[Husker] Joel Klatt'

[Tommy Thompson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Stone" <sstone at pvtnetworks.net>
>
> As I see it, the point is this: the NCAA rules should afford every 
> reasonable protection to all players because the overwhelming majority 
> will never play a down after graduation, and they should not suffer the 
> after-effects of debilitating injuries.
>
> Steve Stone

"Reasonable" is the key word here.  Football is a violent game.  Players 
(and their parents) know this before they ever sign a letter of intent. 
Athletes at all levels (pee wee through professional) are exposed to 
situations that can cause debilitating injuries.  However, some protections 
need to be in place.  Clipping, chop-blocking, clothes-lining, etc. are good 
examples of rules changes that have come into play over the years to help 
protect against injuries.  Helmet-to-helmet contact and spearing are more 
recent changes that have come about.

Quarterbacks are exposed to all kinds of potentially devastating injuries 
that other players are not.  Blind-sided hits/sacks are probably the best 
example of this.  Should those be outlawed???  Absolutely not.  However, 
cheap shots should be.  Unfortunately, most of these are subjective calls by 
the referees.  They must determine if a hit was unnecessary or excessive.

In my opinion, the only rules changes that need to be made are to review 
contests to see if hits were "cheap shots".  If so, the offender should be 
suspended and the program should be made to suffer.  Coaches/administrators 
need to bear some of the responsibility.

Tommy Thompson
"GO BIG RED...RETURN TO GLORY"