As somebody else pointed out, this board is kinda dead now so let's discuss a very important long term issue. There's been an alarming report out about the prevalence of brain damage in former football players.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

My answers:
1) No, I wouldn't let a son play HS football.
2) I doubt that football could be modified to significantly reduce head injuries and remain anything like the current game.
3) If football were modified to significantly reduce head injuries, I doubt that it would have anything like the popularity it has today. Violence is an inherent part of the appeal of the game.
4) I don't like it but I really doubt that college football will be played 20 years from now.
5) The obvious replacement for college football would be the game that the rest of the world calls football -- soccer -- although I doubt you could fill big stadiums in the U.S. to watch college soccer.

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  As somebody else pointed out, this board is kinda dead now so let's discuss a very important long term issue. There's been an alarming report out about the prevalence of brain damage in former football players.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

My answers:
1) No, I wouldn't let a son play HS football.
2) I doubt that football could be modified to significantly reduce head injuries and remain anything like the current game.
3) If football were modified to significantly reduce head injuries, I doubt that it would have anything like the popularity it has today. Violence is an inherent part of the appeal of the game.
4) I don't like it but I really doubt that college football will be played 20 years from now.
5) The obvious replacement for college football would be the game that the rest of the world calls football -- soccer -- although I doubt you could fill big stadiums in the U.S. to watch college soccer.

1) If I had one and he wanted to play, I'd let him play. I'd drug test him if I thought he was using steroids.
2) They've done every thing they can to mitigate the risk. The remaining injuries are just part of the game.
3) Each year they make more modifications and each year they make the game less interesting. I'd be for allowing the horse collar tackle, allowing targeting and allowing a hit while 1 foot was in bounds.
4) They haven't banned boxing or UCF fighting. They won't ban football. The caliber of play will drop because of fewer high school players.
5) Right now it would be NBA basketball. Basketball is way more popular now than it was 10 years ago. It's experiencing a renaissance. College basketball is about the same.

For a violent sport? Maybe Lacrosse but you're not going to fill up 100K seat stadiums for Lacrosse or Soccer or field Hockey or any of the others. If football went away, there would just be more money and more time to spend on other pursuits. Nothing would take it's place.

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  As somebody else pointed out, this board is kinda dead now so let's discuss a very important long term issue. There's been an alarming report out about the prevalence of brain damage in former football players.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?

Hell No - Pee wee yes

2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?

You can't do it without a fundamental change in the game - reducing speed and size of players. Essentially reducing it to a girls flag football - and if you have ever seen them play it at the high school level - you would be scared shitless.


3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?

You are going to loose the upper middle class and the well educated.

4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?

Yes - but maybe not at certain elite schools that also have med schools. I can see Duke, NW, BC, UVa, WF, Vandy, and others of that ilk dropping the sport. The small privates that don't need the sport to bind the university to the alumni and boosters can drop it with greater ease and just put basketball on the court.

5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

Hunger games style gladiatorial combat where the participants sign releases and the events are filmed outside of United States jurisdiction. There will always be a individuals that will take the risk.

My answers:
1) No, I wouldn't let a son play HS football.
2) I doubt that football could be modified to significantly reduce head injuries and remain anything like the current game.
3) If football were modified to significantly reduce head injuries, I doubt that it would have anything like the popularity it has today. Violence is an inherent part of the appeal of the game.
4) I don't like it but I really doubt that college football will be played 20 years from now.
5) The obvious replacement for college football would be the game that the rest of the world calls football -- soccer -- although I doubt you could fill big stadiums in the U.S. to watch college soccer.

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

1) I don't really want him to play, but I'll stop short of saying I would 100% prohibit it. I don't encourage it, but if he showed the size/athleticism for it, I might be persuaded to allow it. However, going in he would know he's on a one serious concussion and he's done program. Honestly, I don't think it's my decision to make, his mother has always said she wouldn't allow him to play, and I've always told him if he wanted to play it would be up to him to convince her without my help. That's not a hill I'm willing to die on.

2) I agree with those that say if they took the helmets off or went back to leather helmets it would significantly reduce the instances.

3) I actually think so. They've quietly and effectively reduced the violence of the game and the marketing of the violence. Look at the way the NFL has become a passing league. I think I'm the last generation (I'm 45) for which violence will be considered an intrinsic and necessary part of the game.

4) Absolutely. I think you will see over time that it continues to evolve to something that falls somewhere between 7-on-7 style play and Under Armour type All Star games.

5) Nothing replaces it. It's not culturally replaceable. It's a very specific unique sport with specific characteristics that are not replaceable or reproducible.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?

Yes

2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?

Lighter helmets

3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?

Hell no, it would become touch football.

4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?

Yes

5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

Paintball

Now I understand why Duke football sucks!

Would you watch boxing or MMA if they weren't allowed to hit each other in the head? The violence and danger are integral to the popularity of the sport.

1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football? No because we are hobbit like people

2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage? Stop wearing helmets. Seriously, who's gonna run at full speed into someone without a helmet.

3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now? Depends. Rugby is football modified significantly to reduce brain damage. How many people watch in America?

4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now? Yes but only by 12 teams: Alabama, Ohio, Texas, LSU, Clemson, Florida, FSU, ND, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, and Auburn after 4 more conference realignments.

5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it? America Ninja Warrior

(07-31-2017 11:53 AM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  As somebody else pointed out, this board is kinda dead now so let's discuss a very important long term issue. There's been an alarming report out about the prevalence of brain damage in former football players.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?

Hell No - Pee wee yes

2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?

You can't do it without a fundamental change in the game - reducing speed and size of players. Essentially reducing it to a girls flag football - and if you have ever seen them play it at the high school level - you would be scared shitless.


3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?

You are going to loose the upper middle class and the well educated.

4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?

Yes - but maybe not at certain elite schools that also have med schools. I can see Duke, NW, BC, UVa, WF, Vandy, and others of that ilk dropping the sport. The small privates that don't need the sport to bind the university to the alumni and boosters can drop it with greater ease and just put basketball on the court.

5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

Hunger games style gladiatorial combat where the participants sign releases and the events are filmed outside of United States jurisdiction. There will always be a individuals that will take the risk.

My answers:
1) No, I wouldn't let a son play HS football.
2) I doubt that football could be modified to significantly reduce head injuries and remain anything like the current game.
3) If football were modified to significantly reduce head injuries, I doubt that it would have anything like the popularity it has today. Violence is an inherent part of the appeal of the game.
4) I don't like it but I really doubt that college football will be played 20 years from now.
5) The obvious replacement for college football would be the game that the rest of the world calls football -- soccer -- although I doubt you could fill big stadiums in the U.S. to watch college soccer.

I prefer Death Race.

Participants get in cars and kill things - possibly each other.

My son played defensive end until he blew out his knee (got tripped by a lazy offensive lineman) in 8th grade. He spent months on crutches and in rehab. Never played another down of football. That being said my Grandsons both play football on Merritt Island in Florida. My sons injury never kept them from playing.

As a matter of fact I just watched a video today of my 12 year old Grandson getting knocked out by a roundhouse kick to the throat by a 14 year old in a kickboxing match.

My daughter is a basket case during every one of his matches but the kid loves them.

Let kids be kids. Let them play football, box, ride a bike without a helmet. All the stuff we did as kids. Can't coddle them too much....
CJ

I want to answer these....

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
Absolutely....I would demand it by making him play peewee through high school.

2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
Eliminate kickoffs....

3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?.....Yes


4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?......Yes...I have my doubts about 100 years though. The pussification of the American Male is breeding out real men...JMHO

5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?.....
Rollerball or Running Man

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

1) His choice. But if he did go into football, it would be required that he take training from somebody like Kelly Starrett on how to be explosive but still limber ... what movements your body is strongest at making ... what movements place a lot of strain on weak joints ... etc.

2) As long as you have tackling, nothing that is a "silver bullet". Technology will continue to make helmets and equipment safer and lighter, but that is improvement you won't even recognize until you've had 20 years of it.

3) Given my answer to #2, obviously yes.

4) Absolutely

5) If it did go, you'd probably have a regional split. College baseball would suddenly get a lot more popular in the South. Basketball would get more popular in the rust belt and west coast.



As as aside ... you could conceptualize a world where contact is legislated away in the game, much like how they're doing with basketball now. This would give the offense a prohibitive advantage in the current setup, so you'd address that with a host of potential rule changes including going to 3 downs like they have in CFL. CFL takes CTE very very seriously and has a much lower level of talent than the NFL. But I still love watching the CFL and the games are close and entertaining and the players are still good enough to make some amazing plays from time to time.

(07-31-2017 09:25 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

1) His choice. But if he did go into football, it would be required that he take training from somebody like Kelly Starrett on how to be explosive but still limber ... what movements your body is strongest at making ... what movements place a lot of strain on weak joints ... etc.

2) As long as you have tackling, nothing that is a "silver bullet". Technology will continue to make helmets and equipment safer and lighter, but that is improvement you won't even recognize until you've had 20 years of it.

3) Given my answer to #2, obviously yes.

4) Absolutely

5) If it did go, you'd probably have a regional split. College baseball would suddenly get a lot more popular in the South. Basketball would get more popular in the rust belt and west coast.



As as aside ... you could conceptualize a world where contact is legislated away in the game, much like how they're doing with basketball now. This would give the offense a prohibitive advantage in the current setup, so you'd address that with a host of potential rule changes including going to 3 downs like they have in CFL. CFL takes CTE very very seriously and has a much lower level of talent than the NFL. But I still love watching the CFL and the games are close and entertaining and the players are still good enough to make some amazing plays from time to time.

He's your chattel until 16/18 depending on the State - if my chattel buck me I cut off the money.

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

1) "Let" seems like the wrong word. I would strongly discourage it. My wife are I aren't the biggest of people. It wouldn't end well for him if he got hit hard.
2) Don't go to doctors. No doctors > no doctor reports > no diagnoses of brain damage > football is safer
3) Yes, because college football.
4) Yes, because college football.
5) Nothing could replace it due to its magnitude. There would likely be heightened interest in college soccer, hockey, and lacrosse. Baseball would become the #2 sport behind basketball which would move the needle for realignment.

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  As somebody else pointed out, this board is kinda dead now so let's discuss a very important long term issue. There's been an alarming report out about the prevalence of brain damage in former football players.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

1) I would certainly discourage it. My son wasn't particularly interested though. When he was high school age, he preferred outdoor sports like hunting, fishing, skiing, mountain biking.
2) A combination of rule changes and technology. Companies are working on much safer helmets. https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/...ncussions/ They're expensive, but could save the sport. Leagues at all levels need to discourage helmet to helmet hits and unnecessarily violent hits by imposing severe penalties. Eliminate kickoffs. Put off the start of tackle football to a later age. Shorten college eligibility to three years. Use freshman year to train and teach proper techniques.
3) Yes. The changes will likely be gradual over time.
4) Yes, but the cost of new equipment and insurance may drive lower divisions and lower budget schools out of the sport.
5) Not sure, but not soccer. Soccer has its own major problem with head injuries.

1) I would absolutely let any of my sons play HS football if they really desire it. But, I'm not disappointed that my oldest son has opted for basketball, soccer, and track.
2) N/A - no way to *significantly* reduce the risks
3) Yes. There would still be athletic feats and great plays.
4) Absolutely. But fewer schools involved.
5) Rugby.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
Hard for me to say since I don't have kids. I don't think I would give an absolute NO but I would encourage him to play other sports.

2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
Better helmets. Concussion awareness and protocols. I believe you can eliminate some of the violence and keep some of the ruff stuff.

3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
You would loose some fans and gain some others.

4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
Yes.

5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?
Soccer and Lacrosse are gaining popularity.

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  As somebody else pointed out, this board is kinda dead now so let's discuss a very important long term issue. There's been an alarming report out about the prevalence of brain damage in former football players.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

Although I am an SEC fan, I'd like to comment on this topic.
1. I do have a son (toddler age right now), and if he wanted to play HS football, I'd let him. I wouldn't force him to play, but I would not discourage it either.

2. Very good question and I really don't have an answer for that. We could make it more like rugby, but then it wouldn't be football anymore. Only thing I can think of, besides some type of helmet redesign, would be to have rules discouraging helmet to helmet contact, and train players to avoid hitting the helmet as much as possible, and not to dive headfirst into plays. Coaches should tell players that this is for their own good, and not to fight it.

3. I believe people would. Yes, there would be some initial resistance, but if the NCAA, NAIA, NCCAA, and all of the conferences as well as the individual institutions told everyone, including the fans why it was necessary, I believe people would accept it in time. Best example of how getting lots of people involved helps: WVU fans used to be notorious for couch burning and a lot of other very violent activities. To combat this problem, I remember WVU school officials putting a commercial together involving the Mountaineer mascot to speak out and to publicly discourage these activities as well as showing people what the punishment would be if they chose to ignore them. The campaign apparently worked, because even though I still hear of WVU fans bad behavior from time to time, it is nothing like it used to be, IMO.

4. Yes, but with modifications. I can see soccer possibly picking up more fans though.

5. Nothing can replace football, IMO, but I can see soccer getting more popular in the future.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

My answers:
1) Yes
2) No helmets = not acting like you are a battering ram = far less concussions
3) Yes
4) Yes
5) Sarcastiball [one of the best South Park episodes]

(07-31-2017 10:03 AM)Hallcity Wrote:  As somebody else pointed out, this board is kinda dead now so let's discuss a very important long term issue. There's been an alarming report out about the prevalence of brain damage in former football players.

Questions:
1) If you had a high school age son would you let him play high school football?
2) How can the game of football be modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage?
3) If the game of football is modified to significantly reduce the risk of brain damage, would people watch it the way they do now?
4) Will college football still be played 20 years from now?
5) If college football has to go, what, if anything, could replace it?

My answers:
1) No, I wouldn't let a son play HS football.
2) I doubt that football could be modified to significantly reduce head injuries and remain anything like the current game.
3) If football were modified to significantly reduce head injuries, I doubt that it would have anything like the popularity it has today. Violence is an inherent part of the appeal of the game.
4) I don't like it but I really doubt that college football will be played 20 years from now.
5) The obvious replacement for college football would be the game that the rest of the world calls football -- soccer -- although I doubt you could fill big stadiums in the U.S. to watch college soccer.

1) No way
2) get rid of helmets and pads, they make players feel safer than they actually are
3) I think so
4) some form of it will
5) if that happens college basketball would probably take over the some of the vacuum left by college football, but probably pro football, reality tv and mixed martial arts

A further thought on rule changes -- they could reduce the number of plays that happen during a game by not fully stopping the clock after incomplete passes and out of bounds plays. Just have a soft stop as they do with first downs in college. Keep a full stop for the last five minutes of each half. College could also adopt the pro rule on first downs, i.e., no clock stoppage.