Penn State Player Concussions

by whiteoutonly on Sep 5, 2010 3:24 PM EDT

I remember a few weeks ago Joe Paterno mentioned they were having some concussion issues with a few players and it turned out to be the type of helmet they were using.

Prior to 2005 Penn State players wore what many would consider the standard lookiing football helmet, made by either Schutt or Riddell. See Zack Mills:

In 2005 all players wore Schutt DNA helmets. See Michael Robinson:

In 2008, PSU introduced a new model, the Schutt Ion, worn most notetably by players like Daryll Clark:

However, I noticed in yesterday's Youngstown State game, all players were back wearing the Schutt DNA helmet. See Stephon Green from last season vs Yesterday:

Everyone rembers the Clark concussion in 2008 vs. Ohio State. I'm curious to know the % of PSU players that suffered concussions since 2008 wore the Ion helmet and if the staff finally put 2 and 2 together.

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I think it has less to do with the helmet, and more with the fit

Unless they somehow got a helmet that was rated for High School instead of College. The Ion is a better helmet than the old standard Schutts in terms of technology and protection, but if they are not wearing it at the proper inflation and fit level than that would be a big problem.

When in doubt, punt!
- John Heisman

by carolinaeasy on Sep 5, 2010 3:47 PM EDT reply actions

So are you saying that Spider doesn't know how to fit the Ion properly?

by whiteoutonly on Sep 5, 2010 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't know anything about Spider's ability to fit a helmet

But I do know most kids, even the high caliber athletes, want a looser fitting helmet. For obvious reasons this is a danger for the kid . The other thing I know is that the National Coaches association made a BIIIIIIG deal about concussions this year. To make a long story short, legally a coach is no longer allowed to say “concussion” on the sideline with out a doctor stepping in and clearing a kid before he can think about the field. Every coach in my state had to be certified in a concussion course just to be allowed on the sidelines on Friday nights. If a nationally sold helmet is resulting in higher concussion rates it sounds like a MAJOR problem for them, and the sport.

When in doubt, punt!
- John Heisman

by carolinaeasy on Sep 5, 2010 10:05 PM EDT up reply actions

My insider information

Basically you’re absolutely right.

Everyone who suffered concussions this spring in practice was wearing the Ion style helmets, and there were a surplus of concussions this spring. The staff noted this and made the change a couple of weeks ago. No one is sure why those helmets result in more concussions, but it was obvious there was a direct correlation.

I think they look stupid, and I’m glad they’re not being used anymore.

McGloin Despite Them

Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010

by millzners on Sep 5, 2010 4:50 PM EDT reply actions

spring = fall

I mean fall practice, I’m not sure about the spring, b/c my insider information only comes since the fall…

McGloin Despite Them

Preaching the McGospel since Aug. 2nd, 2010

by millzners on Sep 5, 2010 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you suprised they haven't tried the Air XP?

To my understanding it has the same padding system as the DNA with a more classic looking shell (except for the ear holes).

by whiteoutonly on Sep 5, 2010 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Not to sound completely insensitive.....

because this is a serious discussion, but I wonder back in the day how we, who played ball, didn’t suffer more head injuries…or don’t we know the extent….e.g. headaches, strokes and memory/senility diseases?

by DerryPharmer on Sep 5, 2010 5:53 PM EDT reply actions

Probably a number of things.

Between a lack of knowledge/diagnosis (something that would be a headache 40 years ago would be a mild concussion and a week on the bench today), preventative measure breed harder hits (people do stupid things if they don’t think it will hurt them), players all around are much bigger, stronger, faster.

"This is being a Penn State fan. We’ll prove it, or we won’t. It’s not about proving it to them, it’s about proving to ourselves."

by mvrck on Sep 5, 2010 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I recall reading somewhere that concussions are far less prevalent in rugby.

Now, other injuries are supposedly just as if not more prevalent, but the same cannot be said for injuries to the brain.

"Alabama is foldin' thanks to Robert Bolden." - Brad Nessler

by ReadingRambler on Sep 5, 2010 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions

This is true, from my experience

Mainly because anything other than a wrap tackle below the shoulders is illegal form. You are absolutely NOT allowed to spear someone or lead with the shoulder without attempting to wrap up. As far as technique, they also instruct you to put your head behind the direction the runner is moving, if it’s not straight-on. And if it’s a straight-on tackle, you really shouldn’t be leading with your head under any circumstance if you want your spinal cord to stay intact.

I’ve only gotten one concussion in 3 years playing rugby, and it was because I was accidentally kneed in the face.

As for other injuries, you see a LOT of shoulder injuries, and it mainly comes from poor tackling technique, i.e. letting your arms fly open when you tackle, as opposed to keeping your elbows tight to your body. The lack of padding probably also has a lot to do with it.

by psuwxman on Sep 6, 2010 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

do you find that waxing helps you elude being tackled?

by The JuggerNitt on Sep 6, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions

The #1 reason there are more concussions today than years ago is because they are being diagnosed now.

It’s like saying the cancer rate is higher now than in the 1600"s, because they had not discovered it yet.

We've beat better teams. Yeah.
Beat Alabama.

by jesse. on Sep 5, 2010 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Exactly.

Well said.

Can Abbrederis shoot the long three and effectively distribute the ball to his big men?
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 6, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually, that's only partially true (I teach this, so I have to interject here).

We have more cancer not just because of people living longer and it being diagnosed, but also because of lifestyle factors. We’ve seen an increase in cancer rates since the early 1900s, largely because of lifestyle (smoking, alcohol, obesity, etc). Concussion rate increases may be a factor of more cases being diagnosed, but you could also have more as a result of different/poorer equipment or changes in behavior as a result of having the equipment.

For the glory

by Paige2PSU on Sep 6, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions