Purdue=ACL University

[GoBoilers]

I almost puked this AM: http://www.jconline.com/article/2011082 ... |FRONTPAGE

This our 6th player with ACL tears in a year. Mauvre (QB), Bolden (RB), Siller (WR), Smith (WR), Hummel (Basketball) and now Henry (QB). All starters. Not counting the other usual injuries. Someone has put a hex on this program.

[Dossenator]

Terrible news for Purdue.

I feel your pain some: Arkansas has lost their top 2 RB's for the season (Knile Davis and Broderick Green), and I just read they lost a Linebacker for the year as well. Fingers are crossed no one else is injured. Luckily AR has some depth to lean on.

How are the Purdue backups? The plus side is young players will get valuable playing time and hopefully that wil benefit the program in the future. At least that is what I would tell myself to keep from going crazy.

[donovan]

You are going to see more and more of this plus so many other injuries. This idea the new football pads, helmets and compression shirts makes a player invincible is nonsense. Knees, as far as know, is intended to bend in just one direction. Sudden stops, change of direction is a common cause, but blows to the side of the knee will cause it to happen, football in particular. All the suggestions of strengthening the muscles in that area help, but not when 300 pounds of flesh with a coefficient ratio of who knows hits that area. There is a solution...but won't happen.

[RazorHawk]

There is a solution...but won't happen.

And that would be????

Players keep getting bigger and faster. This is a recipe for many injuries and IMO very little short of playing touch or flag football would reduce the injuries.

The rules enforcing leading with the helmet was a good move and probably helped some. And of course at the same time created many controversial official's calls.

[GoBoilers]

Doss, we are an unknown quantity this year. Backup QB's actually have some very limited time playing. We jsut can't handle anymore season ending injuries.

[billybud]

There is a solution...but won't happen.

And that would be????

Players keep getting bigger and faster. This is a recipe for many injuries and IMO very little short of playing touch or flag football would reduce the injuries.

The rules enforcing leading with the helmet was a good move and probably helped some. And of course at the same time created many controversial official's calls.

Folks tear ACLs in flag football.

[RazorHawk]

There is a solution...but won't happen.

And that would be????

Players keep getting bigger and faster. This is a recipe for many injuries and IMO very little short of playing touch or flag football would reduce the injuries.

The rules enforcing leading with the helmet was a good move and probably helped some. And of course at the same time created many controversial official's calls.

Folks tear ACLs in flag football.

No doubt about it. I was questioning Donovan's statement of a solution. Maybe it would be to outlaw football. REDUCE was the word, but probably the ACL injuries might not even be reduced, but I would think so in touch or flag. ACL injuries happen while running track, so again not sure what the magical solution would be.

I have seen some flag football games that almost appeared rougher than tackle, as the players were almost tackled to remove the flag, but did not have the protective gear that is used in tackle.

[GoBoilers]

The human body wasn't designed for some of the stresses created. Football has to be one of the worst. Golf also with it's back twisting and torque over all the body is another. Basketball with the pounding jumping up and down has another type of stress. I guess baseball is the safest unless you are a pitcher with a rocket ball hit back at you!

[donovan]

ACL's are torn in flag football. 80% of sports related ACL tears happen when there is no contact. They happen in jumps and pivots and sudden stops. By the way, females have a higher risk of ACL tears than men.

Football has it's fair share caused by the above and certainly hitting a running at the knee from the side doesn't help. ACL's are torn in automobile accidents and work for the same above reasons.

Turf design, studies are all over the place on artificial turf versus grass. Shoe soles is a big issue and area where there may be legitimate concern. Speed of the players increases the risk, especially in runners that zig and zag....more pressure on sudden stops and turns at higher speed. Length of season and practices are under study. There's more, but I tire.

[RazorHawk]

ACL's are torn in flag football. 80% of sports related ACL tears happen when there is no contact. They happen in jumps and pivots and sudden stops. By the way, females have a higher risk of ACL tears than men.

Football has it's fair share caused by the above and certainly hitting a running at the knee from the side doesn't help. ACL's are torn in automobile accidents and work for the same above reasons.

Turf design, studies are all over the place on artificial turf versus grass. Shoe soles is a big issue and area where there may be legitimate concern. Speed of the players increases the risk, especially in runners that zig and zag....more pressure on sudden stops and turns at higher speed. Length of season and practices are under study. There's more, but I tire.

Still having trouble understanding your "There is a solution, but won't happen" comment. Please enlighten us.

[donovan]

ACL's are torn in flag football. 80% of sports related ACL tears happen when there is no contact. They happen in jumps and pivots and sudden stops. By the way, females have a higher risk of ACL tears than men.

Football has it's fair share caused by the above and certainly hitting a running at the knee from the side doesn't help. ACL's are torn in automobile accidents and work for the same above reasons.

Turf design, studies are all over the place on artificial turf versus grass. Shoe soles is a big issue and area where there may be legitimate concern. Speed of the players increases the risk, especially in runners that zig and zag....more pressure on sudden stops and turns at higher speed. Length of season and practices are under study. There's more, but I tire.

Still having trouble understanding your "There is a solution, but won't happen" comment. Please enlighten us.

First, you make strict rules on shoes. No more of these Nike et al, stop on a dime soles. They work and that is the main cause of injuries.

Secondly, you go back to grass. These studies are without a doubt, in my opinion, as self serving as can be. Turf manufacturers fund them, schools justifying huge expenditures on artificial turf fund them. There is no money to fund an independent study. The medical profession, I think, would find the only advantage of artificial surface is that it is even.

Thirdly, Other than helmets, stop all this padding and protection that gives the illusion you are invincible. Let the body, on defense and offense feel pain when hits are made. The defense and the offense will play entirely different. (It happens in flag football..but not to the extent we are talking by any stretch) And...if you think this makes the game pansy like...hmm...you should have lived during the 50's and 60's when football was played...I find it just as rugged.

Fourth, You have to protect the QB. There is a reason they get protected in practice and scrimmages...so just throw them to the wolves one day a week?

Fifth...you need professional officiating in college ball. Paid by the NCAA without regard to conference.

Not the panacea...but these steps....along with better trainers...ones that do not sneak the players all kinds of "junk" that artificially increases the risk of injury.

[Cane from the Bend]

along with better trainers...ones that do not sneak the players all kinds of "junk" that artificially increases the risk of injury.

No doubt; when I torn the ligaments in my left foot during track season my senior year, I turned down the cortisone shot the doctor gave me the option of taking.

The pain in kept me on crunches, and I had to leave the team.

But I can walk today.

.

.

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[RazorHawk]

Donovan, all those suggestions do make sense, without destroying the integrity of the game. Undoubtedly, they would probably reduce the number of injuries, but football, by nature, is a violent game. And I still believe the athletes getting bigger and faster will still contribute to a large number of injuries in this game.

[donovan]

I do not believe football should be a violent game. *( the word I used got bleeped..male chicken has to suffice) fighting and gladiatorial arenas are violent games. Football is a very physical game. There are many physical games. Collegiate wrestling may well be the most physical sport there is. Injuries happen in wrestling. So the issue is not that injuries won't happen in physical games, it is why they happen.

Football has become a spectator driven sport. Rhetorically, if 22 guys were to go on the field to play football without a sole in the stands and no officials, would there be the "unconscionable" play we have now? Would we have the corruption in college football we have now? You want to know the solution to stopping injuries in college football... the solution I alluded to that did not mention....stop the greed. Sure, you would have some, but nowhere what you have now.

Think of all the competitive sports that are rugged, physical and strenuous where money, greed, power, corruption and immorality is not such a strong influence, and you do not get this continual need for bigger, faster, stronger, rougher, and more violent play. Clean up college football, Impose "death" penalties where they apply for infractions and get back to the days where football was a grand rallying point of community and school spirit, not a multi zillion dollar business whomever is willing to be ruthless, beguiling and corrupting.

[Spence]

Donovan, all those suggestions do make sense, without destroying the integrity of the game. Undoubtedly, they would probably reduce the number of injuries, but football, by nature, is a violent game. And I still believe the athletes getting bigger and faster will still contribute to a large number of injuries in this game.

I agree. Those are common sense suggestions.