My mother would not let me play football, which I wanted to do because the football players had all the hot chicks in HS, or so it seemed to me. Her reasoning was head and spine injury potential. My senior year the FB coach asked me if I would play tight end for them. I was 6'4" and about 180 pounds, maybe. I demurred. The team as I recall went 0-10-1 that year.
I played baseball and basketball and had limb related injuries as a result and they cause me some issues today, but the brain is, well, as functional as it ever was, which is a low bar.
Looking back I'd say my mom was right. And yes, I respect those FCS players out there, and Div. III players who at least don't play FBS teams anyway.
I coached a kid in soccer and baseball who went to Yale on a basketball scholarship. Smart kid, very athletic, but not great in baseball oddly enough. He played select basketball so I didn't coach him but one year when he was about 8.
I still play baseball at the Fantasy Camp thing each January and I really enjoy that but it tears me up now physically. I do reasonably well considering I'm about 2nd or 3rd oldest camper out of 65 or so. I can still hit for some reason.
My HS football program today is a state power in Georgia and often plays in the playoff and championship game as they did last year at the top level, which is something like AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.
I digress. Again.
