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Wednesday, August 15, 2012

CU Coach Takes Stance On One Too Many Concussions

This week, CU football player Will Harlos suffered a concussion during practice, something not uncommon for this player.  Earlier this year Colorado coach Jon Embree said he would not allow redshirt freshman Harlos to continue playing football for the Buffs, if the defender from Somerset, Texas, suffered another concussion.  A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI, caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head that can change the way your brain normally works.

Embree followed through on that promise Tuesday when he informed Harlos and his family that he and CU medical staffers consider it unsafe and unwise for Harlos to continue to play for the team.   Embree said Harlos has the option of remaining at CU on scholarship if he medically retires.

Coach Embree understands the severity of brain injuries and their potential impact on the player’s future. His keen understanding of the subject was gained after coaching in the NFL for 5 years.  The league is being sued by nearly 3,500 plaintiffs who claim that it hid information linking concussions and football related head trauma to long-term brain injuries.  Several former NFL stars who had suffered concussions have even taken their own lives in the last several years.
With his first-hand knowledge, Embree decided to draw a line where he would no longer allow a player with a history of concussions to play for him at CU.

"I don't take that lightly," Embree said in the spring. "We have some guys who if they get one more concussion, they're done.  It's not up for debate.  If they want to play, they've got to go somewhere else.  I'm not having it on my shoulders."
Many players, like Harlos, are aware of the dangers of continuing to play with a history of concussions but love the sport too much to give it up. 

" I love football more than I fear for a concussion," Harlos said in the spring.  "It really overcomes it.  I'm not really worried about it.  I just want to come out here and play ball and show these people what I can do." 

Thankfully, Coach Embree took a stance to promote safety for his team players here at CU.  Hopefully, this will set a trend throughout not only college athletics, but even the NFL. 

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