. . . (T)wo Indiana University scientists continue their work toward a portable sideline device that will be able to quickly detect signs of mild brain trauma. Since 2010, Nicholas Port and Steven A. Hitzeman, researchers at the IU School of Optometry, have gathered baseline data on the eye movements and balance of IU athletes and have since expanded their work to Bloomington North and South high schools and local club and youth sports. To help fund the sideline device, the duo received two two–year grants in 2014: $429,000 from the National Institutes of Health and a $120,000 award from the Indiana Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund. To measure concussion symptoms, Port devised a system that consists of eye–tracking goggles within a shoebox–sized device and a balance platform based on technology in Nintendo's Wii gaming system. By comparing an athlete's baseline numbers with similar tests after a high–impact blow, the tester can quickly determine whether the athlete suffered a concussion and should be withheld from competition.(Thanks to Mrs. BGA for the link ;-)
•
On the same topic . . .After seeing the back of a player's head slam into the turf during the fall I found myself wondering if it might help to have something like a gel pack sealed inside the back of a helmet with a softer shell covering that part of the helmet. Given that the back of the head doesn't seem to absorb as much punishment as other parts during the run of play it would seem that the most important duty of that part of the helmet would be to absorb the blow when the head hits the turf.
Now, I'm no scientist – I only play on on the blog – but could I have been on to something? Check out this WIRED story on the Zero1 Flexible Football helmet.
•
Other schools are making runs at an early decision Dartmouth recruit and a regular decision commit.From The State in South Carolina:
Dutch Fork quarterback Cole Douglas visited Dartmouth over the weekend. Douglas will visit The Citadel next weekend.
Douglas’ father, Jack, is a former Citadel quarterback. Douglas threw for 2,050 yards and rushed for 1,101 yards with 30 total touchdowns this season.Douglas was an early decision admit by Dartmouth.
Niko Lalos, a linebacker/tight end at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s in Akron, Ohio, is a Dartmouth commit for the spring admission period who earlier received an offer to walk on at Notre Dame. He now has added a preferred walk-on offer at Ohio State. From a USports story:
Dartmouth ended up earning his verbal commitment thanks in part to its pristine academic reputation. With this as a paramount pillar of his recruitment, Lalos’ eventual offer from Ohio State did little to tip the scales in the Buckeyes’ favor.
“It was only a preferred walk-on offer, so I knew it was coming,” Lalos said. “They’ve been in contact with me, but I wasn’t too interested to start off. It’s nothing special, honestly because I already have a walk-on offer at Notre Dame. . . . I still have to look into it and talk it over with my parents, but right now I’m still kind of leaning towards the more educational opportunity.”
•
I knew people had strong feelings about him but I was still surprised that Saturday's mention of former Holy Cross coach Mark Duffner being named linebacker coach for the Tampa Bay Bucs brought the emails it did . . . and not just from Dartmouth fans. Apparently people remember lopsided scores being put up when the Crusaders still had scholarships and were playing schools that didn't.
•
And finally, That Certain Dartmouth '14 updated her blog with information regarding her latest posting with the National Park Service as an educational ranger at Everglades National Park. That comes on the heels of her summer and fall as a ranger at Yellowstone. It might be of some interest to those of you who have been following her adventures since she was a Hanover High School freshman. Find the posting HERE.
