Possible Rules Changes to College Kickoffs

[MikeyJoe]

I'm just saying that what you call the "pussification of America" is nothing more than making a few minor rule changes to minimize the risks of a 20 year old kid being unable to perform reasoning tasks later in life (like getting raccoons out of their yard) later in life because they suffered a major head injury while playing a game that does little more than entertain a bunch of old fat white guys washing the game from the couch while wearing sweat pants.

Slow clap.

 

[Clark]

I'm just saying that what you call the "pussification of America" is nothing more than making a few minor rule changes to minimize the risks of a 20 year old kid being unable to perform reasoning tasks later in life (like getting raccoons out of their yard) later in life because they suffered a major head injury while playing a game that does little more than entertain a bunch of old fat white guys washing the game from the couch while wearing sweat pants.

Did Duff just have a throw the mic down and walkoff moment? I'm thinking he did.

 

[vegashawki]

Duff, why gotta be fat white guys on the couch? What about fat white girls and fat white toddlers?

 

[truehawk]

Just think, if they were this concerned about concussions back when you played football you might be able to do your own homework.

What is your problem Duff? You seem to want to make everything personal and offer nothing of value. Isn't this the kind of **** that Jon was talking about? Its not necessary, adds nothing of value and just starts the process of arguments.

I'm just saying that what you call the "pussification of America" is nothing more than making a few minor rule changes to minimize the risks of a 20 year old kid being unable to perform reasoning tasks later in life (like getting raccoons out of their yard) later in life because they suffered a major head injury while playing a game that does little more than entertain a bunch of old fat white guys washing the game from the couch while wearing sweat pants.

I wear them because they are comfortable.

 

[vegashawki]

Forgot about fat white YOUNG people in general, don't forget about the youth.

 

[Billso]

I'm just saying that what you call the "pussification of America" is nothing more than making a few minor rule changes to minimize the risks of a 20 year old kid being unable to perform reasoning tasks later in life (like getting raccoons out of their yard) later in life because they suffered a major head injury while playing a game that does little more than entertain a bunch of old fat white guys washing the game from the couch while wearing sweat pants.

I have had just about enough of your personal attacks, Duff. Ban him now, Jon!

(great post, agree completely - have met athletes in their late 40's who can barely walk)

 

[vegashawki]

True, not only are they comfortable but with the right tank top the are very fashionable. And with vertical strips can be thinning and provocative to the opposite sex.

 

[Billso]

Did Duff just have a throw the mic down and walkoff moment? I'm thinking he did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=O27RzZEOkeA#t=82s

 

[Billso]

True, not only are they comfortable but with the right tank top the are very fashionable. And with vertical strips can be thinning and provocative to the opposite sex.

Or...

 

[CGHawk]

How long before they just scrap the kickoff altogether and have teams start at the 25 yard line?

I am supportive of making things safe, but when will they draw the line? Injuries happen in sports.

Here is data from the U.S. Consumer Produce Safety Commission on injuries treated in emergency rooms.:
Top 5:

1. Basketball: 512,213
2. Bicycling: 485,669
3. Football: 418,260
4. Soccer: 174,686
5. Baseball: 155,898

(Taken from The Most Dangerous Sports in America | LiveScience)

"Many moms might worry about their kids getting hurt playing football, but a new study shows that playing basketball and riding bicycles sent more Americans to the emergency room in 2005."

I completely understand the need to make things as safe as possible, but don't kids and their parents know the risks involved in playing football? It was meant to be a physical sport... with that comes the risk of injury. I am not saying any of these rule changes are overly dramatic and will ruin the game, but at some point you just have to say: Injuries are going to happen.

Hockey wasn't on the list, but that sport is a recipe for disaster. You have people flying around on ice with sharp blades on their feet hitting other people. You also have a puck being shot at extremely high speeds. (Heck, the fans aren't even safe in that sport.)

Everyone is entitled to make their own conclusions and form their own opinions when looking at the statistics, but I personally think they need to realize that unless they give everyone flags and cut out tackling... People will get hurt.

Take soccer for example, which many people (mainly football players/fans) consider to be a "pansy sport" and not dangerous. Some of the most horrific injuries happen in soccer that happen from slide-tackling and diving in at the ball. They could cut out a lot of injuries by making it a rule that you can't slide tackle and the game would still be playable, but it is part of the game and they aren't going to take away that entire part of the game, despite the risk of serious injury.

Just in case you aren't aware of what I am talking about--Here is an example of a nasty/career ending type injury that occurs in soccer from slide-tackling.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fo6vyFfIdo]Eduardo Da Silva injury - YouTube[/ame]

Maybe it is comparing apples to oranges (depending how you look at it).
Football seems to be concerned with concussions/head injuries/spinal injuries (which happen in other sports like hockey). I am all for trying to reduce the risk of those types of injuries as much as possible (especially at the college level)... as long as they don't end up completely changing the game.

Like I said, I don't think these changes in particular will "kill the game,"
but I just hope they don't end up trying to completely eliminate the risk, because that will never happen without completely changing the sport and the way the game has been played for many years.

Wow, that was long... I'm not even sure I made sense.

 

[truehawk]

Hockey isn't on that list because all 10 people that play only go to the ER a couple of times a year.

 

[NewMexHawk]

I think eventually college football might just start putting flags on the belts of running backs, passers, receivers and the defense will just pull the flag from the belt. Once the flag is removed the play will be called dead. And coeds will be allowed to play because no one will be allowed to push or tackle or otherwise hurt the other player without due penalty of being thrown out of the game. That way women can be given equal scholarships for football.

 

[hawkeye12345]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHRERLEM2eE]Sexual Chocolate! - YouTube[/ame]

 

[9YRPLAN]

And you think the NCAA can't be sued? You're making my point for me here. The NFL, which pays their players millions of dollars in a collectively bargained agreement in which many of the playes are grown, college educated men are going to "get sued big time. for billions" yet the NCAA is going to be protected because 18 year old's "made a conscious choice to accept a scholarship?"

For the record, the kickoffs were only moved to the 30 yard line in 2007. So people are complaining about moving a kickoff to where it was for a very large percentage of college football history.

uh, those were two separate points

 

[DuffMan]

I'm just saying that what you call the "pussification of America" is nothing more than making a few minor rule changes to minimize the risks of a 20 year old kid being unable to perform reasoning tasks later in life (like getting raccoons out of their yard) later in life because they suffered a major head injury while playing a game that does little more than entertain a bunch of old fat white guys washing the game from the couch while wearing sweat pants.

Then why not just say that and leave the other bs alone?

Where's the fun in that?

 

[Billso]

Take soccer for example, which many people (mainly football players/fans) consider to be a "pansy sport" and not dangerous. Some of the most horrific injuries happen in soccer that happen from slide-tackling and diving in at the ball. They could cut out a lot of injuries by making it a rule that you can't slide tackle and the game would still be playable, but it is part of the game and they aren't going to take away that entire part of the game, despite the risk of serious injury.

Just in case you aren't aware of what I am talking about--Here is an example of a nasty/career ending type injury that occurs in soccer from slide-tackling.

Eduardo Da Silva injury - YouTube

As horrific as that was, Da Silva returned to action one year later and is still playing.

 

[big10fan]

big difference between long term effects of concussions and a nasty ankle break. big difference.

 

[CGHawk]

As horrific as that was, Da Silva returned to action one year later and is still playing.

I know, but that is why I said "career ending type" of injury. I have no idea how he was able to come back after that, but I'm sure most people would not be able.

I don't follow him now, but I'm sure he has never been quite the same player since that happened. Just brutal.

And to big10fan: I also know that an ankle break is different. I said it could be like comparing apples to oranges when you look at it like that.

My point was that injuries are bound to happen, but you can't completely prevent all of them without changing major aspects of the sport. I just used soccer/slide-tackling/diving in on a tackle as an example.

I have no problem with protecting college players from receiving spinal/serious head injuries as much as possible, but they will still happen even with these rule changes and the only way to really stop them is to make a football a no-contact sport. If that makes sense. I might be doing a poor job of explaining my point(s). If so, I apologize.

 

[whammer33024]

those numbers can easily be skewed. what are you more likely to see driving through town...a few kids playing basketball, or a few kids playing TACKLE football? of course more injuries are going to occur to "basketball players" as its an easier game to set up and get playing. most kids don't play tackle football. and bicycling is easy as well since most kids have a bike to ride and get hurt on

 

[Golfer]

those numbers can easily be skewed. what are you more likely to see driving through town...a few kids playing basketball, or a few kids playing TACKLE football? of course more injuries are going to occur to "basketball players" as its an easier game to set up and get playing. most kids don't play tackle football. and bicycling is easy as well since most kids have a bike to ride and get hurt on

.

I know this factually. Worker's compensation rates are highest for baseball, second is basketball, and third is football.

I might have one a two mixed up, but I know football is third to them.

I was surprised by this.