UMdad

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21 hours 33 min ago The problem with saying that

The problem with saying that they are right in line with their normal reporting is that they just got hit with sanctions and probation.  The whole idea of sanctions and probation is that you are supposed to change the "business as usual" that got you into trouble.  What he is ssaying is that they really didn't change anything.
1 week 18 hours ago I have to defend the poster.

I have to defend the poster. there are no lazy, out of shape wrestlers getting by on talent alone. the amount of time and energy spent training for wrestling is unmatched in college or H.S. athletics.

1 week 1 day ago I couldn't agree more.  While

I couldn't agree more.  While I am college educated, advanced education is often a product of circumstance.  Many people cannot afford to go to school for an undergrad education, much less a post graduate degree.  Some of the smartest people I have ever known either did not go to college at all or stopped with a bachelor's degree, and some of the dumbest people I have ever known I met while at MIchigan. 
1 week 2 days ago Sounds like an argument that

Sounds like an argument that could have been made to start Carlos Brown over Mike Hart.  Oh yeah, and Barry Sanders used to get run down from behind all of the time, too.  I say wait and see how it plays out. 
1 week 3 days ago I just have a hard time

I just have a hard time believing that decades of a certain mindset are suddenly going to change over the course of four or five years.  I coach my kids too, and while I do agree that there are a lot of really good coaches, I just think the football environment is always going to  be tilted towards the meathead.
1 week 3 days ago I have not commited to

I have not commited to preventing my kids from playing football, I have just made the decision that I will not put them into it.  When and if they decide they want to play, I will have to look into it further.  I feel, though, that each of us makes decisions for our kids based on our experiences and what we feel is best for them.  Many people work in the trades or in a shop, etc. and although they earned a good living, would rather their children take a different route.  Since you mentioned the military, that is a good example as well.  While I would be proud for my children to serve their country (although I would prefer a military academy to just joining after high school), I might not feel the same if I had served a tour overseas.  Our experiences change us.  I loved playing football, but I do have some nagging injuries and it is not like I played collegiately or professionally.  While they can be hurt in many ways, I would not be doing my job as a parent if I didn't at least consider limiting the highest risk activities. 

By the way, if you are so excited about being tough, why the Navy? 

Sorry, couldn't resist, I have two brothers-in-law who were in the Navy and it is a friendly dig.  I actually have a lot of respect for all of those who serve.
1 week 3 days ago Part of the problem is the

Part of the problem is the environment.  You mentioned the building of teamwork, but I wonder if you ever played football.  I earned 7 varsity letters playing 4 different sports and I can tell you that there is something different about football.  (although to be fair the things we did in wrestling were probably more dangerous) I never saw anyone taking painkillers before a baseball game, and never saw a coach line up two kids and have them run head first into each other from 10 yards as a punishment in basketball.  There is a mindset in football that you have to be a brainless gladiator. 

True story -

On my second concussion my senior year, we were running through the walkthrough practice the day before the game (shorts, shoulder pads and helmets), and as I ran around the end, the defensive player grabbed my jersey (because I couldn't be hit) and spun me around to throw me to the ground.  In a fluke deal, he spun me off of tmy feet and ended up slamming to the gound head first.  I blacked out and when I came to the coach was yelling at me to get up and back to the huddle.  He was showing me a card with a play drawn on it that he wanted me to run, and I swear to you the lines seemed to be moving all over the page and I couldn't make any sense of it.  His response was to put the card down and just verbally tell me what to do.  I of course played the next day.  When I talked to the coaching staff on Monday about my symptoms and how I didn't remember most of the game, they told me not to go to the doctor because they would automatically tell me to take two weeks off and they couldn't afford to lose me. 

Before you tell me that I just got a bad coach, I defy you to show me a football coach that isn't a meathead.  Most coaches secretly admire the kid who doesn't admit to pain and battles.  Kids pick up on this and it feeds a nasty cycle.  You can tell me all you want how there is more monitoring of injuries, but the football mindset will always encourage kids like me to ignore symptoms and be tough.  That mindset starts in youth football and grows as you progress.
1 week 3 days ago Maybe... if you go to a big

Maybe... if you go to a big enough school to have a medical staff.
1 week 4 days ago As a father, a man, and a

As a father, a man, and a former football player I find your comments insulting.  I am a father of four kids, including 2 boys ages 7 and 6.  While this is a generation that over-coddles their kids, I don't think that this is an either/or situation.  I let my kids wrestle, play baseball, and have no problem with them learning the lessons that come with winning and losing; with being good at something and with struggling.  However, while I did enjoy football, I also had 2 severe concussions my senior year in high school because the average mid sized high school not only has little to no medical support staff, but they often have coaches who fall into the "shake it off and get back in there" mindset.  Once a kid is in that environment, peer pressure and the invincible feelings of a young boy will keep them pushing through pain and believing it makes them tough.  I am definitely not going to put them into football, and if they ask to play I will have to make a tough decision.   
2 weeks 1 day ago You mean five threads down in

You mean five threads down in the thread about Lewan?  There is no reason to get snarky because someone hasn't sat on their computer all day reading every post.  If there was a thread that mentioned Robinson I could see your point, but you can't expect that every poster will know about the wandering content of every thread on the board. 

And if we are going to start crucifying people for redundant posts, I suggest we start with the people who post in a thread that the thread is redundant instead of just ignoring it.  I am curious if you really were trying to help the OP locate the thread which first mentioned the topic, or if you were just trying to be condescending.  My guess is the latter.
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