2008 Woodie Awards
Concussions pose dangerous threat
By Randy Klins
Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: Sports Extra
The last thing Slippery Rock University running back Corey Manfull can remember about his team's 58-28 win over Shippensburg this past weekend was getting a play call from quarterback Nate Crookshank from the huddle in the first quarter.
The next thing he can remember is waking up at a hospital after getting knocked out for a short period of time.
After carrying the ball for six yards with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter on Saturday, Manfull was knocked out after taking a blow to the head while running up the field. He was then carted off by an ambulance and taken to Grove City Hospital.
Manfull said he suffered a grade three concussion after what he thought was a blow to the head from an opposing player's knee, although he still can't figure out what occurred after watching film.
He is out for this week's season finale against Clarion and won't play until the team starts working out in the spring.
"They (the doctors) told me that it was the worst (concussion) that I could have gotten," Manfull said.
A concussion is an injury to the head that causes abnormal activity in the brain.
Several big-name National Football League players have suffered from concussions in their career. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young was forced to retire from the league in 2000 due to a series of head injuries. According to Young, it wasn't "worth the risk" to play again.
According to the Medical College of Wisconsin, a grade three concussion is a loss of consciousness for what could be a second, a minute, or even longer if multiple concussions occur.
Athletes, or anyone, who lose consciousness should immediately be taken to an emergency room. Upon arrival at the hospital, Manfull underwent several neurological examinations to determine the extent of the damage.
If someone suffers from a grade one or two concussion, they don't get knocked out. They are just confused for a very brief period of time.
The next thing he can remember is waking up at a hospital after getting knocked out for a short period of time.
After carrying the ball for six yards with less than two minutes remaining in the first quarter on Saturday, Manfull was knocked out after taking a blow to the head while running up the field. He was then carted off by an ambulance and taken to Grove City Hospital.
Manfull said he suffered a grade three concussion after what he thought was a blow to the head from an opposing player's knee, although he still can't figure out what occurred after watching film.
He is out for this week's season finale against Clarion and won't play until the team starts working out in the spring.
"They (the doctors) told me that it was the worst (concussion) that I could have gotten," Manfull said.
A concussion is an injury to the head that causes abnormal activity in the brain.
Several big-name National Football League players have suffered from concussions in their career. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young was forced to retire from the league in 2000 due to a series of head injuries. According to Young, it wasn't "worth the risk" to play again.
According to the Medical College of Wisconsin, a grade three concussion is a loss of consciousness for what could be a second, a minute, or even longer if multiple concussions occur.
Athletes, or anyone, who lose consciousness should immediately be taken to an emergency room. Upon arrival at the hospital, Manfull underwent several neurological examinations to determine the extent of the damage.
If someone suffers from a grade one or two concussion, they don't get knocked out. They are just confused for a very brief period of time.
