Unpopular Opinion (Helmet Covers)

[GUNTERSVOL]

My eighth grade year, only slightly before my career was ended by lack of speed and athleticism, I had a really bad experience at the Ice Chalet giving me a concussion. The Dr. Required me to order a special helmet to get on the field later in the year. It had an air bladder in it I could inflate by mouth after putting it on.

Unfortunately it arrived in full Green Bay yellow. They let it slide but looked odd with the rest of my team in classic Bearden white with maroon stripe head gear. Did make it hard to take a play off without being noticed. It was also a problem in that it sounded like you were playing with your ear on an inner tube. As I have shared before my 4.5 20 speed and 4 inch vertical sealed my fate after that season.

 

[spyfish007]

Of course. I am 100% behind a progressive mindset as it pertains to health and safety. If it protects our kids, it should strongly be considered. This coming from a guy who had at least a couple of concussions in middle and high school football. My road rage probably comes from those.

Nah the road rage is from the increased number of idiots and distracted drivers on the road these days.

 

[Frank Duncan]

looks like a trash bin lid.

 

[savannahfan]

Dudes actually died on the field in the leather helmet era. The benefit modern helmets provide grossly outweigh any negatives. A concussion is preferable to a cracked skull

Players have always died on the field. My statement was taken from an interview some years ago by a pro player with an inside insight into the use of the head as a weapon.

 

[SpookyAction]

A safety with the Buffalo Bills, Kelso, used to wear one during games. It was slightly different, but painted to look like the helmet.

 

[fryeguy93]

I believe the hard helmets have made generations of guys take the equipment for granted. They lead with the head way too much and actually think a more old-school helmet would reduce long-term, repetitive injuries as guys will quickly learn to tackle better and keeps their heads up. There may be the occasional head-to-head contact but I believe the benefits of old helmets outweigh the negatives.

No improved helmet design will make the brain fit into the skull better as the repetitive injuries are caused by the brain rattling in skull.

The soft shell over the hard shell may be an improvement but we still have peewee, midget, grasscutter and high school coaches praising kids who "stick their heads" into the ball carrier when this is not only a unnecessary danger but is not even the best way to secure the tackle. I also believe backs and receivers drop their heads far too often as well and they too should be called out on it if the defenders are held to the heads up standard.

Long-story-short, the head is still way too involved in the sport. The head down habit has been hard to break and the fans need to stop booing every time a head-related penalty is called.

A thought I recently had, maybe a ball that is incomplete or fumbled due to direct helmet contact to the football, would be called complete or not a fumble.

 

[fryeguy93]

Players have always died on the field. My statement was taken from an interview some years ago by a pro player with an inside insight into the use of the head as a weapon.

The old "flying wedge" was the main problem as most of the players had their heads down and were not wearing helmets or wearing ridiculously small helmets or just nose guards like this famous Nathan Dougherty photo

 

[Dansky]

Not too many times.

I remember when we weren't allowed water in July and August practices.
Change is good when it saves lives and makes people safer to live life after football.
They'll improve the product so they don't look like pumpkins on their heads.

Gosh I remember no water in two a days. I’m surprised no one died. It was brutal.

 

[volsfan125]

Steve Tasker wore the insulated shell in the 90's

 

[GulfCoasterVol]