The thread on the crack blocks got me to thinking about concussions.

 

I'm curious to hear what actual, personal experiences people have had being concussed while playing the game of football. Have you ever been diagnosed with a concussion while playing football?

 

If so, how did it happen? Was it on a "big hit play", like a kick return, a downfield pass reception, or a crack block? Was it a hit in the trenches at the line of scrimmage? Was it from repeated contact over the course of a period of time?

My one and only diagnosed concussion was suffered on a kickoff. I was on the return team and got smacked by a player on the kickoff squad who had a 10 or 15 yard running head of steam before he hit me. Literally saw stars.

Never played organized football. Did get a concussion playing sandlot football, elbow to the temple. Everything went yellow for a few seconds. Didn't sit out a play. Rubbed some dirt on it.

10 years of playing I was fortunate to never get one.

One diagnosed concussion which came in 8th grade playing flag football in gym. Ran into someone, bumped heads, and I got knocked out. Still don't remember the 10-15 minutes right before and after the collision. That was on a Monday, and I was back practicing by Thursday and played in a youth tackle football game on Saturday. Probably not the best idea, and looking back, 8th grade was my worst year academically. Always got straight A's, but that year I got several C's, a D and even an F or two on my report cards. I'm guessing, the concussion might have been the root of the problem.

 

Never had any official concussions in high school. Did have more than a few times where I got my bell rung, or played/practiced through bad headaches after contact. Wasn't bad enough to affect performance or have to miss any games or time during a game. More than likely though, I probably had at least a few minor concussions. Everything for me would have been from repeated contact as opposed to one big blow.

10 years of playing I was fortunate to never get one.

I never had one, diagnosed, or undiagnosed.

 

In my experience, most concussions happen from the player's head striking the ground not from one player striking another. That is why I don't think most of the rule restrictions being implemented make much of a difference, unless they want to replace the field surface with foam.

Didn't get one playing organized ball. I was diagnosed with a concussion in my early twenties when playing a pickup game on a Sunday afternoon. According to the guys who were there, I said someone fell on my head. I had a tremendous headache and had to ask each play who I was covering. They finally convinced me to go home. I went home and lay on the couch. Complained of a headache and couldn't remember stuff. When asked what happened, I repeated the story that someone fell on my head. My parents grew concerned and took me to the hospital where I was diagnosed.

 

I don't remember anything from that day until about 7 pm when I realized I had called my girlfriend repeatedly, forgot we talked, and then called again.

My one and only diagnosed concussion was suffered on a kickoff. I was on the return team and got smacked by a player on the kickoff squad who had a 10 or 15 yard running head of steam before he hit me. Literally saw stars.

Kickoffs are insanely dangerous, which is why the NFL is OK with all touch backs.

Never had one. However my hair has had CTE.

I don't think there was such a thing as concussions in the 80's. But, I had my bell rung a few times.

Had a couple. Worst one came on oline and blocked a LB and we both fell. (Me forward, him backwards). Then fullback came through the pile and kicked me on the side of the helmet with his shin and he ran past. Didn't know who we were playing and all that stuff. Benched rest of game.

I don't think there was such a thing as concussions in the 80's. But, I had my bell rung a few times.

 

About where I am at. I probably had 5 or 6 concussions to go along with a lot of other high school football injuries but not playing wasn't an option.

Not diagnosed because in the late 60's they just gave you that ammonia thing and went back in.

 

I was playing linebacker for Southern HS JV team as a freshman and met Thomas Jefferson's (they were a high school then) Theodus Stephen's in the hole and it was like hitting a concrete block. I do believe there were cleat marks on my chest.

 

I wobbled off took my ammonia and went back in. I don't remember much of the game afterwards, though. I heard we lost.

I played right guard and defensive tackle through grade school and until my senior year in high school when I was moved to center. Luckily, I never suffered one.

Youth league playing All-Stars in Lexington at Henry Clay (I think). We were playing on some little side field. There was a fence about two or three yards off one side line. Ran a kid out of bounds, ran smack dab into one of the poles. Out cold. Woke up with several people standing around me. Sat out a few plays, went back in and finished the game.