Players aware of risks from football
Game difficult to give up, they say
DJ Calhoun has experienced enough violent collisions on the football field that he knows his long-term health may be at risk. For now, entering his senior season at Arizona State, the hard-hitting linebacker is at peace with those potential consequences.
“I know my brain cells are probably messed up,” Calhoun said. “I’ve been playing this game since I was 6. It is what it is. It’s scary, but if you’re worried about it, then don’t play.”
Concussions are the greatest danger to America’s favorite sport. A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that chronic traumatic encephalopathy was found in 99 percent of deceased NFL players’ brains that were donated for scientific research.
Repeated brain trauma is believed to cause CTE, a neurodegenerative disease that has caused many to question the future of football. Long-term effects include anxiety, memory loss, confusion, aggression, depression and dementia. The worst cases have produced suicidal behavior.
Several ASU players said they are aware of CTE, but at this point in their athletic careers – with the intoxication of the sport so strong – it’s difficult to consider walking away from a game they’ve played nearly their entire lives.
“I joke around sometimes with my girlfriend at home,” senior center A.J. McCollum said. “If I do something dumb, (I’ll say), ‘Oh, I have CTE.’ … But I just play the game. I play because I love it. I know there’s risk that comes with it, but I wouldn’t change this for the world. Even if I do end up having CTE, it was worth my time playing football.”
Dasmond Tautalatasi is a fierce hitter who has excelled on special teams. Throughout his college career, the junior safety has showcased only one speed – full throttle. He said he doesn’t think much about the sport’s dangers because he has confidence in how ASU coaches have taught him how to tackle.
“Be the hammer, don’t be the nail,” Tautalatasi said.
Indeed, at a recent practice, defensive coordinator Phil Bennett separated ASU’s defensive backs into two lines. Players on his left were ball carriers. Those on his right were tacklers.
Bennett dropped his hands to his knees. “Ready!” he shouted. “Hit!” Senior safety Marcus Ball rushed forward and hit the ball carrier, driving him out of bounds. “That’s it, Marcus Ball,” Bennett said. Next man up. “Ready! Hit!” Junior Joseph Bryant rushed forward and clashed with the ball carrier. Bennett stopped the drill.
“All right, Joey, listen,” the coach said. “The thing we don’t want – we don’t want to lead with what?” Bennett pointed at his head. “You never lead with your head. Protect yourself. Get your shoulders and get your head out of it.”
Junior left guard Sam Jones said he has experienced concussion symptoms. He trusts the protocol in place.
“Our training staff and coaches have done a really good job about giving us all the information we need,” Jones said. “They’re not going to get mad at you if you say, ‘Coach, I got my bell rung. I got to go get looked at.’ And the athletic trainers, we take the (Immediate PostConcussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing exam), so there’s a lot more knowledge. It’s talked about more now than it ever has been.”
Sophomore quarterback Blake Barnett knows the dangers. He said one of his high school friends was paralyzed from the neck down playing football. That’s the harsh side of the sport.
“Even at quarterback in some sense, your job is imposing your will on another person,” Barnett said. “It’s a physical game. Everyone understands that and kind of expects that.”
Senior running back Kalen Ballage said he leaves the health concerns to God, praying that the higher power keeps everyone safe. Junior defensive end JoJo Wicker said he fears knee injuries more than concussions.
As for Calhoun, he just focuses on technique and playing the game the way he’s been taught. If something unfortunate happens today or tomorrow, he’s prepared to accept it. That’s the tradeoff. Football means that much to him.
“If anything was to happen, if I were to die or anything like that,” Calhoun said, “I’d do it playing the game I love.”
Contact Doug Haller at 602-444-4949 or at doug.haller@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him at Twitter.com/DougHaller. Subscribe to the ASU Pick Six Podcast, available on iTunes. Download the ASU XTRA app.