Originally Posted by kane

There was a big story on ESPN several months ago that showed kids that just played high school football and never went on to play beyond that are something like 20 times more likely to get early onset dementia an suffer from other brain related illnesses like Alzheimer than those who didn't play. It all stems from the hits to the head. Even though you are wearing a helmet the contact rattles the brain. If you are a lineman or running back it pretty much happens on every single play.

If play in college or make it to the pros the odds become even greater that you will have brain damage. It is pretty wild. Having seen that, if I had a son I would never in a million years let him play high school football. He might hate me for it, but I couldn't let him do it knowing the risks.