Ivy League bans full-contact practices during regular football season
By Bianca Buono
bbuono@abc6.com
@BBuonoABC6
The Ivy League is leading the way in terms of trying to protect players from concussions. This year, full-contact is off limits during regular season practices. It’s never been done before in college football.
"With the concussion issues we’re dealing with right now, everyone is more aware and we want to make the game safer, we want this game to last a long, long time,” said Brown University head football coach Phil Estes.
Full-contact during regular season practices is now banned across the Ivy League. It’s one of the most extreme measures taken yet in response to the growing concern over brain trauma in football.
"Everyone was in consensus,” Estes said.
Longtime head coach Phil Estes says this is something the Bears have been doing for awhile; but just recently, he sat down with every coach in the league to try and make it official.
"I have a son who plays for Brown. And I want to treat my guys, everyone like they’re my son,” said Estes.
The university’s head athletic trainer started back in the ‘70’s and has watched the game dramatically change.
"In those days, an average offensive lineman weighed 240 pounds. I have my five offensive freshmen right now average 293,” said Russell Fiore, Brown’s head athletic trainer.
The rule change is not without controversy. Some are questioning whether it will affect the team’s ability to compete at the highest level as other leagues continue to tackle in practice throughout the entire season. Coach Estes doesn’t think so.
"Anybody that thinks that maybe we’re getting soft in the Ivy League, whatever, no we’re just trying to make the game better, safer for the future of the game,” he said.
The Ivy League was the first to create this rule but officials don’t think they’ll be the last. The head trainer at Brown says the Big Ten could be the next conference to implement a similar rule.
Brown kicks off their season on September 17th.
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