College Football Thread

[Guest]

[_Xenophon]

I do feel like it's a bit of a guilty pleasure though. I'm concerned with the head injuries. I think I would steer my own kids away from the sport. Having the libertarian philosophies that I do, I certainly wouldn't be in favor of banning the sport or anything in that realm. Nor am I some sissy about rough sports. But I do contemplate what can be done to make it safer and have concerns over cultural attitudes that are maybe a bit unhealthy, peer pressuring kids into "gladiator" situations where they bang themselves up way too much while we get a kind of sadistic pleasure from the destruction. I'm curious what the folks around here think about that discussion?

I agree that in its current state I would steer my children away from playing and I think it is telling that a lot of former players are in the same camp. I managed to keep my BIL out of full contact until he was a bit older, hopefully mitigating some damage. I played when I was younger but went to college for a non-contact sport so I'm hopeful my stint was short enough to not have any long term issues (other injuries aside, of course).

Hopefully the awareness that has been raised about CTE leads to positive changes but I'm uncertain if we will ever be able to stop the problem, at the end of the day it is still elite athletes slamming into each other frequently. You're right that football has become our modern day Colosseum and there is some unhealthy enjoyment of it. As long as the players are fully aware of the problem (I don't think they are) and we can find ways to prevent harm in the younger players (I don't think we can) I'd see no reason to ban it but we currently seem to be okay with the long-term consequences of the sport. I'm not sure if the CTE problems are what has waned my interest or if I just have find other things I enjoy more but I rarely watch college or pro anymore.

[_Water Dog]

[_Kevin Graham]

Roll Tide. Just sayin.

[_subgenius]

Roll Tide. Just sayin.

that 4th quarter...ouch