Wenger 1

Marcus Wenger
Mr. Padgett
English 102
April 3, 2016
The Truth behind Football
Football has been Americas most popular and sought after sport for over a century now.
As time progressed so did medicine; discovering new diseases, conditions, and treatments.
Medicine has learned a lot about the benefits of staying active and participating in sports like
football. Despite, these benefits medicine has also discovered the life threatening health risks
involved with participating in football. Although there are many health benefits associated with
participating in football such as, cardiovascular and mental health, the life threatening health
risks which include repeated head trauma, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and other mental
health diseases make football too dangerous of a sport to be played.

Commented [AP1]: For who? Kids? High school? College?

Professionally? Is the suggestion to ban it altogether?
Should we turn it into touch football?

There is no other way to put it, football is a very dangerous sport. Players use their
heads/helmets as a weapon to hit their opponents. It is the deliberate use of a players helmet to
try and tackle their opponent which in my opinions has sparked and increase in concussions
around the NFL. A helmet does not make the player invincible from head trauma and all of the
repeated forceful blows to the head lead to repeated head trauma and concussions. A concussion
occurs quite frequently at all levels of play even at the youth level. The study, which was an
analysis of peer-reviewed studies on head trauma in a variety of high school sports, estimated
that high school football players suffered 11.2 concussions for every 10,000 games and practices.
Among college players, the rate stood at 6.3. (Breslow) As you can see, concussions occur
frequently at the high school level approximately every 892 games. The authors cautioned,
however, that their estimates are likely conservative because many concussions go unreported

Commented [AP2]: Well, I dont think they are supposed

to deliberately use their heads, but they do anyway (I think).

Wenger 2

(Breslow). This means that this number is significantly lower than the actual number is supposed
to be. The risk is high for a football player to receive a diagnosed concussion but even higher

Commented [AP3]: Be careful here. I know significaly is

an obtuse word, but you are still making an assumption
here. You can say that it is likely that the number is
significantly lower, but you cant say that it is significantly
lower.

when accounting all of the undiagnosed concussions. Concussions can be very impactful on our
youth effecting their mental health and school work. The study, which was conducted by the
Institute of Medicine and funded by the NFL, found that in most cases, concussions symptoms
disappear within two weeks. In 10 to 20 percent of individuals, however, concussive symptoms
persist for a number of weeks, months, or even years,(Breslow) Immediate concussion
symptoms include headache, loss of consciousness, confusions, dizziness, dazed, etc. (Mayo
Clinic Staff) These immediate symptoms are very powerful and can prevent students from
attending class and carrying on with their normal day routines. Concussions symptoms that may
be immediate or delayed include concentration and memory complaints, sensitivity to light and
noise, sleep disturbances, psychological adjustment problems and depression. (Mayo Clinic
Staff) These are all very serious problems that can last a week to even months. Serious
complications like these symptoms prevent students from attending class and can put them
behind in school. More serious complications follow post-concussion symptoms.Dr. Bennet
Omalu says that young players are at risk of major depression, memory loss, suicidal thoughts
and actions, loss of intelligence as well as dementia later in life and drug and alcohol abuse as
the child enters his 20s, 30s, and 40s. (Cook) As you can see concussions especially in our
youth have serious immediate complications but also have potentially even more severe issues in
the following years. Sports are supposed to be a positive influence on an individual but by
participating in football the participant is likely to receive a concussion at one point during their
time playing. This concussion makes the individual much more likely to head to down a darker

Commented [AP4]: This period should be on the other

side of the citation. In other words, the citation should be a
part of the sentence it is citing.

Wenger 3

path with potentially more serious issues coming later in life. These serious issues are lead to
CTE, suicide, mental disorders, and a complete dependency on loved ones.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease that causes Tau
protein to build in the brain around the brains blood vessels, interrupting normal functioning and
eventually killing nerve cells.(Wexler) CTE is caused by repeated blows to the head and
concussions which occur frequently when playing football. The first stage of CTE has no
symptoms and is when isolated spots of tau build up mostly around the frontal lobe, or crown of
the head.(Wexler) The second stage of CTE is rage, impulsivity, and depression. In stage 2,
symptoms begin to appear as defective tau protein affects more nerve cells in the brains frontal
lobe. (Wexler) The third stage of CTE is confusion and memory loss. In stage 3, Tau
deposits expand from the frontal section to the temporal section of the brain. Condition begins to
affect the amygdala and the hippocampus, which impairs emotions and memory. (Wexler) The
tau deposits grow in brain disrupting and killing the healthy cells around it. This process
continues throughout someones life with CTE and is why today we are now just seeing the
effects in retired or older athletes. The fourth stage of CTE is Advanced Dementia. In stage 4,
Tau deposits have overwhelmed the brain, killing many nerve cells and shrinking it by nearly
half the size. The brain becomes deformed and brittle, and cognitive function is severely
limited. (Wexler) These four stages are very serious and life altering. It all starts with repeated
head trauma which is why this disease is particularly associated with football. The effects of
CTE are being seen worldwide on national television as former athletes with the disease are
struggling with living life. Former players are completely dependent upon their loved ones to
take care of them. Especially in the example of former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim
McMahon. I was having a lot of problems with just forgetting the easiest things, he said.

Commented [AP5]: Theres got to be a way to condense

all of this. Cant you just list these in one sentence?

Wenger 2

Then I started getting some bad head pains, really sharp pains and a lot of dull pains, but it was
constant. A lot of constant pressure on my skull. I didnt know what to do. Id leave the house
and Id have to call Laurie on the way home and say, I dont know where Im at. I dont know
how I got on this road. I told her aliens abducted me and put me over here. It was very
frustrating. I can see how guys now how some of these guys have ended their lives, because
of the pain.(Fred Mitchell) Jim McMahon suffered multiple concussions throughout his life
playing football both diagnosed and undiagnosed. The reason Jim McMahon was having so
much trouble remembering anything is a result from his concussions. Player who has been
diagnosed with a concussion is likely to have a smaller hippocampus, the memory center of the
brain, than a player who hasnt been so diagnosed, a new study finds. And regardless of whether
theyd had concussions, players have smaller hippocampi than men their age who dont play
football and who have no history of brain trauma(Seppa) The hippocampus is the memory part
of the brain and due to the repeated head trauma in football former players like McMahon
struggle greatly with remembering even the smallest of things. Living life everyday now is his
biggest battle as he is dependent upon his wife. This is the result of repeated head trauma and
concussions from participating in football. Where just living is the biggest battle as many former
famous football players have lost their battle. Junior Seau was a famous professional football
player who suffered from CTE and ended his battle at the young age of only 43 years old. These
retired football players are suffering from the long term consequences of participating in football
which can be easily overlooked because it does not possess an immediate impact. Retired
sportsmen who report one or two episodes of concussion appear to be exposed to a 1.5-fold
higher risk of depression than sportsmen with no history of concussion. The risk of depression is
increased threefold in sportsmen reporting three or more concussions during their career.

Commented [AP6]: I need to hear your voice in this

conversation. You commentary. I get the sense that you are
simply summarizing all of your sources.

Wenger 3

(Guskiewicz) As you can see these increased risks of life changing diseases do not take effect
immediately on someones life. It is something that grows inside their brain and once it is
noticeable it is already too late.
Despite all of these negatives from participating in football there certainly are many
positives to playing football or sports general. A growing body of research literature finds that
in addition to improved physical health, sport plays a primarily positive role in youth
development, including improved academic achievement, higher self-esteem, fewer behavioral
problems, and better psychosocial. (truesport) Sports can be a very positive influence in
someones life helping support their aspirations and lead them down the right path. That sport
however does not need to be football that destroys your life later in life. Other sports like cross
country, basketball, baseball, etc.. provide the same health benefits and life lessons as football
but do not possess the prominent, serious health risks. These outcomes are thought to be related
to the contribution of sport to learning values and skills associated with initiative, social
cohesion, self-control, persistence, and responsibility.36 Theories of positive youth development
stress the importance of sport in acquiring skills that are beneficial in other domains (e.g., school,
family, work) that lead to better adaptive skills. (truesport) These traits and qualities that sports
can provide to our youth shows us how crucial it is for them to participate in sports growing up.
It is within those traits and qualities that lead them into successful men and women helping
prevent negative influences and other potentially harmful diseases. As sports participation
increases, the odds of suffering from depression decreases by 25% (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.700.82) and the odds of having suicidal ideation decreases by 12%. (Babiss) As you can see sport
participation is extremely beneficial to both your mental health and physical health. However,

Wenger 2

you now know that football can be beneficial in the short run but is seriously detrimental in the
long run due to its increase in likelihood of depression and other severe mental disorders.
As one can see there are serious consequences to participating in football. Other sports
however can be substituted in to replace football and still provide the same health and
psychological benefits without the severe brain trauma. Its crazy to continue playing a sport that
causes so much trauma and severe life threatening problems when there are much safer sports to
participate in. Sports such as cross country, track, basketball, swimming, etc. are very beneficial
both physically and mentally. Just like football, individuals who participate in these sports learn
crucial lessons about themselves and leadership tools that they can use for a more successful life.

Commented [AP7]: Good i like that you are considering

some benefits.

These sports also are great for cardiovascular and muscle health. When participating in sports
like these without the brain trauma that football has the individuals can continue to grow old and
live long, healthy lives. Unlike individuals who participate in football whos life and freedom is
getting cut short at very young ages because of the sport they played growing up. Whether or not
they knew about the risk back then it is important to make future participants aware so they do
not make the same mistake. The risk of participating in football instead of other sports is not
worth the risk of CTE and the likelihood of dying at a very young age. The source in the
previous paragraph that talked about all the health benefits of participating in a sports growing
up never mentioned one specific sport but just talked about the positive effects that all sports can
provide.

What is now Americas game which has completely taken over Sundays is truthfully a
killer and has been for the past 97 years. It has only been recently that scientists and doctors have
discovered footballs true fate and consequences. Now it is time to make the obvious change to

Commented [AP8]: Too hyperbolic?

Wenger 3

save and protect the lives of others and potential future participants. Other sports are available to
participate in that are much safer and provide the same physical and mental health benefits
without the consequences of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and death. Although there are
many health benefits associated with participating in football the life threatening health risks
which include repeated head trauma, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and other mental
health diseases make football too dangerous of a sport to be played.
Marcus,
Youve compiled some good and very interesting research here. At the end of your essay,
you also do a good job including your own thoughts into the mix. I want to read these thoughts
throughout your paper. A synthesis means to combine the voices of your sources and your own.
Blend these various ideas together. Also, you conclude that football is simply too dangerous. Im
left with the so what? question. So what do we do now? So what is your recommendation?
Who shouldnt play football? I need a little more in that respect.

Works Cited
1. SEPPA, NATHAN. Football Linked to Brain Changes. Science News 185.12 (2014):
1212. Web
2. Cook, Michael. "BioEdge: Should High School Football Be Banned?" BioEdge.
BioEdge, 12 Dec. 2015. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.

3. Breslow, Jason M. "FRONTLINE." PBS. PBS, 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 02 Feb. 2016.
4. Wexler, Evan. "FRONTLINE." PBS. PBS, 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.

Wenger 2

5. Decq, Philippe, et al. "Long-term consequences of recurrent sports concussion." Acta

neurochirurgica 158.2 (2016): 289-300.
6. "Psychological and Social Benefits of Playing True Sport." TrueSport. 2014 U.S. AntiDoping Agency, n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
7. Babiss, Lindsay A., and James E. Gangwisch. "Sports Participation as a Protective Factor
Against Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Adolescents as Mediated by Self-Esteem and
Social Support."Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 30.5 (2009): 376-84.
Web.
8. Mitchell, Fred. "Jim McMahon on His Dementia, Suicidal Thoughts:"It Got That
Bad"" Chicago Tribune 17 June 2014: n. pag. Print.