Might Ridgewater be ahead of the game?

Have you noticed that your emotional connection to football may have dimmed? You may not be fully aware of it. These trends can progress slowly.
We develop reservations because of the flow of negative reports on what happens to players. Were we fully logical beings, we would have fully retreated from the sport by now. We lack the self-discipline to do this. We probably must overcome an addiction factor. It is not exaggeration to say we depend on football entertainment to make our weekends interesting.
You would think the world of commercial entertainment could catch up to football. I actually think progress is being made on this front. But the much-celebrated sport of football keeps its vital signs quite vital in the big picture.
The day after Christmas will have us watching the U of M Gophers on TV. We sneaked into the bowl picture in a way that should keep fans from getting too restless. We seem to shrug over the fact that three of our wins were in non-conference games carefully mapped out to guarantee victory while still having the appearance of legitimate football games. Ah, marketing. We decided that North Carolina was too scary so we jettisoned $800,000 - hey it's only money - to get out of that series of games. "Gopher nation" doesn't seemed fazed by that.
Well, my only interest in the games is to hope the players get through unscathed in this needless risky and violent sport.
I noted recently that when Joan Gabel came to Morris, none of the questions presented to her dealt with athletics. I didn't even notice it at the time. Later I felt relieved that we were relieved of that distraction - sports, which at the Division I college level really seems like an extension of professional entertainment.
 
A harbinger in Willmar MN?
Is it possible that Ridgewater College in Willmar - an obscure community college - is a forerunner in what awaits football? Ahead, perhaps, of the august University of Minnesota? Little Ridgewater? You see, Ridgewater has announced cancellation of its football program. The program had little connection to academia there in the first place. And now those resources can be re-directed to more worthy pursuits.
And most importantly, Ridgewater has sent a message that there will be life after football on its campus - no more devastating hits that wrack body and mind on those 100 yards of turf.
A litany of news about football's dangers comes out regularly these days. The cloud hung over the Gophers' final regular season game when something seemed wrong with the opponents' quarterback, Alex Hornibrook. Wisconsin is getting ready for the Pinstripe Bowl. It will not be Hornibrook starting in that game. The QB will be Jack Coan. When you're hurt in football, there's always a new guy waiting in the wings. Coan will "burn his redshirt."
We learn that "Hornibrook's concussion issues remain a concern for that program." In fact, the coach says it's uncertain whether Hornibrook will even be able to return for 2019. He says "it's too early to tell."
All such cases make us wonder about the long-term future for all such young men. As fans we consume football as entertainment. Mention football to anyone and the conversation instantly turns "light" - you'll prompt a smile and exchange thoughts on how your favorite team will do in the next game. "How's the running game?" That sort of thing. So it feels like a faux pas when you get serious and make a comment about the very propriety of the sport - shall we just discard it? And the sooner the better? That's the mindset I'm into now.
I'm polite as I field those comments about how "hey, looks like the Vikings will make the playoffs." I do make it clear I'm not very knowledgeable about this stuff anymore. I'll work in a comment in the more serious vein and see if my conversation partner is receptive. Over time these people will probably sense that they ought not bring up the subject with me. They'll go on with their enthused football distraction.
 
Another exhibit of tragedy
On December 12 we heard of another tragic end to a former player's life. This is Rod Jones, RIP. He was a former University of Washington tight end and played in the NFL. He took his own life at age 54. His family believes head trauma from football led to the man's "downward spiral." I'm sure you have regularly caught news reports in this vein. Were these lives worth sacrificing for the sake of our regular consumption of football entertainment? Well we certainly know the answer is "no."
We're dazed by the fact football seems ingrained in our entertainment expectations, our comfortable lifestyle.
I'm angry at high school football parents who speak in such a flippant way, eager to rationalize about their son's involvement, simply because they feel a sense of enjoyment in the short term. Or, ego-building if their son excels and gets prominent attention in the local media. The local media goes ape-s--t over sports, putting it on a level so ridiculously out of proportion, it coaxes young men to feel the allure and play even if reason tells them it's questionable or dangerous. Maybe the cheers from the stands make them blot out their more reasonable thoughts.
And the parents for their part feel none of the pain. They'll rationalize - they are so eager to rationalize - by saying the well-known suicides are by former pros who are to be viewed in a distinct circle. Never mind that a younger brain and body are more vulnerable. And, the news regularly has updates on high school players experiencing concerning injuries of both the brain and body. Let's not overlook the latter category.
Pro Alex Smith got hurt so badly, his bone protruded outside his skin, and there were infection issues, perhaps not over yet. We don't need to be entertained by this.
I never had the talent or interest to play football. And why should I feel blessed just because of that? Why should my peers who were in sports be more at risk? They didn't deserve that - a single season playing football might be all it takes to change a young athlete's brain. Why do we live with this activity? Well, maybe the same nation that elects Donald Trump can be expected to do most anything.
- Brian Williams - morris mn minnesota - bwilly73@yahoo.com