football is a violent game played by violent people.
in no way, in my view, is that a cheap shot either. a forearm to the shoulder. i can see old art donovan laughing down probabaly remembering doing a lot worse and having a beer with the guy he did it too after the game.
man up
This is a serious problem that's going around.
I completely understand this notion in pro sports. You have signed on for a career that pays you to take risks and give up your body. Guys are going to come to knock you out of the game, even in (and sometimes especially) training camp. It's part of what you get the check for... man up or pick another profession I completely agree.
However, a lot of us have forgotten or have chosen to dismiss the fact that this is a college sport. These kids are supposed to be going to school and playing a sport is how they got the opportunity for a scholarship.
Many have become so callused that we say "oh, these kids should get paid.. they don't want to go to school any way, they're not in it for the degree... it's just the minor leagues."
With that attitude, the danger has gotten higher and the level of academic expectations have gone down... and most people have absolutely no problem with it. I do.
If your university isn't making their degree a sufficient enough reason to go to school there, the entire system has failed. It's why I'm an ND fan. I'm not Catholic, not even a religious man, but I fell in love with the magic and promise of Notre Dame.
I hate that some people just write off the SEC's academics as a joke that can't be addressed because "that's the way it is." Bullshit. We're asking these kids to play an incredible dangerous sport that most of them won't make into a professional career. Make the damn degree count... if you can't cut it academically, too bad, try harder. It wouldn't take very long to make a serious change if we tried.
Sorry about the rant. I get so angry when people conflate pros and college kids.