narduzzi was mistaken blaming any media hype. If anything, they have not done nearly enough to spread the word so that parents can make an informed decision about pee wee football.

I understand why those that make their living from the sport would be concerned. If and more likely when law suits start to reign down on colleges and universities, tough decisions will have to be made. It is a major threat to the sport.

Lucky for me, I wasn’t big enough to play organized football, but like most in my generation, banged heads, and saw stars a few times in the backyard and local ball fields.

But as I talk to my friends a large topic of conversation is the severe degenerative arthritis we are all experiencing mostly located in joints that were injured while playing sports. Had a lot of fun and enjoyment from playing sports, but am really glad, I didn’t play high school or college football.

It is hard enough to get going in the morning as is.

The problem with football is that violent head collisions are a part of the game that can be reduced but not eliminated.

The concussion protocol is a very good thing and is more important than winning a game. Just hard to implement with the do or die attitude needed to win football games.

Comment by gc 05.11.16 @ 9:45 am

4 years after being hired as defensive coordinator at Pitt, Matt House is close to being hired as ILB/Special Teams coach at Kentucky.

Yes, he has a lot of potential who may well end up as a pretty good DC, but his DC hiring at Pitt remains very indicative as to how important the FB program was under the previous admin

Comment by wbb 05.11.16 @ 9:48 am

A high pain tolerance has always been a key asset of a great player. Guys need to be muy macho. The concussion protocol runs counter to that.

Watching the Pens-Caps series and the violent hits given and taken makes me wonder what their later years will feel like. I think the Pens won because the Caps spent too much time inflicting big hits rather than making plays.

In any case it is good to see that Hockey is also trying to lower the number of head hits.

The day of the goon is over.

Comment by gc 05.11.16 @ 9:58 am

wbb, some guys can skip a lot of steps in their careers. I still think House’s biggest deficiency was that he hadn’t made his bones as a recruiter, and having Chryst for a recruiting mentor was like having none.

The House hire is what soured me on Chryst, just like Jamie not hiring a recruiter soured me on him.

Recruiting is job #1.

Comment by gc 05.11.16 @ 10:06 am

–Buddy Dial was a WR for the Steelers, and a good one.

–Why has it taken so long for them to come up with better helmets – that’s a story that some reporter should expose. I think the answer is that they don’t want to change the “look” of a football player, which more effective helmets would likely do.

Go Pitt.

Fixed (again), Thanks…

Comment by MajorMajors 05.11.16 @ 11:37 am

They are working on it.

link to wired.com

Comment by gc 05.11.16 @ 12:22 pm

Actually, the greatest advance most likely won’t be a helmet. This is an excellent article on the future ….

link to bloomberg.com

Just a strap over the back of the neck and jugular vein that slightly restricts blood flow.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 05.11.16 @ 12:36 pm

A player from Bowling Green just received over $700k in a concussion settlement. Repeat, 1 player! See link

link to theroot.com

There were circumstances surrounding it of course, but this type of claim is not going away. The college programs are being forced to address protocols for the biggest reason not ever talked about. Insurance. For years, insurance companies have paid claims for concussions. Similar to asbestos, where there once was insurance coverage, there is no more. Beginning in 2013, many insurance companies excluded concussions from coverage. That is difficult for President’s and Boards to hear. My consulting gig enables universities to keep the coverage, but it takes a huge commitment from the university administration and the coaches. When I meet with them, I go through my program and strategically plan how to keep concussions covered in their insurance policies. I then go to the insurance underwriters in NY to procure the coverage and explain the program. That said, it is getting to be more difficult to keep.

The larger picture is that football concussions at universities are not the driver for concussion protocols although administrators say it is so that they can keep the issue front and center. More concussions occur in cheerleading and women’s soccer than in football. Think about that. As more insurance companies stop providing coverage, the more exposure gets passed back to the university and the athletic departments. A risk/benefit analysis will ensue and unfortunately, the costs will outweigh the benefits at many colleges and programs will be forced to downsize. Despite what you read, football will not be the first to close its operations. The non-revenue generating sports with big exposure will feel the crunch first.

Big time football programs are already putting sensors into uniforms to measure impact, speed and fatigue. They baseline the players from the minute they show up on campus to the minute they leave. Football will go through some minor changes in uniform specs, but nothing major for the next 5 years. Technology is changing so quickly that I do see some material changes after 5 years for sure.

Most players sign Waivers each year to help mitigate, but a real good attorney can argue around waivers as was the case at BG. Sorry for being long winded but this is a huge topic and threatens collegiate activities more than most understand.

Comment by dhuffdaddy 05.11.16 @ 12:56 pm

Narduzzi was correct. There is media hype. Everything is blown out of proportion and it has happened to some degree with concussions.

The biggest problem with the media is they make no effort to check facts and they do absolutely no educating on the subject. They sensationalize things to get viewers.

There are no longer TV newscasters that report the news. They report their opinion of the news.

Parents and players need to be educated. The media is the last group of people qualified to do this.

Comment by notrocketscience 05.11.16 @ 2:37 pm

Comment by PittofDreams 05.11.16 @ 2:48 pm

I think when you look at all the results and all the talk, I think it’s media hyped.

Then how did the media take that, they over hyped his quote, lol

Comment by dcpinpgh 05.11.16 @ 4:31 pm

Helmut can only do so much.. Brain still bouncing off the skull with vicious blows to the head

Comment by BigB 05.11.16 @ 8:05 pm

link to espn.go.com

I say its been under reported, far from hyped.

Comment by gc 05.11.16 @ 9:55 pm

The correct use of a quote is to let the reader know there were omitted portions before and after.
The nard quote should have been prefaces with an ellipse.
“…I think when you look…”.
But it’s Pittsburgh and proper form by print and other media is kaput.

Comment by Sfpitt 05.11.16 @ 10:53 pm

I booked my hotel last night for the September 10th game. The price was like 30% higher than normal. My guess is if you want to stay downtown, the price would be double.

Good for the businesses – make it when you can… Or is it a pedo tax?

Comment by Erie Express 05.12.16 @ 5:05 am

Paturdo tax

Comment by Grizzly1 05.12.16 @ 7:03 am

Why no scrutiny for prize fighting and UFC for concussions? Not enough money to pay the lawyers.

Comment by Grizzly1 05.12.16 @ 7:05 am

Prize Fighters have long known the risks, pretty obvious. Pro Football is still in denial. As may be Narduzzi if he really wants to blame the media.

So far they haven’t hired their own scientists to deny head trauma is bad for you like the tobacco or lead industries.

Comment by gc 05.12.16 @ 7:21 am

Does someone have a comprehensive list of players with Pitt offers? Definitely a new approach.

Comment by gc 05.12.16 @ 7:38 am

gc – Rivals has a nice list that is not behind their pay wall.

Impressive, but we sure could us a Pat-signal

Comment by Erie Express 05.12.16 @ 8:16 am

@@@@@@@

What a great opportunity. The B12 wants
our beloved Panthers. We can renew
our rivalry w/WVU then play the remainder
of games 1000 miles from campus. Yikes.

Comment by JR 05.12.16 @ 8:17 am

It may have been under reported the last 40 years, but the couple years it has not been.

Anytime a Steeler or Penguin takes a big hit, it’s all the radio stations talk about for a week.

Over and over and over. I get it, it’s a big problem.

I’ve had to turn it off many times when they’re still talking about it on the 3rd or 4th day.

Comment by Dan 05.12.16 @ 8:42 am

@gc, ya, I’ve seen just in the past week, Pitt has offered, I don’t think I’m exaggerating, like 6 or 7 quarterbacks, I don’t know how many altogether.

Here is the QB offers list – note they are all committed elsewhere.

Mac Jones PRO 5.8 6’3″ 181 Jacksonville, FL 15
Kentucky
Lindell Stone PRO 5.6 6’1″ 202 Woodberry Forest, VA 23
Virginia
Sean Clifford PRO 5.8 6’2″ 207 Cincinnati, OH 9
Penn State
Davis Mills PRO 6 6’4″ 194 Norcross, GA 2
Stanford
Jake Allen PRO 5.8 6’3″ 204 Fort Lauderdale, FL 7
Florida

Comment by Dan 05.12.16 @ 8:44 am

@Erie Express, where’d ya get in if I may ask? My sister called several and they were booked.

Were you on a waiting list by chance??

Comment by Dan 05.12.16 @ 8:46 am

Erie and others – when you mention a website that we may like please provide a link to it as it really helps us to carry on the discussion…. After I post the aforementioned list I will educate you who do not know how to do it.

link to pittsburgh.n.rivals.com

OK – go to the website in question (or list or text or…) and left click on the web address (it should be highlighted then). Right click on that, hit “Copy” and then go to Pitt Blather’s page that you are on and left click on a blank place in your comment where you want the stuff to show up. Then without moving your cursor right click then hit “Paste”.

Or… even easier… highlight what you want to copy and hit the “Ctrl” key and the letter “C” at the same time. Then go to your Blather comment and hit “Ctrl” and the letter “V” at the same time. (Basically you are copying and viewing the text).

Try it, it’s FUN!!!

Comment by Reed 05.12.16 @ 8:51 am

Excellent Reed. I think some might think it would be frustrating.

I will tell you, and I hate this cliche, but it is like a lot you learn. Once you know how to do it, it will become second nature and you can copy and paste without even thinking about it.

Comment by Dan 05.12.16 @ 9:11 am

No one doubts the NFL, NCAA, MLB, etc…was encouraging players to play with concussions or other injuries a few years back. A lot of that has changed for the better and still needs to progress.

However, some blame falls on the players and in professional sports, the player unions.

The past players that are quick to point the finger and ask for money are the same players and union members that fight rules on performance enhancing drugs. When some doctor directly links cancer or heart problems to steroids and/or HGH are the players going to turn around and blame the NFL or MLB.

Also, many of the former athletes that committed suicide, not only had multiple head traumas, they also used performance drugs for years. Especially the wrestlers. There is an obvious connection that is ignored.

Funny how the media turns a blind eye to drug use in professional sports. Every one of us can quickly name 10 obvious drug users off the top of out heads.

Comment by notrocketscience 05.12.16 @ 9:20 am

I didn’t know Mike Haywood was a head coach again…

link to usatoday.com

Comment by notrocketscience 05.12.16 @ 9:38 am

@notrocketscience, actually, yes, they will blame the NFL and MLB!! It’s what this society does well. Blame others.

Comment by Dan 05.12.16 @ 9:42 am

notrocketscience,
Good comment. However, I (and other Blatherites) may not be able to “quickly name 10 obvious drug users off the top of our heads” and I’ve never used drugs nor had a serious concussion! LOL

Comment by pittman4ever 05.12.16 @ 9:45 am

Washington Post PSU article.

link to washingtonpost.com

Comment by Frank MD 05.12.16 @ 9:46 am

Thanks for the link, Frank MD!

It is HIGHLY DISTURBING how this little cult town in the middle of nowhere continues to ignore a Horrific TRUTH and chooses to cling to a pathetic lie for the sole purpose of protecting a football program!!! May God help us all……

Comment by pittman4ever 05.12.16 @ 10:00 am

@ Reed – sorry, I was sitting in my client’s lobby waiting for my contact to arrive for a meeting – I answered on my cell phone. I’ll try to do better in the future, Captain.

Let me know if you need that link – I’ll get it for you over lunch…

Comment by Erie Express 05.12.16 @ 10:25 am

Erie…got it thanks. I think we tend to assume we are in front of a computer.

Comment by Reed 05.12.16 @ 12:24 pm

Just checking in to see if all of you booking rooms for PSU are checking in Friday night. Pirates are hosting the Reds on 9/10 @ 7 pm, thus expect a noon start.

Comment by wbb 05.12.16 @ 1:00 pm

That stinks to me. Was hoping for a night game. Just personal preference. Maybe 3:00??

Comment by Dan 05.12.16 @ 1:05 pm

Thanks for the info wbb on the Pirate’s game that same evening. I will be in Pittsburgh on Friday, as I always anticipate the worst possible start time for Pitt games.

Comment by Erie Express 05.12.16 @ 2:58 pm

With Paul Zeise, the hits keep comin’.

What a breath of fresh air… a Writer who has solid footing in knowledge of the subject he writes about and who writes intelligently about it.

Comment by PittofDreams 05.12.16 @ 3:36 pm

My only question… why did it take so long for Post Gazette Brass to recognize Zeise’s talent?

Comment by PittofDreams 05.12.16 @ 3:39 pm

Dan – I missed your hotel question from this morning – sorry. Try the outer burbs around the city, like Cranberry and Gateway or the Robinson Mall area.

Comment by Erie Express 05.12.16 @ 4:36 pm

Aaron Donald continues to impress: link to profootballfocus.com

Comment by DionJag 05.12.16 @ 5:11 pm

So I counted 166 offers on that list. Obviously most won’t accept, but it still seems rather excessive. How many do you have time to really go after?
Offering about 5 a week, we should get to 250.

Comment by gc 05.12.16 @ 5:20 pm

@EE, thanks, think they are.

@wbb, looking back, my hope for even a 3:00 would not work either I suppose. Looks like a nooner.

Comment by Dan 05.12.16 @ 5:49 pm

gc – It puts pressure on kids to commit. If they don’t commit in a timely manner their spot may be filled. It’s what drove me nuts about Chryst. Cast a wide net.

Comment by Tossing Thabeets 05.12.16 @ 5:50 pm

Yes – cast a wide net. You might get lucky. Get them to visit. Thats key.

Chryst so was dumb in his recruiting approach. And so was Dixon for that matter. I think they both hated recruiting. But as coach you got to roll up the sleeves and sell the university, the program and seal the deal. Win the heart of Momma. Make Dad feel like his son is a bona fide stud destined for greatness.

Comment by TX Panther 05.12.16 @ 8:02 pm

Concussions are real and many of these boys will have serious long term affects. Your body and brain take a beating in this game. To minimize and marginalize the physical and mental outcomes, is to betray the health of players for the mighty dollar.

Comment by TX Panther 05.12.16 @ 8:09 pm

Is there any Player that Narduzzi and his Staff have not offered?

Just checking.

Comment by PittofDreams 05.12.16 @ 10:14 pm

I guess with all the offers one could ask the question of just how they are evaluating the talent they are making offers to. It would appear that they really are not being very specific on who they are making those offers to. Just flood the nation with offers and we will play with who ever accepts their offer.—Who know it may work for Narduzzi and crew.

Comment by jrnpitt 05.13.16 @ 3:39 am

If you look at the offers from the Pitt FB staff, they seem to have flooded the country. But, if you look closely, the positions of need is where the wide net was casted.

Examples: QB, TE, WR, LB and Dline.

Many of the QB’s have already verbally committed. But that changes on a frequent basis when a non-committed guy finally decides and others then change their mind. HCPN wants to be “in their mind” if & when that happens.

Makes sense to me…it happens with our sales team all the time. Prospects (future customers) are let down by vendor mistakes and failures all the time – making sure they know who you are and what you have to offer if they ever need you is not a bad strategy.

Comment by Erie Express 05.13.16 @ 5:02 am

Recruiting article now up…

Comment by Reed 05.13.16 @ 8:06 am

I don’t minimize or marginalize the physical and mental outcomes, but at this point, doesn’t the burden start falling on the athletes??

Ok, I get it, in the 70’s, 80’s 90’s and early 2000’s even, maybe the NFL was hiding evidence.

Ok, I’m all for it, penalize them, fine them, take them to court.

The last 5 or 10 years or so?? With all the information we know, and kids are still playing hockey and football??

That burden now has to shift to the people making the choices to play those sports.

Helmets can only do so much, I don’t care what kind of technology there is, with the speed and power of the games, if you get your bell rung, you may well get a concussion.

What, you want helments with airbags in them deployed every time there is a hit?

Want the players to wear a helmet the size of a golf cart on their head?

I’m really surprised going forward the NFL and the NHL don’t make the newer players sign waivers saying they acknowledge that they are taking a risk. Maybe they do??

Comment by Dan 05.13.16 @ 9:47 am

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