"LEATHERHEADS"

The first few football games I watched this week, the announcers discussed the new

rule concerning helmets. If a player has his helmet knocked off during a play, the player must leave the game for one play. Some people may disagree with this because it could potentially take a team's best player out for one play, or longer, if the player actually sustained a head injury during the process of his helmet being knocked off. 

          During the fall of my sophomore year, I took an injury prevention class. It was similar to an athletic training class. I learned how to correctly tape an ankle if an injury occurs, how to check different parts of the body to determine what a specific injury has occurred, and just an overall about how to prevent injuries. It was my favorite class to date. During the semester I had to pick articles on any type of sport and anything about the sport. Well, all my articles had to do with football. Shocker, I know. One article I found was very interesting. The article is titled "Why Leather Football Helmets Could Provide a Better Defense Against Concussion." I know what you are thinking. There is no way a leather football helmet can cause less concussions. Well, here is my review of the article, and I hope you can see why it might have been a mistake to change from "leatherheads" to the helmets we have today.

Carole Phillips

Article 4

November 13, 2011

Gregory, Sean. "Why Leather Football Helmets Could Provide a Better Defense Against Concussion." time N/A (2011): n. pag. www.healthland.time.com. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

          I found this article on leather football helmets versus modern day football helmets. I never understood how football used to be played only wearing leather helmets. My grandfather could literally fold his football helmet up and put it in his pocket. That is insane compared to the football helmets we have today. While reading the article called ‘Why Leather Football Helmets Could Provide a Better Defense Against Concussion’, some very interesting points were discussed.

          One researcher stated “leaderheads” do a better job of reducing concussions from lower hits to the head. One reason behind this is the stiffness of today’s helmets. Our modern day helmets do not do as well of a job absorbing the energy from lower helmet hits. So, not absorbing this energy would move the head, skull, and brain any which direction causing concussions. The “leatherhead” helmets do a much better job absorbing this energy from the blow since they fit so tight on the head.

          Another aspect discussed was that back in the day when “leatherheads” were worn, using your head as a defensive weapon was not very common. Today, when making tackles most defensive players use their helmets first, instead of tackling the correct way. My dad and I counted in the Auburn versus Clemson game from 2010, there were eleven helmets knocked off due to helmet to helmet hits. “Leatherhead” players were forced to use their own body’s more then their heads. It seems today that using your own head to make a tackle is the new technique.

          This article might have been one of the most interesting ones I have read. I just always believed “leatherhead” players, played with the same force as football players do today. The article concluded by saying “leatherheads” will definitely not be used again because players would not adjust how they tackle, and many fatalities would happen. It would be interesting to see today how “leatherheads” would impact the game of football that we are all used to today. 

The First Week...

       
          Wednesday night I could hardly sleep, Thursday morning I could hardly focus in class, Thursday night my heart was racing....all because I could not stop thinking about the start of college football! Thinking about college football gives me goosebumps.
Here is my countdown of my top favorite games of the week:

5: University of South Carolina at Vanderbilt University
This game was exciting for multiple reasons. The obvious one being it was the return of Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore tore his ACL middle of last season, and ultimately sat out the rest of the season. I was interested to see how the South Carolina defense would step up, especially Jadeveon Clowney. What impressed me most about Vanderbilt was Jordan Rogers. Does the last name Rogers ring a bell in football? Well, Jordan is the younger brother of Aaron Rogers, ya know, the quarterback for the Packers. With the blood and sweat that South Carolina poured out, they were victorious over Vanderbilt.
FINAL SCORE: South Carolina-17 Vanderbilt-13

4: University of Notre Dame vs. United States Naval Academy
The only reason this game interested me was because it was played in IRELAND! All of the Irish really came out to support Notre Dame because they poured it on against the Midshipmen.
FINAL SCORE: Notre Dame-50 Navy-10

3: University of Tennessee vs. North Carolina State University
This game is a classic example of SEC vs. ACC. I didn't think this game would turn out like it did. I honestly had no idea who would win. In the off-season, the experts were predicting Tennessee to be much better. They have pretty much replaced all of their coaches, and man did that benefit them. From the way Tennessee executed most of their plays, Tennessee is one for the SEC to keep an eye out for.
FINAL SCORE: Tennessee-35 N.C. State-21
On a much sadder note, I would like everyone to keep the family of the young man who was killed at the Georgia Dome Friday night in their prayers.

2: University of Alabama vs. University of Michigan
Who isn't ever excited to watch Denard Robinson play? He is just like a little bolt of lightening. I also feel bit of a connection with him because his major is the same as mine, Kinesiology. This was the first time Alabama and Michigan had ever played in a regular season. Though I expected Alabama to get the W, I had no idea they would play the way they are now. Alabama was already ahead 21-0 after the first quarter. Although, the game is not over yet, Alabama is ahead 34-14.

1: University of Hawaii at University of Southern California
This is the first season for Southern Cal that they are off probation. They were ranked one in the preseason poll. I wanted to see if they really deserved to be ranked as the best team in the country. My verdict? Yes, they do deserved to be ranked that high. They steamrolled over Hawaii. "Fight On" Southern Cal! I hope to see Southern Cal and Alabama in the National Championship.
FINAL SCORE: Southern Cal-49 Hawaii-10

I can't wait for week two of college football!