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Are Americans Ready For Some Football?

Welcome to Pollapalooza, our weekly polling roundup. Growing up, I always celebrated Super Bowl Sunday with my family. I say celebrated because for us, as for many Americans, it was about so much more than the game. The food, the halftime show, the ads — it all added up to more than a championship, especially […]

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Why Are We Still Returning Kicks In College Football?

With 12:18 left in the fourth quarter of a game that would decide the Big Ten East title, Indiana had trimmed Ohio State’s 35-7 lead to 42-28. On the ensuing kickoff, Buckeyes return man Demario McCall caught the kick at his own 4-yard line, looking to make a play. But he only made it to […]

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Should Parents Be Afraid To Let Their Kids Play Football?

Football’s concussion crisis has been part of the NFL for almost two decades. But the pros aren’t the only ones reevaluating their relationship with the game. Now, studies are finding that parents of younger children are increasingly concerned about the long-term impacts of playing football. A national survey from 2015 found that 25 percent of […]

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Why We Still Don’t Know How Many NFL Players Have CTE

Over the past few years, the NFL has been haunted by the early deaths of some former players whose brains showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss, mood disorders, dementia and other brain-related problems. But how prevalent is CTE, and how likely are players to develop it? […]

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Women Get Sports Concussions At Higher Rates Than Men

This is Strength in Numbers, a new column exploring the science of sports and athleticism. As this feature takes shape, I welcome your feedback, suggestions and news tips. Email me, leave suggestions in the comments section or tweet to me @CragCrest. When concussions make the news, it’s usually about football. But head injuries happen in […]

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