Ivy League Bans Tackling at Practices

[JasonS.]

This is the future, brought to you by the conference that invented the game.

Maybe the only way to save football? I don't know ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/s...moves-to-eliminate-tackling-at-practices.html

 

[kyhusker2]

I think lots of schools have cut way down on tackling in practice - especially mid-season when the injuries are mounting.

That's one reason tackling is so awful in today's game.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Sounds like UK during the Mumme era.

 

[Mr Schwump]

I could say UK's banned tackling in games.... but I won't.

 

[vhcat70]

I thought Rutgers was in the B10.

 

[vhcat70]

Flag football is entertaining.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

This is the future, brought to you by the conference that invented the game.

Maybe the only way to save football? I don't know ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/02/s...moves-to-eliminate-tackling-at-practices.html

I understand the concern about concussions, too many or too severe can and has caused serious damage. I played with a kid in HS who suffered a serious head injury which left him in a wheelchair the rest of his life. But without proper training/coaching it seems to me we are opening the door to other injuries, particularly the spine and neck which can also be devastating injuries. I think we have progressed a long way in equiptment over the years, from the old suspension helmets I wore back in the day, no they weren't leather, to the air and high tech foam helmets of today. Since I retired I have seen external shells that attach outside the helmets, looks like the insides of some of the newer helmets, foam or airfilled pockets to absorb energy. Lots of kids wear them at practice, why not make them mandatory for everyone all the time, practices and games? I wasn't sure about the targeting rule when it first went in effect, but after the first year they went back and changed the ruling about the yards being penalized even if targeting did not happen after replay. I think it has helped cut down on head/neck injuries. At one of UGA's games this year, a kid from the other team suffered a serious spinal injury, as soon as it happened, before he hit the ground I winched at it because he lowered his head into the chest of our kicker and it was like a hammer driving a nail, straight back into the kid, I knew he was hurt.

This was a conference rule, to my knowledge the Ivy League doesn't give athletic scholarships, its almost club level football. But I don't doubt other conferences will take a look at it, will it dramatically reduce concussions, will it lead to an increase in other type injuries. One of my concerns would be enforcement, who is going to oversee teams making sure they don't do live tackling drills, I mean we play in the SEC where everyone is looking for an edge and being the only team having live tackling drills would be quite an edge.

 

[trumpetcat]

We all hate to see someone hurt during a game or practice for that matter. We need a way to be able to protect players from getting hurt and still be prepared. The helmets we have today are only useful by protecting the head but it can still lead to concussions. I know Purdue is working on new helmets that would prevent concussions and protect players.
... And yes I did a research paper on this topic earlier this year.

 

[JasonS.]

Good points, @Grumpyolddawg. FWIW Ivy is non-scholarship, but it's a long way from club level. Harvard alone (which, granted, is kind of the Alabama of the Ivy) has 7-8 players in the NFL right now, led by the bearded wonder that is Ryan Fitzpatrick.

 

[vhcat70]

I bet their dummies are happy.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Good points, @Grumpyolddawg. FWIW Ivy is non-scholarship, but it's a long way from club level. Harvard alone (which, granted, is kind of the Alabama of the Ivy) has 7-8 players in the NFL right now, led by the bearded wonder that is Ryan Fitzpatrick.

But the pressure to win like it is in a P5 conference isn't there, to them it isn't club ball, but to fans of many P5 schools it is a grade above club level sports.

 

[vhcat70]

There were a number of Thursday night Ivy games on TV last Fall. Stadii practically empty across the board.

 

[KendallCat]

There were a number of Thursday night Ivy games on TV last Fall. Stadii practically empty across the board.

Why play football when after a hard game you get to "bag"one of the Ivy League's finest women - either a 180 lb brute, a bookworm, or a liberal activist who will tell you why football is a brutish game that degrades women

 

[Tskware]

A couple of years ago, Harvard was unbeaten and Yale had one loss, and was the College Game Day featured game. It was at Harvard's stadium, which was packed and produced a hell of a game, think Harvard scored the winning TD with less than a minute to go. Maybe only "club" football, but was still a lot of fun between two schools who really wanted to win the game.

One of the signs at College Game Day said "We want Bama! At chess!"

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

A couple of years ago, Harvard was unbeaten and Yale had one loss, and was the College Game Day featured game. It was at Harvard's stadium, which was packed and produced a hell of a game, think Harvard scored the winning TD with less than a minute to go. Maybe only "club" football, but was still a lot of fun between two schools who really wanted to win the game.

One of the signs at College Game Day said "We want Bama! At chess!"

But in the grand scheme of college football it had zero effect. Club level may be a stretch, but it isn't near small 5 level, NAIA level is probably a better comparison. Anytime 2 teams line up both want to win, or at least I did at whatever we were playing. Given the option, you rather watch Harvard/Yale matchup if both were unbeaten or a matchup of Bama/OU and both having 3 losses?

 

[shutzhund]

This is a football board. Why bring up the Ivy League.

Seriously though, if you don't practice you aren't likely to perform correctly at game speed. I see more chances for injury occurring during games. Sounds like the idea originated in the English Department.

 

[Tskware]

But in the grand scheme of college football it had zero effect. Club level may be a stretch, but it isn't near small 5 level, NAIA level is probably a better comparison. Anytime 2 teams line up both want to win, or at least I did at whatever we were playing. Given the option, you rather watch Harvard/Yale matchup if both were unbeaten or a matchup of Bama/OU and both having 3 losses?

Oh Power 5 w/o question, but my point was not to disrespect them, both can be good games and damned entertaining, much like Army-Navy. You have to understand, I am a purist, going to Harvard-Yale is on my bucket list of college games to see in person some day. I have already been to Michigan v. Ohio State, so have knocked that one off. [thumb2]

Oldest daughter moved to LA, so UCLA v. USC is now moving up to the top of the bucket list as well.

 

[bthaunert]

Just a couple of thoughts as i worked in the athletic department at an Ivy League school for 6 years:

1. This doesn't surprise me at all. The biggest asset of an Ivy League student is their brain. They will do anything and everything to protect it.
2. When the Penn football player committed suicide a few years back and the autopsy showed he had similar brain trauma as former NFL players, you knew something drastic was going to come about.
3. Disagree with Grumpy about it being club or NAIA level football. It's FCS football and Ivy League teams are ranked in the top 25 year in and year out (2 teams finished in the top 25 this year). Is it big time college football, no, but either is a majority of FCS level football.
4. The Ivy League has always been interesting when it comes to football. They don't start playing until mid to late September, play a 10 game schedule and don't compete in the FCS postseason, even though teams are good enough to qualify.

I don't see this catching on in FBS any time soon, but the future is going to be interesting.

 

[sensible]

I just hope they take the time to teach proper tackling technique, or the number of devastating in-game injuries is sure to rise.