Chris Borland Article: Hard Truth?

[SFBadger96]

I've been struggling with being a football fan for a while now. I applauded Borland when he quit the game, and I wouldn't let my son play it (though he has no interest, so that's not a hard call). The college football experience has been a huge part of my life--including, if I'm being honest, helping bring SFIrish and me together. There's not much better in my life than that. I like you guys, too.
 
But...

I read this when it came in my alumni magazine and it isn't helping me stick with being a football fan.

https://onwisconsin.uwalumni.com/features/hard-truth/?fbclid=IwAR3KEVf7BMxiJyBNoIbSTocbZLQINbSQgwk1wNp7bgigT525SFO-D4Vvuvg

[Entropy]

I'd be lying if I said CTE research has not given me pause when it comes to watching football.   I haven't stopped, but I certainly think about it off and on..  and I would not want my kids to play.

[847badgerfan]

I still say they need to take the helmets away for football to be viable in the future. Nobody would use their head as a weapon if this happened. Players (most all) have respect for one another so as to not try to hit each other with the intent to injure.

[betarhoalphadelta]

I still say they need to take the helmets away for football to be viable in the future. Nobody would use their head as a weapon if this happened. Players (most all) have respect for one another so as to not try to hit each other with the intent to injure.

But the key is that "using the head as a weapon" means nothing to CTE. It's the repetitive small impacts that are an issue. 
Oddly enough, this has also been affecting soccer. Turns out repeatedly heading the ball in soccer leads to the same sorts of issues. The amount of force is MUCH smaller than most football tackles, but the repetitive nature of it leads to CTE. 
As it's highlighted in the article, everyone talks about this issue as if it's about concussions. Concussions are a problem, of course. But concussions and CTE aren't the same thing. 

[Mdot21]

But the key is that "using the head as a weapon" means nothing to CTE. It's the repetitive small impacts that are an issue.
Oddly enough, this has also been affecting soccer. Turns out repeatedly heading the ball in soccer leads to the same sorts of issues. The amount of force is MUCH smaller than most football tackles, but the repetitive nature of it leads to CTE.
As it's highlighted in the article, everyone talks about this issue as if it's about concussions. Concussions are a problem, of course. But concussions and CTE aren't the same thing.

Yup. Nothing can make the game safe. 
Only thing you can do is go to 7 on 7 and switch to flag football and get rid of the tackling. Who’d watch that? No one.

[Entropy]

All sports have risks of CTE.  Boxing, Hockey and Football, I'd guess, have a significant higher percentage than basketball, soccer, baseball.   

[SFBadger96]

Yeah, I understand risk. There's risk in everything. And there are ways to mitigate risk. Is there any effective way to mitigate the risk of CTE in football? Doesn't seem like it. Maybe removing the helmets and shoulder pads would do it?

[rolltidefan]

that's rugby. nothing wrong with it, just not my sport of choice.

[Hawkinole]

I still say they need to take the helmets away for football to be viable in the future. Nobody would use their head as a weapon if this happened. Players (most all) have respect for one another so as to not try to hit each other with the intent to injure.

I have read this and other articles citing deaths at the turn of the 20th century that threatened college football. https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/19-football-players-died-in-1905-but-calls-for-reform-1277528900 Interesting that only 6 of the 19 deaths in 1905 were from brain injury. I am sure there were far fewer players in 1905. It is unlikely that removing helmets solves the problem; it probably exacerbates it. I understand your rationale, but collisions with heads occur even when players are not weaponizing the head.