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Dick Harmon: Most dangerous college sport is spring football

One question comes to mind? | 9:46 a.m. April 6, 2008

I'm guessing that injuries occur in spring ball because perhaps the players aren't as limber as they normally are in the regular season? I wonder if the players emphasize stretching out properly and having proper flexibility. When we were in HS football, our coach was really adament about flexibility and stretching out well to avoid neck and back injuries. Or was this just a freak accident? I don't know.

Incorrect Deduction | 12:15 p.m. April 6, 2008

As dissapointing as Hook's injury is, it should not be used to illustrate the dangers of Spring ball. Hook's injury could have occurred at any point in offseason offense v defense non-contact drills. Weight room or other random injuries can occur at anytime throughout the now year-round training for college athletes. Hook's injury was certainly a blow to him and the team, but one that was a freak, non-contact injury and therefore could have occurred at any point during offseason drills and workouts. It could have occurred just as easily in linebacker specific drills where players practice defending passes. This has nothing specifically to do with Spring. Now, if someone get's leveled and hurt in the spring game or contact drills next week then the coorelation would make more sense.

Correct deduction | 12:32 p.m. April 6, 2008

Simply put, as 16 years of study proves, spring football is the most dangerous sport in college. Hooks got hurt in spring practice, however freakish, it was in April, not August.

Comments continue below

Need more info | 1:34 p.m. April 6, 2008

It would have been nice to have a breakdown of the type of injuries that are the most common in spring ball (e.g., upper extremeties, shoulder, lower extremeties, etc.) compared to the regular season. Any number of theories could surface from the information in this article. I'd be willing to bet, though, that the injuries sustained in spring practice are generally less severe and of the non-contact variety. Because of the repetetive nature of so much practice and relatively little contact, things like bursitis in the shoulders, twisted ankles and knees, and wrist and finger sprains should dominate the list.

?? | 6:27 p.m. April 6, 2008

One question comes to mind? Yes, in spring football that take to same czre of them selves. Most teams spend 4 - 6 weeks in winter conditioning before spring ball begins, so they are in shape and flexible. Most practices start the same fall or spring, with some warming up, and stretching.

They Non-contact aspect of spring football aside,these injuries occur most frequently during the 3 - 4 weeks set aside for spring practice, because as the article states, this is when the athletes are out fighting for their job in the next season. This is when all the individual drills they have been doing for the last 2 - 4 months come together, and they get to go against an opponent. If you watch most teams press releases, their injures tend to be non-contact this time of year, and yes non-contact injures can be severe, including torn knees, sprained ankles, muscle pulls, etc.

Not buying | 6:34 p.m. April 6, 2008

Yeah, I'm not buying the "more competative" hypothesis. I don't think for a second that players play harder in the spring than in the fall.

Concast-hater | 8:14 p.m. April 6, 2008

I higly doubt BYU along with all other colleges don't know how to strech and warm up their players. Quit trying to be a know it all.

Rich | 9:28 a.m. April 7, 2008

Concast-hater,

Your suggestion to quit trying to be a know-it-all is one that by all means you yourself should adopt though you certainly should attempt to know more about many things, such as how to spell Comcast.

As for the reporter, as difficult as it is to avoid hyperbole in sports writing, it's still wise to avoid writing what you really don't mean, such as, "No hurry to get anyone killed."

Zoobie 55 | 10:21 a.m. April 7, 2008

Injuries and football go together like ham and cheese. It's the worst part of the sport. It'll always be part of the sport and there are injuries even among those that play flag football. No one should be blamed for lack of stretching etc... The only way to stop football injuries is to stop playing football. The sad thing about this one was it was a freak incident. We all wish Hooks a speedy recovery.

competition | 11:45 a.m. April 7, 2008

Spring ball is way competitive. Any one who says otherwise hasn't participated in spring ball. Every one is flying around and trying to catch the eye of the coaches. They know that this is the time when jobs and spots are won, not necessarily in the fall. In the fall they have a pretty good idea of who will be playing where and for how long (rep amounts). Sure, there will be several jobs up for grabs and some pleasant surprises from new faces in the fall, but for the most part a lot of the leg-work is done in the spring and the players know it and compete accordingly.

Anonymous | 1:00 p.m. April 7, 2008

The worst part of all that nobody seems to be too concerned about yet is that BYU just lost a talented and athletic linebacker that has previously contributed quite a bit on special teams, etc. Hopefully this blow to the health of the players won't be compunded by any more, and here's to Hooks to make a speedy recovery, hopefully he'll be ready even before the 6 months.

Best wishes.

7 on 7 | 2:41 p.m. April 7, 2008

Best wishes to Hooks! He is one of the more athletic linebackers we have and hopefully he get's a second medical redshirt allowing him two more seasons to play.

Player organized 7 on 7 drills take place year round and involve some pretty spirited and fast paced actions - cutting, jumping and even the occassional receiver to defender not-so-light contact. Hook's injury occurred in open space with zero contact and was exactly the kind that could just as easily happen in a February or June 7 on 7 drill. Unfortunate but also part of a very fast paced sport.

observer | 4:33 p.m. April 7, 2008

No sport has its "season" anymore. Football used to be a fall sport. We've got hockey and basketball into June, and baseball into the first part of November. Could it be that overdoing it could have anything to do with injuries? Just wondering, not trying to start an argument....

halfhoosierhein | 4:30 p.m. April 7, 2008

I agree ... I'm most upset that Hooks is lost! I was looking forward to seeing him get more time. I could care less if it was in winter conditioning, spring ball, fall ball, or the stake president's ball. Fact is, Hooks got hurt, and that is bad for a team who lost some guys on defense. Hooks has talent and some experience. The D will still be okay ... but part of Bronco's defense is to be able to rotate LB's in and out. This will shallow the talent pool just a little.

Traveler | 6:31 p.m. April 7, 2008

It would appear that spring training also causes the most brain damage among some of the fans. :)

CougarKeith | 7:45 p.m. April 8, 2008

I wish Mr.Hooks all the best and a speedy recovery. He will get a injury red-shirt and help out an extra year. That is the positive if there is one? This still BYU's BCS game year! There is nothing to worry about, as usual, someone WILL STEP UP! I am and ever will be TRUE BLUE through and through!

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