Casey Cochran on Outside the Lines

[gwhuskyfan]

This Sunday - 9 am:

Outside the Lines to Debut “Thirteen: The Cochran Concussion Story” on Sunday
“Thirteen: The Cochran Concussion Story” will premiere this Sunday on Outside the Lines at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2. The story features a father and son, one a football coach and the other a former football player, who discuss how head trauma changed their lives and their relationship. ESPN’s Jen Lada will make her Outside the Lines reporting debut.

 

[Drew]

@tcf15 @gampelcrazies can you guys get this on the site

 

[gampelcrazies]

@tcf15 @gampelcrazies can you guys get this on the site

I can do it

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Looking forward to seeing Casey's story. Glad the young man did what he needed to do and hung it up early for his health. Always thought he was a good kid, and could have been a phenominal talent if developed.

 

[whaler11]

The radio team misses him almost as much as the football team.

 

[Palatine]

Sad story, Casey would have been great. Best of everything to the young man.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Caught this on Sunday. Wow... I didn't realize how bad off he was when he hung it up at UConn. Really sad. But I'm glad for him that he's using the expirence to help others in the game preventing concussions.

 

[gampelcrazies]

Thanks for the heads up. The DVR is set. Somehow Sunday's recording got deleted

 

[sportsart]

Sad. Casey seemed like a broken man, at times. The guy is literally a genius and could have gone Ivy and done anything he wanted with his life. Hope he pulls through. Seems to have found some purpose sharing his story and it will certainly open up some parents eyes.

Never saw Jack so humbled. Must be killing him to have raised Casey with the "suck it up attitude" where he didn't feel comfortable talking about his concussions.

 

[HuskyDevil]

Thanks for the heads up. The DVR is set. Somehow Sunday's recording got deleted

Sorry, can't see the tweet above, does it say when the replay is going to be?

 

[huskypantz]

Never saw Jack so humbled. Must be killing him to have raised Casey with the "suck it up attitude" where he didn't feel comfortable talking about his concussions.

I would guess that pretty much every guy on this board who played football heard a coach say suck it up and play through pain, including concussions. And hey'd probably be doubly tough on their sons. I got reamed by my assistant HC for making the mistake of asking the school nurse for an aspirin because I had a headache. She sent me to the pediatrician and I missed 2 days of practice. Did I have a concussion? Of course. My coaches told me to keep aspirin in my locker after that "incident". Of course, that was sadly about 25 years ago and while they knew about concussions, they did not know as much as they know now.

 

[Husky25]

I remember taking 3 Advil each day as a preventative measure. The sh't you'll do for the chance to start.

 

[sportsart]

I would guess that pretty much every guy on this board who played football heard a coach say suck it up and play through pain, including concussions. And hey'd probably be doubly tough on their sons. I got reamed by my assistant HC for making the mistake of asking the school nurse for an aspirin because I had a headache. She sent me to the pediatrician and I missed 2 days of practice. Did I have a concussion? Of course. My coaches told me to keep aspirin in my locker after that "incident". Of course, that was sadly about 25 years ago and while they knew about concussions, they did not know as much as they know now.

You must have had some serious damage buddy. You just posted this on the women's BB board.

 

[formerlurker]

I would guess that pretty much every guy on this board who played football heard a coach say suck it up and play through pain, including concussions. And hey'd probably be doubly tough on their sons. I got reamed by my assistant HC for making the mistake of asking the school nurse for an aspirin because I had a headache. She sent me to the pediatrician and I missed 2 days of practice. Did I have a concussion? Of course. My coaches told me to keep aspirin in my locker after that "incident". Of course, that was sadly about 25 years ago and while they knew about concussions, they did not know as much as they know now.

I graduated HS in 1988 and was way different then. Not only did we not know about the dangers of concussions but our bus driver was the dude who taped our wrists and ankles. There was barely zero medical care unless you broke something. I grew up in Danbury so we're not talking a small school here. My brother is a few years older and his buddy got knocked out during a game but eventually returned. Not until he got sick that night did his parent's take him to the hospital to find out he broke his neck in two. The only thing that kept him alive was the two sections never shifted from each other. Doctor's said it was a miracle he survived the first hit but couldn't explain how he survived going back in the game.

We played Greenwich to a 7-7 tie my Senior year and I got my clock cleaned by their fullback on the first series of the game. Knocked me out cold for a few. I went to the sideline, drank some water, held up a few fingers and was back in by the middle of the 2nd Qtr at the coach's urging.

I have video of me intercepting Steve Young's little brother in the 4th Qtr that I have absolutely no recollection of to this day.

Years later I blame that one hit for me being as fked up as I am.

That and the booze, weed and sinful women.

And the BY.

 

[formerlurker]

I would guess that pretty much every guy on this board who played football heard a coach say suck it up and play through pain, including concussions. And hey'd probably be doubly tough on their sons. I got reamed by my assistant HC for making the mistake of asking the school nurse for an aspirin because I had a headache. She sent me to the pediatrician and I missed 2 days of practice. Did I have a concussion? Of course. My coaches told me to keep aspirin in my locker after that "incident". Of course, that was sadly about 25 years ago and while they knew about concussions, they did not know as much as they know now.

You must have had some serious damage buddy. You just posted this on the women's BB board.

That's just good old-fashioned funny right there.

 

[JMick]

I graduated HS in 1988 and was way different then. Not only did we not know about the dangers of concussions but our bus driver was the dude who taped our wrists and ankles. There was barely zero medical care unless you broke something. I grew up in Danbury so we're not talking a small school here. My brother is a few years older and his buddy got knocked out during a game but eventually returned. Not until he got sick that night did his parent's take him to the hospital to find out he broke his neck in two. The only thing that kept him alive was the two sections never shifted from each other. Doctor's said it was a miracle he survived the first hit but couldn't explain how he survived going back in the game.

We played Greenwich to a 7-7 tie my Senior year and I got my clock cleaned by their fullback on the first series of the game. Knocked me out cold for a few. I went to the sideline, drank some water, held up a few fingers and was back in by the middle of the 2nd Qtr at the coach's urging.

I have video of me intercepting Steve Young's little brother in the 4th Qtr that I have absolutely no recollection of to this day.

Years later I blame that one hit for me being as fked up as I am.

That and the booze, weed and sinful women.

And the BY.

My dad played for Danbury and they beat Steve Young. It's his football claim to fame lol

 

[formerlurker]

I graduated HS in 1988 and was way different then. Not only did we not know about the dangers of concussions but our bus driver was the dude who taped our wrists and ankles. There was barely zero medical care unless you broke something. I grew up in Danbury so we're not talking a small school here. My brother is a few years older and his buddy got knocked out during a game but eventually returned. Not until he got sick that night did his parent's take him to the hospital to find out he broke his neck in two. The only thing that kept him alive was the two sections never shifted from each other. Doctor's said it was a miracle he survived the first hit but couldn't explain how he survived going back in the game.

We played Greenwich to a 7-7 tie my Senior year and I got my clock cleaned by their fullback on the first series of the game. Knocked me out cold for a few. I went to the sideline, drank some water, held up a few fingers and was back in by the middle of the 2nd Qtr at the coach's urging.

I have video of me intercepting Steve Young's little brother in the 4th Qtr that I have absolutely no recollection of to this day.

Years later I blame that one hit for me being as fked up as I am.

That and the booze, weed and sinful women.

And the BY.

I was too late to edit my post above but wanted to make sure it doesn't come across as making light of the path Casey has been forced to take or the work he is doing. I am a huge fan of him as a Husky player but even moreso of the man he has become since his last snap under center.

My nephew got a concussion as an 11yo during a Pop Warner game. He's a Freshman now and he has no idea that his parents have already decided, rightfully so, that he's an ex football player at the next slight blow to the head. It's just not worth it when you know 99.9% of these kids will end up making a living NOT playing football. I knew that about myself when I was a kid but played at all costs not only for the love of the game but for the slight hint of glory it brought from my peers.

I'm glad Casey and his generation have started to figure out it's not all about the "glory".

 

[huskypantz]

You must have had some serious damage buddy. You just posted this on the women's BB board.

Hmm, well it does say UConn Football at the top of the page.....but I'll take your word for it.

 

[sportsart]

Hmm, well it does say UConn Football at the top of the page.....but I'll take your word for it.

Well at least formerlurker thought it was funny. But you did look to confirm so there is that.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Talk about coaches, parents, and players alike pushing players to suck it up, the media hasn't really begun to acknowledge hockey hits at full speed on blades and boards can be even more forceful than on the gridiron ...

 

[uconnphil2016]

Talk about coaches, parents, and players alike pushing players to suck it up, the media hasn't really begun to acknowledge hockey hits at full speed on blades and boards can be even more forceful than on the gridiron ...

Media still hugely perpetuates that kind of culture in football. Almost every game you hear announcers describe 'toughness' as willingness to put the team before yourself by means of playing through injuries. When that kind of culture is instilled, it isn't limited to just lower body injuries--to play through a concussion makes you 'tough,' too. You see it a lot with Shirreffs. I get that he has guts when he takes the ball up the middle of the field and gets pummeled by opposing linebackers, but we're too quick to laud someone for that kind of play. In all honesty, watching Shirreffs play this year has been really worrisome for me. It's hard to see what he does to his body week in and week out.

 

[formerlurker]

Talk about coaches, parents, and players alike pushing players to suck it up, the media hasn't really begun to acknowledge hockey hits at full speed on blades and boards can be even more forceful than on the gridiron ...

I never played a minute of hockey DAG but as a casual NHL fan I can only assume you're right.

Hockey, Rugby, US Football, Boxing, MMA, they are all at a crossroads. How do you protect your athletes while keeping true to the physicality of the sports themselves?

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Then of course, there's this. Regardless of his political aspirations, in light of the mountains of evidence out there, this was an asinine thing to say. I wonder if he would let his sons or grandsons play football today.

Donald Trump: NFL's concussion rules are soft, our supporters 'are tough'

 

[formerlurker]

Then of course, there's this. Regardless of his political aspirations, in light of the mountains of evidence out there, this was an asinine thing to say. I wonder if he would let his sons or grandsons play football today.

Donald Trump: NFL's concussion rules are soft, our supporters 'are tough'

Really? In this thread?

 

[RedStickHusky]

I guess it was sometime in the 90's that 'rub some dirt on it' became a bad answer (do hockey players say put some ice on it?). Obviously safety and health have to be paramount. I'm probably a dinosaur for saying this but I sometimes think there is something lost in terms of what we used to call football's life lessons - or maybe its just that we're teaching different lessons to kids today than those that we baby boomers got.

 

[jackl]

I never played a minute of hockey DAG but as a casual NHL fan I can only assume you're right.

Hockey, Rugby, US Football, Boxing, MMA, they are all at a crossroads. How do you protect your athletes while keeping true to the physicality of the sports themselves?

My Son was an All State Soccer Player back in the late 90's who told me that after one header collision with another player things went black. He continued to play as he shook it off. I missed this game as it was CT cup match. I know he was a crazy sweeper who did not turn away from contact. His school did not have football at the time. After taking him to the Rent to see the Huskies he was salivating over the contact. I just hope that his collisions in the less violent game of soccer does not affect him in the future. Hard to believe that Donald Helmet Hair is calling the NFL soft where a lot of tackles are akin to car crashes.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Really? In this thread?

As I said, putting politics aside for the moment, his comment, which is shared by many (just read ESPN's comments section after Cam Newton was ruled out last week) shows that some people just don't get it and think that people need to 'toughen' up and a 'ding' on the head is nothing even in the face of mounting evidence that concussions are very dangerous. They believe that the old ways were better and I know coaches who still feel the same way. I pulled my own son out of a soccer game last weekend because he took an accidental head-to-head hit that left him with a golf-ball size bump on his head. He even wanted to go back it; but, I am taking no chances as there is a 99.9% chance his career will utilize his brain more than his soccer skills down the road. Fortunately, he's fine and showing no ill effects.

 

[Husky25]

Hard to believe that Donald Helmet Hair is calling the NFL soft where a lot of tackles are akin to car crashes.

Is it really that hard to believe he would say something about a topic he knows nothing about? Be that as it may, this is not a cesspool topic. Concussions are common in soccer. Some pre high school leagues are or proposing making heading the ball a penalty. Soccer is not a soft game either. Soccer players are, on average, probably the most fit of any team sport participant. I have yet to come across a fat soccer player at a high level. Diego Maradona in his latter years is probably the closest.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Is it really that hard to believe he would say something about a topic he knows nothing about? Be that as it may, this is not a cesspool topic. Concussions are common in soccer. Some pre high school leagues are or proposing making heading the ball a penalty. Soccer is not a soft game either. Soccer players are, on average, probably the most fit of any team sport participant. I have yet to come across a fat soccer player at a high level. Diego Maradona in his latter years is probably the closest.

Not sure if this also resulted in a concussion (about the 5:20 mark); but, the referee involved on this play should never be allowed on the pitch again as high kick to the head is reckless and dangerous, which defines a Red Card, never mind a foul, and FIFA has altered its rules so that plan can be stopped immediately if a head or neck injury is suspected.