As most football fans know, the NFL has been struggling with rules changes to address the danger of concussions and Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in players in the wake of expanding medical research on injuries. Colleges and High Schools have implemented strict new guidelines, particularly in preventing helmet to helmet hits. None of that seems to have sunk into Frostburg University, which is accused of a shocking display of ignorance and negligence in the death of Derek Sheely, a 22 year old fullback. According to a lawsuit, Sheely was bleeding and complaining that he did not feel right, but the coach told him “Stop your bitching and moaning and quit acting like a pussy and get back out there.” Sheely collapsed a short time later and never regained consciousness.
The lawsuit says that the football team was doing helmet to helmet hits. The family is suing not just the coaches, but the NCAA and the helmet manufacturer. Named are Frostburg running backs coach Jamie Schumacher, assistant athletic trainer Michael Sweitzer Jr. and helmet manufacturer Schutt Sports.
Schumacher allegedly told players to “lead with your head” and use your “hat first” and ridiculed them if they did not hit with their heads. It was Schumacher who allegedly told him to “stop your bitching.”
Notably, the university is not named as a defendant, though I am not sure why. These coaches are employees of the university and their actions would be presumably covered under respondeat superior. Unless there is a settlement, it is surprising to see the school excluded from the lawsuit. That is particularly the case given the allegations of open and gross negligence. The lawsuit states “One of Derek’s teammates described the demeanor of the practices leading up to Derek’s fatal injury as completely ‘out of control’ . . . What is more, the word ‘concussion’ is not stated a single time in Frostburg’s team policies. Thus, the coaches treated all injuries — brain injuries and ankle sprains — the same: You were expected to play through them.” Sheely had had his head bandaged for several days and was seen bleeding repeatedly over the course of four days. Yet, the family says that he was still expected to play.
The NCAA is facing a massive class action lawsuit over such injuries.
A foundation and facebook site has been established in Derek’s name to bring greater awareness to this danger for athletes.
The dangers of CTE are now documented in various studies and documentaries, including the one below:
Source: CBS
Did you know that the highest paid public employee in 49 states is either a football or basketball coach from the state university? In most cases, we’re talking over $1 million.
Coaches have known for at least three decades that “butt” blocking and tackling (where the top of the head is the first point of contact) are illegal and dangerous. This is an aggravated case of liability if proven and warranting punitive damages. I know of no coach who currently teaches this stuff (though I was taught it and practiced it) and the line to testify as an expert against this type of football will be long and distinguished.
I wouldn’t have been surprised to hear this happen in Division I-A or I-AA with scholarships on the line…especially if it were Washington State University who hired a coach with a history of abusing players, who drove one to quit out of concern for his safety and health.
Instead, Frostburg is in Division III, with no scholarships and no big TV money or sponsorship deals. Every player is a walk on. More than likely, that “coach” is a careerist trying to build a winning record so he can jump to another job, unconcerned about the consequences to the players, unconcerned for their safety.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frostburg_State_University#Athletics
Better hope there’s no one on that jury who ever played high school football…could get a lot of sympathy for a fairly stereotypical seeming coach.
He was sharp as a tack….
AY, The Mean Joe Greene Coke commercial was a classic. However, that was 30 years ago. I’m sure Joe looks a lot different now. How did he seem cognitively?
I was talking to the Joe Green the other day…. We agreed on one thing specifically…. That pro ball is not like it used to be Nick….. Kinda funny…. He had to tell me who he was…. I didn’t have a clue…. Which I thought was kinda funny….
A few of points I find of interest.
Rodeos have always had cowboys/gals wearing cowboy hats, what’s all this legal liability going to do to the image of Rodeos when they are all forced to wear helmets?
On the broader subject of liability/liability insurance, at what point does insurance & what’s deemed legal & proper activities make every kind of activity to cost prohibitive for anyone or companies?
And how is the best way to pay for this liability, healthcare & workers comp insurance?
Have the Team, Contractors & the individuals pay for the insurance as it is now.
Or have the wholesalers, product produces, advertisers, etc pay for it, in an attempt to maximize people/companies engaging in actives & minimizing liability exposer & the insurance cost associated with those liabilities.
ie: Use Coke, Pepsi, Bud, Coors, etc., to collect the revenue through their product sales to pay for liability insurance,healthcare & workers comp.
The way it’s been for at least the last 50 years is that rather then sort out an affective plan to deal with liability issues, people & companies choose to either not to engage in activities, ie: closing city swimming pools, or just move to foreign countries to avoid the liabilities altogether.
RWL, The NFL is now considering penalizing hits to the knee when tackling. The NFL has, by far, the most popular sport in this country. The attraction is the violence as well as the skill of the game. It appears they’re headed to having uniforms color coded, where hits are allowed. And, it will look like the strike zone in baseball. These are large men flying around @ incredible speed. They’re thinking about doing away w/ kickoffs, since that results in some of the most violent collisions. However, the 100 kickoff return is the most exciting play in football. They will lose popularity if they make these changes. It is very complicated.
It is unbelievable that any coach would take this approach in this day and age. I am also surprised that the university was not named. They better get ready to dig down deep in their pockets because it appears that their actions are disgusting.
I agree: it seems like college and professional football is coming to an end (flag or tag football, anyone?).
I am also baffled the university was not named as a defendant. Did the plaintiff’s attorney possibly miss the statute of limitations. I know most govt. agencies require a 90 day to be put on notice.
Abuse at every turn.
The NCAA is much worse than the NFL regarding head injuries. These kids..they are just kids, have no union to represent them. They have coaches using them to climb the ladder to bigger jobs. The NCAA is worse than the NFL, and that’s a difficult bar to squeeze under.
Part of the problem with all athletics is the macho attitude of all concerned. Think about how much the “tough coach” is seen as a role model. Most of the “tough coaches” made into folk heroes are brutal schmucks who are in it for their own glory. Many of those who cover sports for the media are failed jocks who eat up the pronouncements of the “Bear” Bryant’s and Bobby Knight’s of this world.
As hard as this is for people (including you, JT) to hear, America needs to get over its love affair with football. The medical evidence is really mounting that even with regulations and oversight, the physical and neurological toll is too high.
Science, We don’t need no science, We don’t need no stinkin medical science either!!
I’m all for liability in situations like this…. The NCAA is making fortunes off of these players without any liability but with all the rules in place…. I think this complete mike s post this last week…
We never heard of Frostburg University. Is this some fiction for us to absorb. Why would they not spell it “Frostberg”? Is it a town as well as a university? Is it south of Galesburg? Near Hamburg. These schmucks need a heads up. Play through it coach. Football is for dummies. Compete in math and science with China and India instead of Frostburg and State Penn in football.
arrest the coach for manslaughter. That should send the proper message