Nebraska QB recruit airlifted to hospital

Submitted by SalvatoreQuattro on

  Zack Darlington from Apopka, Fl. 

http://www.maxpreps.com/blogs/maxwire-national-blog/CxGkQyLcJ0WEaW_Fsj_IMw/zack-darlingtons-injury-overshadows-byrnes-victory-over-apopka.htm

 

I watched the first half and Darlington was knocked out late in the half with a head injury.(Tacklers incidentially hit his head.)

I was astounded to find out that he went back into the game because he clearly was moving like someone who had suffered a concussion.  He then suffered a second injury in the fourth quarter which caused him to be airlifted to the hospital.

 

His dad is the head coach of Apopka.

 

UMgradMSUdad

August 24th, 2013 at 5:10 PM ^

That's fine. I think it's the news story that's missing pertinent information, like the fact that he was initially knocked out of the game in the first half. I would have thought the parental instinct to protect your child would have taken precedence over the coaching instinct to win at all cost.

I remember seeing Braxton Miller stumbling around like a drunken sailor after a hard hit last season and he was put back in the game too.

LSAClassOf2000

August 24th, 2013 at 5:16 PM ^

The last few tweets on his condition reported that he was at the hospital and moving his limbs freely, which is a good sign, but still you hate to see that stuff. Hopefully, the prognosis is good his recovery is full and speedy. 

Roy G. Biv

August 24th, 2013 at 5:30 PM ^

Sure hope the kid is OK.  I would think his parents and Nebraska would have some serious interest in making sure he is absolutely symptom free before/if he come back this season, especially if he has indeed already had mulitiple concussions so early this season.

NFG

August 24th, 2013 at 5:36 PM ^

I know Bo, and he isn't too happy with his dad for playing him knowing he might of had a concussion. Hopefully the kid can play spring ball. This was Nebraska's gem in their recruiting class.

Sllepy81

August 24th, 2013 at 6:47 PM ^

6'2" and taller 190lbs+ boys and this is exactly why I explain to my friends that they won't play football. I considered letting them learn to kick and punt and to get a free scholarship that way but they want me at TE, QB, DE but I passed on football. When I went it was prime mcguire and sosa time of sports, half the kids were drowned in chemicals to be elite and I wanted nothing of it. Kids are innocent slaves to coaches in HS football most of the time, not always but mostly.

Losher

August 24th, 2013 at 6:48 PM ^

Everyone is bashing his father for being a bad person and putting him back in the game but what if he was cleared to go back in by medical professionals. Then his dad sending him back in isn't as awful as you may think because he thought his son was ok to play

ndjames86

August 24th, 2013 at 6:52 PM ^

the weirdest thing about the hit is that it was completely clean. QB was rolling out to his right near the sideline, tried to square up to throw downfield and the defender just tackled him cleanly. The defender definitely DID NOT lower his helmut and it looked as if there wasn't contact between their two helmets. That being said the defender did hit him pretty hard and then he hit the ground hard. I've read just as much as anyone else about concussions but without being a Dr who knows - seems that there was a strong possibility that if he had one earlier in the game it made the repercussions of this hit worse.

maizenblue1971

August 25th, 2013 at 12:59 AM ^

In Michigan at least, if you are felt to have a concussion...even a minor one, you are to remain out of competition for that day.  If the dad was told he didn't truly have a concussion the first time...maybe just a "bell-rung", he might have felt it was safe to return him to play.