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Football helmets also used to be really heavy and hard. In my time, we were unaware of the negative effects, so we used our helmets as a weapon. This was norma

by zwaps 5y ago

Football helmets also used to be really heavy and hard. In my time, we were unaware of the negative effects, so we used our helmets as a weapon. This was normal. It worked. For example, if you are a running back with sufficient mass, come in low with high speed and manage to place your helmet on the helmet of the defender (who is often moving laterally) you could literally knock them out. During kick off, you could have two players running into each other full speed from 50 yards out. Of course the person who is willing to go fully into contact will win. The person going for a Rugby style tackle might land on his behind. The force of such impacts was immense. I have had my metal face shield broken out of the helmet. I have seen broken jaws from the impact, people getting knocked out, having concussions. I am horrified about the things they let us do in the 90‘s. Even in practice, these contact drills that were designed to take away your fear of contact, teach you to use your body as a weapon. I just hope it is different today, but if I have kids, they will not play Football

FredPret 5y ago
I grew up playing rugby, but that ends with me. My kids aren’t playing either
dougmwne 5y ago
In the 00's we may not have had the scientific backing yet, but the common knowledge was that football was scrambling the players' brains. As we were still in the last stages of the transition away from a manufacturing economy into a knowledge economy, there was still a popular perception that intellectual capacity was not really needed in men who would be much better off learning self-sacrifice, physical endurance, pain tolerance and willingness to abuse their bodies for the good of the group, all great skills for blue collar workers but not much needed in white collar jobs.
letitbeirie 5y ago
> During kick off, you could have two players running into each other full speed from 50 yards out. Of course the person who is willing to go fully into contact will win. The person going for a Rugby style tackle might land on his behind. Kickoffs in the 90s were terrifying. Targeting rules get a lot of focus but moving the kickoff spot up to the 35 and touchbacks up to the 25 were probably the most consequential safety changes in modern football.

by zwaps 5y ago

FredPret 5y ago

I grew up playing rugby, but that ends with me. My kids aren’t playing either

dougmwne 5y ago

In the 00's we may not have had the scientific backing yet, but the common knowledge was that football was scrambling the players' brains. As we were still in the last stages of the transition away from a manufacturing economy into a knowledge economy, there was still a popular perception that intellectual capacity was not really needed in men who would be much better off learning self-sacrifice, physical endurance, pain tolerance and willingness to abuse their bodies for the good of the group, all great skills for blue collar workers but not much needed in white collar jobs.

letitbeirie 5y ago

> During kick off, you could have two players running into each other full speed from 50 yards out. Of course the person who is willing to go fully into contact will win. The person going for a Rugby style tackle might land on his behind. Kickoffs in the 90s were terrifying. Targeting rules get a lot of focus but moving the kickoff spot up to the 35 and touchbacks up to the 25 were probably the most consequential safety changes in modern football.