Pennsylvania is football country but even here concussion concerns are generating rumblings about the future of the sport. In fact, the Courier Times reports a Philadelphia school teacher and school board member wants football banned at the high school level. Said Patty Sexton, a member of the Council Rock school board:
“It’s no longer appropriate for public institutions to fund gladiators. I am very, very concerned about putting these student-athletes in the position of getting a concussion. Football has gotten faster, harder and more dangerous with each passing year. I’m extremely scared we will eventually be sued over injuries suffered in sports.”Added Sexton:
We wouldn’t dream of putting our kids in a vehicle without a seat belt, but we put them out on the field and cheer for them. Our mission is to grow brains, not destroy them.”Although she's also concerned about other contact sports and things like heading the ball in soccer, Sexton's focus is on football. She's aware enough about the culture surrounding the sport in this state not to expect her call to be answered:
“I know my chances of eliminating football at Council Rock are about as good as keeping the sun from coming up tomorrow, but I feel like it has to start somewhere."
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Three schools from historically black colleges have been banned from the 2012 FCS playoffs because of Academic Progress Rate shortcomings. Hampton, North Carolina A&T and Texas Southern will be ineligible for the postseason this fall. Find a short story here.Recognized for the top APR improvement in the Ivy League are Dartmouth, Brown and Yale.
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The Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Kurtis von Bargen, who joined Dartmouth as assistant director of operations in the spring, is moving on to South Florida. Von Bargen, who played for USF coach Skip Holtz, will be a graduate assistant working with the Bulls' defense.
