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NFL players and experts quotations (Message Activities)

“You are supposed to be tough. You are supposed to play through pain. You are not supposed to cry. We are taught that early on in the game as kids. Tough sport. Brutal sport. It’s like the gladiator. People want to see the big hits. They wind up on Sports Center. And as a player, you don’t want to admit you are injured."   - Eric Dickerson

“I’m fortunate to have found out early, in 1990, just two years after I retired, that I have neurological damage. I try to manage it. I know what can trigger headaches and try to avoid it. I have short term memory problems, so I make a special effort to remember people and names. I have to work harder, but it’s important.”   - Harry Carson

“A study of 2,500 retired NFL players found that those who had at least three concussions during their careers had triple the risk of clinical depression as those who had no concussions. Those who recalled one or two concussions were 1 1/2 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression.”   - Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz 

“For some people, one concussion is enough—they are slow to recover and they should give up the sport. But most athletes recover in 7 to 10 days.”  - Dr. Robert Cantu

"You get a concussion, they've got to take you out of the game. So if you can hide it and conceal it as much as possible, you pay for it the next day, but you'll be able to ... stay in the game."   - Mike Sellers

"I've had times where I walked up to the line, where I know the play, but don't know what to do."  -  Tony Stewart

"If you get a little headache or something, you're not going to say anything. This is football, and everyone gets their heads rattled a little bit."  - Jamie Silva

"I don't want to come out of games. I always feel that's some kind of weakness. Somebody hits me and takes me out of the game, I feel weak. So if something happens, I take a minute to try to re-gather myself and then go back."  - Anthony Hargrove

"A lot of people think we're gladiators, but we're human beings. We get injured and we've got the rest of our lives to worry about. Playing football is like a vapor - it's here and it's gone - and you still have the rest of your life to live."   - Damien Woody

NFL Memes on Concussions (Artistic Activities)

Photo Album (Creation Activities)

These photos here are a transition of change throughout the years dating back to 1950. Concussions have always been a prominent injury in the league, and the type of helmet the players use has always been an issue. Through the years the NFL has made drastic changes in the type of helmets used, these best describe that change.

Proposed Field Trip (Action-Oriented)

To relate to and educate students on my topic of concussions in sports, I propose that we as a class take a bus to Green Bay. There we will explore Lambeau field and all that it has to offer, but most importantly we would meet with the players who have sustained a concussion throughout their career. Each student would be allowed to ask any questions regarding concussions, and how it has affected them as an athlete and as a person. I propose that each student be allowed to meet with an individual player, and have one-on-one conversations about concussions. This would not only be a great experience, but a knowledgeable one too.

Interview (input activities)

This is an interview with one of our very own memorial football players who has sustained a concussion. Here is our conversation:

1. Have you ever had a concussion? "yes i have had 2"
2. Have you ever not-reported your concussion to a coach? "yes, i didnt tell anyone for both of my concussions."
3. Do you know the long term effects of concussions? "yes, i believe i know most of them."
4. Why didnt you report your concussions? "because i wanted to keep playing, i knew i would be removed from the game had i done so."
5. What does your football coach think of concussions? "our coach is very cautious of them, he thinks they're very serious."

TV Show-Writing Activities (Friday Night Lights)

 Friday Night lights is a show based in the small town of Dillon, Texas. A town that lives and breathes football, on a Friday night every store within the city closes. This show portrays the stereotypical town in Texas, where nothing matters but football. With high expectations for star quarterback Jason Street, this high school football team has high hopes of going to state. Jason being one of the top recruits in the nation has a full scholarship to the college of Notre Dame. During the first game of the season Jason is playing well with the game close, and the crowd is louder than ever. As Jason makes the next snap and throws the ball for an interception, he goes to make the tackle. Jason and the cornerback bash each other’s heads, and Jason Street is down. Jason had suffered a severe concussion, but not only that, he had also been paralyzed. He is immediately carted off the field, with every safety precaution taken. This relates to my topic because of the concussion Jason sustains during the hit. Safety precautions were taken, which is something our society today has a problem doing.