Steve Smith blames football for his ALS

[Lion8286]

Football has divided the former Penn State football captain.

As these Nittany Lions prepare for the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 30, it brings back memories of one of college football's most iconic games — the 14-10 upset of the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes for the 1986 national title.

Fullback Steve Smith helped lead that team, arguably the school's most famous. Football gave him that, as well as close friends he still cherishes. It gave him a high-paying career and a family.

And yet has it taken away even more?

He stopped watching the games and doesn't talk about them. He and his family believe the brutal hits he absorbed as a fullback at Penn State and in the NFL have led to the ALS that has robbed him of so much of his life the past 15 years.

He hasn't walked and fed himself in over a decade. He cannot do much of anything on his own.

Rest of story here. . .
http://www.ydr.com/story/sports/col...eep-football-taking-more-than-gave/936915001/

 

[NittanyLionRoar]

I had no idea he had ALS...that’s really sad. Tim Shaw is also incredibly positive despite the clear deterioration of his physical abilities.

 

[hereforthebeer]

Ugh. I am divided on football. It's hard to reconcile how a game with so much to give can also take away so much.

My little boy is going to grow into a 6'3" 210lb country strong, athletic monster before my eyes.

Football or no football? That is the question.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

When I read of situations like this it makes me sick to my stomach. What a wonderful wife and such wonderful children. God Bless them all.

 

[massimoManca II]

Ugh. I am divided on football. It's hard to reconcile how a game with so much to give can also take away so much.

My little boy is going to grow into a 6'3" 210lb country strong, athletic monster before my eyes.

Football or no football? That is the question.

I have no regrets watching my 17yr old play 6yrs of HS ball... injuries (there was a knee, an elbow, and a finger) and all, he enjoyed his team experience... if that is what the kid enjoys - and he understands/accepts there are potential consequences, you have confidence in the program/staff, why would you not allow him to play? Modified football is especially fun... some kids will opt not to return for JV and beyond for different reasons and that's okay...

 

[Stargellfan]

Ugh. I am divided on football. It's hard to reconcile how a game with so much to give can also take away so much.

My little boy is going to grow into a 6'3" 210lb country strong, athletic monster before my eyes.

Football or no football? That is the question.

It’s not up to me to say what you should or shouldn’t do, but I don’t regret for a second allowing my sons to play. I am not oblivious to the risks and there was a knot in my stomach whenever they were on the field but they loved every minute of it.

 

[hereforthebeer]

I have no regrets watching my 17yr old play 6yrs of HS ball... injuries (there was a knee, an elbow, and a finger) and all, he enjoyed his team experience... if that is what the kid enjoys - and he understands/accepts there are potential consequences, you have confidence in the program/staff, why would you not allow him to play? Modified football is especially fun... some kids will opt not to return for JV and beyond for different reasons and that's okay...

That's pretty much what I think. I enjoyed the Hell out of my high school football years like many others and emerged healthy enough and better for it.

I'm more interested in when to let him start playing tackle? 8? 15? Had a concussion or two myself, including as a young kid playing football, and want to protect my son from himself to a reasonable degree.

 

[Stargellfan]

That's pretty much what I think. I enjoyed the Hell out of my high school football years like many others and emerged healthy enough and better for it.

I'm more interested in when to let him start playing tackle? 8? 15? Had a concussion or two myself, including as a young kid playing football, and want to protect my son from himself to a reasonable degree.

My kids didn’t play tackle till they reached junior high. In fact, a lot of the kids who did play tackle when they were younger ended up quitting or not playing when they got older.

 

[massimoManca II]

That's pretty much what I think. I enjoyed the Hell out of my high school football years like many others and emerged healthy enough and better for it.

I'm more interested in when to let him start playing tackle? 8? 15? Had a concussion or two myself, including as a young kid playing football, and want to protect my son from himself to a reasonable degree.

I followed my Dad's philosophy: ol' Pops did not allow me to play Pee-Wee because he felt those coaches were mostly tavern-fixtures /HS has-beens trying to create a whiff of glory days (he was correct) and hardly qualified to teach ... I resisted my sons' requests to join their peewee friends and, echoing my father's position, told them they could play Modified FB in 7th grade as those coaches were trained educators - as opposed to a collection of firemen, tattoo artists, CDL licensees and retail managers ... we were lucky to have a fantastic Modified coaching staff... set a high bar for the JV/Varsity coaches...

 

[CoastGuard2018]

I followed my Dad's philosophy: ol' Pops did not allow me to play Pee-Wee because he felt those coaches were mostly tavern-fixtures /HS has-beens trying to create a whiff of glory days (he was correct) and hardly qualified to teach ... I resisted my sons' requests to join their peewee friends and, echoing my father's position, told them they could play Modified FB in 7th grade as those coaches were trained educators - as opposed to a collection of firemen, tattoo artists, CDL licensees and retail managers ... we were lucky to have a fantastic Modified coaching staff... set a high bar for the JV/Varsity coaches...

Pee Wee coaches get a bad rap. Sometimes it is justified but other times it isn't. I've seen some wonderful Pee Wee coaches over the years that did a lot for kids. My sons old pee wee coach has been doing it for 43 years. I would stack him up against anyone. I've also seen some junior high and high school assistants who were teachers that were there strictly there to collect another paycheck from the school district. I agree that there are a lot of bad pee wee coaches but unfortunately that exists at other levels too. As far as whether kids should play youth football or not science will ultimately give us more answers

 

[polecat]

Pee Wee coaches get a bad rap. Sometimes it is justified but other times it isn't. I've seen some wonderful Pee Wee coaches over the years that did a lot for kids. My sons old pee wee coach has been doing it for 43 years. I would stack him up against anyone. I've also seen some junior high and high school assistants who were teachers that were there strictly there to collect another paycheck from the school district. I agree that there are a lot of bad pee wee coaches but unfortunately that exists at other levels too. As far as whether kids should play youth football or not science will ultimately give us more answers

Most youth coaches are teaching the proper tackling techniques and understand that their actions can make it easy for a parent to decide if they are going to let their boy play. With numbers down, a league cannot afford to have the old school coaches anymore.

 

[kijanacat]

Most youth coaches are teaching the proper tackling techniques and understand that their actions can make it easy for a parent to decide if they are going to let their boy play. With numbers down, a league cannot afford to have the old school coaches anymore.

I don't like the prediction business so I prefer looking at trends that point to projections. It appears that football is on its way out. I find it difficult to believe that parents will allow their sons to play the sport if more of the medical complications are accurate. Even proper techniques can't stop all of this. I also think the disenchantment with the NFL is ominous for the sport. Once fans start dropping out, I doubt they will return with the same ardor and willingness to spend on their teams. Personally, I would not allow my child to play Pee Wee tackle football but would permit it in Middle School at the earliest. I think it leads to burnout and agree with the poster above who said a lot of the players who started young give up the sport.

 

[CoastGuard2018]

I don't like the prediction business so I prefer looking at trends that point to projections. It appears that football is on its way out. I find it difficult to believe that parents will allow their sons to play the sport if more of the medical complications are accurate. Even proper techniques can't stop all of this. I also think the disenchantment with the NFL is ominous for the sport. Once fans start dropping out, I doubt they will return with the same ardor and willingness to spend on their teams. Personally, I would not allow my child to play Pee Wee tackle football but would permit it in Middle School at the earliest. I think it leads to burnout and agree with the poster above who said a lot of the players who started young give up the sport.

I don't like the prediction business so I prefer looking at trends that point to projections. It appears that football is on its way out. I find it difficult to believe that parents will allow their sons to play the sport if more of the medical complications are accurate. Even proper techniques can't stop all of this. I also think the disenchantment with the NFL is ominous for the sport. Once fans start dropping out, I doubt they will return with the same ardor and willingness to spend on their teams. Personally, I would not allow my child to play Pee Wee tackle football but would permit it in Middle School at the earliest. I think it leads to burnout and agree with the poster above who said a lot of the players who started young give up the sport.

In fairness the burnout thing happens in all sports. Have personally witnessed it in wrestling and basketball as well. Had a friend who was a multiple time Junior Olympic state champ. By the time he got to 9th grade he was sick of wrestling and ultimately quit in 11th grade. Shame because he had tremendous talent. Neighbors kid was exceptional basketball player, started playing travel ball at an extremely young age. Wound up quitting halfway through his 12th grade year.

 

[Stargellfan]

I don't like the prediction business so I prefer looking at trends that point to projections. It appears that football is on its way out. I find it difficult to believe that parents will allow their sons to play the sport if more of the medical complications are accurate. Even proper techniques can't stop all of this. I also think the disenchantment with the NFL is ominous for the sport. Once fans start dropping out, I doubt they will return with the same ardor and willingness to spend on their teams. Personally, I would not allow my child to play Pee Wee tackle football but would permit it in Middle School at the earliest. I think it leads to burnout and agree with the poster above who said a lot of the players who started young give up the sport.

There is no question that there are risks associated with playing football that are never going to be eliminated entirely. But, I also think that football is being unfairly singled out. It drives me crazy when I hear people who allow there kids to play soccer but act like you’re an irresponsible parent for allowing your kid to play football. Concussion is a serious problem for it’s participants, especially among girls , but you never here any talk about preventing kids from playing soccer. I have seen kids suffer concussions in basketball and baseball as well. I realize they are not as prevalent as what they are in football but they are not rare either.

 

[Stargellfan]

In fairness the burnout thing happens in all sports. Have personally witnessed it in wrestling and basketball as well. Had a friend who was a multiple time Junior Olympic state champ. By the time he got to 9th grade he was sick of wrestling and ultimately quit in 11th grade. Shame because he had tremendous talent. Neighbors kid was exceptional basketball player, started playing travel ball at an extremely young age. Wound up quitting halfway through his 12th grade year.

That is why I think it’s important for kids to play multiple sports. I love baseball but I think it’s crazy, especially for pitchers, to be playing virtually year round.

 

[CoastGuard2018]

That is why I think it’s important for kids to play multiple sports. I love baseball but I think it’s crazy, especially for pitchers, to be playing virtually year round.

Yep the arm injury statistics for school age baseball players is exploding.

 

[heckmans]

That is why I think it’s important for kids to play multiple sports. I love baseball but I think it’s crazy, especially for pitchers, to be playing virtually year round.

Agree. IMHO, this has to stop. There is no reason for a 10yo to be playing year round travel baseball(or sport X). Their 10. Tell them to go outside and play every once in a while instead of shuttling them back and forth to practice and games and managing every moment of their lives. They will be better, more well-rounded adults for it.

 

[kijanacat]

Yes. Correct on all points. The difference is that football, like boxing, is a collision sport and lends itself to much more injury, not just concussions. Didn't the book "For the Glory" detail all the injuries with a particular class at Penn State.

 

[Marylovesthelions]

It is a geneic disease and similar to MD. You cannot catch it by injury or germ. Football could possible speed onslaught but probably not. So sad for a great guy.

 

[RTLH]

Ugh. I am divided on football. It's hard to reconcile how a game with so much to give can also take away so much.

My little boy is going to grow into a 6'3" 210lb country strong, athletic monster before my eyes.

Football or no football? That is the question.

I played option QB in high school, got my bell rung quite a bit. and you never never never never came out. fortunately today at age 56 I seem to be pretty good. but yes I did suffer more than my share of concussions.

 

[PSU_Nut]

Ugh. I am divided on football. It's hard to reconcile how a game with so much to give can also take away so much.

My little boy is going to grow into a 6'3" 210lb country strong, athletic monster before my eyes.

Football or no football? That is the question.

Don’t buy into the media overreaction. There are over 1 million high school football players each year. There are over 92,000 college football players each year. If CTE and other football horror stories were that common you would be hearing hundreds of cases each day. If you afraid your kid will get ALS from football I suggest you never let them ride in a car. In reality they are far more likely to be permanently injured or killed riding in the car to practice.

 

[hereforthebeer]

Don’t buy into the media overreaction. There are over 1 million high school football players each year. There are over 92,000 college football players each year. If CTE and other football horror stories were that common you would be hearing hundreds of cases each day. If you afraid your kid will get ALS from football I suggest you never let them ride in a car. In reality they are far more likely to be permanently injured or killed riding in the car to practice.

I don't buy the media hype. I buy the neuro researcher wife stuff. The effects are often not immediate, so feel free to talk like a tough guy, but know that these things do come at a cost if not managed. If you don't buy that, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[PSU_Nut]

I don't buy the media hype. I buy the neuro researcher wife stuff. The effects are often not immediate, so feel free to talk like a tough guy, but know that these things do come at a cost if not managed. If you don't buy that, I don't know what to tell you.

I am not denying it does happen. I strongly support the rule changes and all the concussion protocols. I think the biggest impact will come from changes in the lower levels of football. We hear all the horror stories but there are millions living who played football at all levels who show no effects at all. My point is to say I wouldn’t let my kid play football because some NFL players blames all his problem on CTE. It the equivalent of saying I debating letting my kid ever swim because someone drowned swimming. Statistically the chances are very very low. I think there a higher health risk of in activity then from playing football. I would let my son play football. I would however take procautions to minimize risk:
1. Follow protocol for concussions.
2. Eliminate any tough guy drills like bull in the ring. The type of drills that have no skill building benefit.
3. Proper fitting of all equipment. This is a big problem especially in lower levels of football. I see far to many players with equipment not fitting or not properly worn.
4. Proper techniques. Far too many injuries come from poor technique especially talckling.

 

[Lyons212]

Don’t buy into the media overreaction. There are over 1 million high school football players each year. There are over 92,000 college football players each year. If CTE and other football horror stories were that common you would be hearing hundreds of cases each day. If you afraid your kid will get ALS from football I suggest you never let them ride in a car. In reality they are far more likely to be permanently injured or killed riding in the car to practice.

I believe you are more likely to suffer various brain issues later in life if you played a significant amount of football as compared to the general population. The key is how much more likely are you? My mother-in-law died from complications from dementia she never played a down of football in her life.

Read a stat that if you frequently eat bacon you have a 30% greater change of getting colon cancer compared to people who did not eat bacon. Sounds horrible, of course about 1 in 20 people get colon cancer or 5%, 30% increase is 6.5%, looking at it that way, sounds a lot better. Probably the same for football and long term brain health.

 

[RU31trap]

My son played two years of pop-warner, 8th grade football and freshman football. Then out of nowhere he quit and started playing Lacrosse where the hits were just as hard.