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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