Michigan Monday: Concussion Research at U of M

As you know, I am very concerned about the game we love and the number of concussions we are seeing in this sport.   I have family members that have been effective and two years ago while I was at the Purdue game in West Lafayette, I saw Mike Shaw taken off the field after getting a concussion.  He was laughing and barley could walk.  He looked like he had just come from a Frat party at 1:00 AM.   It was very scary and everyone that saw him was terribly concerned about his welfare.   He barley played for the Wolverines after that game, even though he had more then a year of eligibility left.

I have written many of articles on concussions and my concern for high school, college and professional football players.   So when I learned yesterday that Michigan is being pro-active in diagnosing and treating concussions for the football team, my pride for the Wolverines grew even larger (I know, I didn't think it could get any bigger either!).

Kyle Meinke wrote an article for Ann Arbor.com talking about how Michigan is taking a cutting edge approach to concussions.   Here are a couple of excerpts from the article:

Concussion diagnoses at the high school and college level are up around 30 percent since 2006, according to Michigan football neurologist Jeffrey Kutcher. Yes, the Wolverines have their own full-time neurologist. (bold is mine)

Michigan is the only Big Ten football team with a full-time staffer dedicated to head injuries. Kutcher, who was hired by the university's medical school in 2003 and began working as a part-time volunteer with the athletic department shortly after that, said he isn't aware of another FBS team that employs someone such as himself.

That has helped propel the Wolverines to the frontier of concussion research, protocol and prevention. "It has been a process of growth, to the point where we really do have a very cutting-edge relationship," Kutcher said. "It’s something other programs have started to do. They’ve looked at our program as a model, and we’re very proud of that fact.

Robinson, a dual-threat quarterback who has averaged 18.3 carries per game as a starter and is susceptible to withering collisions because of his speed, elected to swap his Riddell for a better-fitting -- and, in his case, safer -- Schutt. Michigan also uses a third brand, Xenith. Players use whichever model best fits their head.

This is what I took from the article:

• Michigan is leading the NCAA in Concussion Research and is doing all they can to protect their students athletes.
• They have a full time Neurologist on the team
• They are tied into the NBA, NHL and NCAA on Concussion Research
• Michigan players can choose 3 different brands of helmets to make sure they have the best fit which can reduce the risk of concussions. 

This is the Michigan Difference and I wish every parent of a 2013 and 2014 recruit would read this article, because these are the things that separates Michigan from every other program in the nation.

• Michigan Summer Football Camp started yesterday.  Hoping to hear about some 2013 and 2014 year guys standing out.