New helmet rule in college football

[David Watts]

Do you like it? Players have to sit out one play if their helmets come off during a play. Sure seems like guys could find a way to make sure their helmets don't come off, but it has come into play in every game I've watched so far.

[jaxmagicman]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Do you like it? Players have to sit out one play if their helmets come off during a play. Sure seems like guys could find a way to make sure their helmets don't come off, but it has come into play in every game I've watched so far.

Love the rule. Wish the NFL would adopt it.

[Cooleyvol]

Love it.

[Ragin Cajun]

I can see this getting bad with players ripping helmets off on every play. That equates to either a lot of missed plays or some really bad neck injuries.

[Cryomaniac]

Originally Posted by Ragin Cajun

I can see this getting bad with players ripping helmets off on every play. That equates to either a lot of missed plays or some really bad neck injuries.

I can see that happening too. Same as the rule in the NFL (blame Jason Witten) where a runner is down if his helmet comes off. That encourages the same thing.

[rudel.dietrich]

I thought this thread was going to be about new helmet designs that will help prevent concussions.
Also known as doing something that is not only ethical but could save your sport in the future.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Ragin Cajun

I can see this getting bad with players ripping helmets off on every play. That equates to either a lot of missed plays or some really bad neck injuries.

Did I hear right though that if an opponent removes the helmet then the player doesn't sit the play out, sure I heard them say that during the Boise St game.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Did I hear right though that if an opponent removes the helmet then the player doesn't sit the play out, sure I heard them say that during the Boise St game.

This is correct.

[Jason]

I think it's a great rule. Good step toward increased safety.

[The Game]

Only somewhat related. I was watching on WTTW Ch 11 PBS a debate about banning College Football. Prior to the debate, which included Tim Green formerly of the ATL Falcons, the vote by the audience was 31% for ban 53% against ban and 16% undecided. After it was close to 52% ban 39% against ban and 9% undecided. The last numbers got cut off a little so i may be off on them. They did mention helmets and having to take off plays when they come off.

[Postman]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

I thought this thread was going to be about new helmet designs that will help prevent concussions.

There's nothing that can stop the brain moving around in the skull when the head takes a blow, and that's what causes concussions.

The NFL is trying to do something about it by instituting penalties for helmet to helmet hits on QBs and defenseless receivers, but running backs lower their heads naturally when they see an oncoming defender and those defenders must lower their heads in response.

Brain damage is part of the game at the pro level. It always has been since the invention of plastic helmets. We're just starting to realize the full extent of it.

The NHL has the same problem. NASCAR seems to as well. Actually, FIFA does, too, albeit to a lesser extent.

[Postman]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

Did I hear right though that if an opponent removes the helmet then the player doesn't sit the play out, sure I heard them say that during the Boise St game.

Yes, if the play that knocked the helmet off got flagged, say for face masking (which applies to any tackle by any part of the helmet, not just the face mask), the player does not have to sit out.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by The Game

Only somewhat related. I was watching on WTTW Ch 11 PBS a debate about banning College Football. Prior to the debate, which included Tim Green formerly of the ATL Falcons, the vote by the audience was 31% for ban 53% against ban and 16% undecided. After it was close to 52% ban 39% against ban and 9% undecided. The last numbers got cut off a little so i may be off on them. They did mention helmets and having to take off plays when they come off.

LOL ban college football, what would the NFL do?

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by Postman

There's nothing that can stop the brain moving around in the skull when the head takes a blow, and that's what causes concussions.

The NFL is trying to do something about it by instituting penalties for helmet to helmet hits on QBs and defenseless receivers, but running backs lower their heads naturally when they see an oncoming defender and those defenders must lower their heads in response.

Brain damage is part of the game at the pro level. It always has been since the invention of plastic helmets. We're just starting to realize the full extent of it.

The NHL has the same problem. NASCAR seems to as well. Actually, FIFA does, too, albeit to a lesser extent.

I remember seeing a prototype for a helmet that was attatched to the shoulder pads that's goal was to redistribute the force from the head towards the rest of the body.

In theory would that work effectively?

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by The Chase Davis

I remember seeing a prototype for a helmet that was attatched to the shoulder pads that's goal was to redistribute the force from the head towards the rest of the body.

In theory would that work effectively?

That sounds like an excellent idea. But I don't see how it would work and still allow you to turn your head. Simple logic to me says if the head acts at all independent of the shoulder pad then it would not work. But then again, I did not see the prototype.

[Skipaway]

Originally Posted by Ragnar

LOL ban college football, what would the NFL do?

Have proper minor leagues and pay prospects like MLB. Now they are getting farm teams for free.

[Postman]

Originally Posted by The Chase Davis

I remember seeing a prototype for a helmet that was attatched to the shoulder pads that's goal was to redistribute the force from the head towards the rest of the body.

In theory would that work effectively?

No, while the HANS restraint system that NASCAR uses has proven effective in preventing Basilar skull fractures and thus saving the lives of its drivers, that's not the problem the NFL is confronting. As hard as the hits are in the NFL, they're not sufficient to cause that kind of a skull fracture.

Some players wear a plate attached to the collar of their shoulder pads that extends up behind the back of the helmet (but not attached to the helmet itself) that prevents the head from snapping back in the event of a hit to the front of the helmet, but that's because those players are routinely using their helmet to make hits themselves and have suffered neck injuries in the past because of it. I've only seen linebackers using them. Linemen could benefit similarly, but they need to look up when they're in a three point stance and the device hinders that. For other players, they're just too bulky.

But this and similar systems cannot stop the brain from smashing into the brain case if the skull has sufficient force applied to it. The brain isn't attached to the skull. It just floats around inside it.

[CD1083]

Originally Posted by Postman

No, while the HANS restraint system that NASCAR uses has proven effective in preventing Basilar skull fractures and thus saving the lives of its drivers, that's not the problem the NFL is confronting. As hard as the hits are in the NFL, they're not sufficient to cause that kind of a skull fracture.

Some players wear a plate attached to the collar of their shoulder pads that extends up behind the back of the helmet (but not attached to the helmet itself) that prevents the head from snapping back in the event of a hit to the front of the helmet, but that's because those players are routinely using their helmet to make hits themselves and have suffered neck injuries in the past because of it. I've only seen linebackers using them. Linemen could benefit similarly, but they need to look up when they're in a three point stance and the device hinders that. For other players, they're just too bulky.

But this and similar systems cannot stop the brain from smashing into the brain case if the skull has sufficient force applied to it. The brain isn't attached to the skull. It just floats around inside it.

I think the goal was that the helmet is there less as a helmet and more of a piece mass meant to redistribute the force from ever hitting the skull.

I think the mentality we may need to take is change the way we see our football players. Instead of seeing the classic helmet with mask, we move to a more space style design with the helmet and shoulder pads as a single piece so when players hit each other the force is not placed directly onto the head but instead on the shoulders and body.

Details would obviously need to be worked out in regards to weight, comfort, sight, etc. I think though that this theory is the only way to keep the game going with more and more information coming out regarding the dangers. In the end it's going to end up being a financial decision as former players start looking for payment.

How long before the league has to start paying for not protecting their players?

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by Postman

There's nothing that can stop the brain moving around in the skull when the head takes a blow, and that's what causes concussions.

The NFL is trying to do something about it by instituting penalties for helmet to helmet hits on QBs and defenseless receivers, but running backs lower their heads naturally when they see an oncoming defender and those defenders must lower their heads in response.

Brain damage is part of the game at the pro level. It always has been since the invention of plastic helmets. We're just starting to realize the full extent of it.

The NHL has the same problem. NASCAR seems to as well. Actually, FIFA does, too, albeit to a lesser extent.

I refuse to accept this. Human beings have a long history of overcoming challenges and this is just another in a long line of challenges.

Accepting potentially life altering injury as part of a game is dangerous thinking and the kind of thinking that the current Neanderthals in charge of the game are accepting.
It is also the kind of thinking that is going to one day make the game extinct.


Concussions CAN be overcome or significantly decreased. It just going to take the money and the research hours invested into the project.
The NFL should take some of it's enormous profits and invest 0.25% a year into concussion research.
But as the players suing the league have shown, the NFL cares very little about the long term health of it's players. Once they have put their slaves through the grinder it spits them out and ignores them.


And yes, hockey has many of the same problems. It HAS to get intentional aggressive hits under control or it too will find itself extinct.
It is simply unacceptable that one of the top 5 prospects of all time is potentially facing a end to his career because unskilled players whose sole job is thuggery are allowed to hit him about the head with their shoulders and elbows.

If the NHL would get serious about head hunting and make the first offense 25 games, the second 82 games and the third a two years suspension then it would disappear almost overnight.


Fifa Football used to be a rough thuggish game. Two footed tackles from the side and behind were the norm. But the game got a hold of itself and realized that fans would rather see beautiful free flowing football rather than one or two stars and 10 thugs who did not have much skill but whos job it was to injury and muck up the game.

The game is by no means perfect and it has gone too far in the other direction where players dive and feign injury.

But I would rather have that than see head hunting or in the case of football tackles aimed at leg breaking and ligament tearing.

[The Game]

Originally Posted by Skipaway

Have proper minor leagues and pay prospects like MLB. Now they are getting farm teams for free.

Even MLB has college players, some of which are better then players coming out of HS. What was mentioned in the debate I had watched was for NFL to invest more $$ into research at the college level for safety. I would like to see something like NFL Europe come back, but this time in America.