FRISCO, Texas _ "It's real," one Big 12 linebacker said this week of the research emerging on head injuries in football.
"I'm already in too deep," said an offensive lineman, "but it makes you anxious for the future."
Just mentioning the topic generates mixed emotions from college football players.
SportsDay surveyed 22 Big 12 players at conference media days last week, canvassing at least one respondent from each of the 10 schools. Topics ranged from head injuries and amateurism in college sports to which Big 12 players are the fastest, biggest trash talkers and best NFL prospects.
Seven of 22 respondents ranked their concern about long-term effects of head injuries at "1," or minimal, on a scale from 1 to 10.
"Because I don't want to football to end so I hope everybody's safe," one receiver said. "I don't think about injuries. That's just negative thoughts and I stay positive."
Of the 15 players who rated their worry 2 or higher, 10 rated their concern at least a 6. Four players rated their concern at an 8.
They do worry, players said. Their girlfriends worry. So do their parents.
Players said they research postgame headaches in attempts to self-diagnose. Some find solace in new safety tactics and upgraded helmet technology
"Research is good because you find results," one linebacker said. "The results might be bad because I'm like, 'Well, I've gone through that.'
"It's good to know for guys who have had a lot so they can handle in the future. And for kids growing up, I want them to be prepared."
Players' rankings didn't correlate with whether they'd suffered a concussion. Four of seven respondents who had sustained concussions playing football rated their worry level at 2 or below; three more registered at least 7. Several players noted they'd suffered concussions before the collegiate level, while others hadn't been diagnosed concussed but remember suspicious symptoms after hard hits.
Still, most said, they are too invested in football now to back out.
"I started playing before all the research came out," one tight end said. "I knew there was a chance for head injuries.
"The next generation will probably be different. Those guys will have thought about it a lot."
