LOCAL REACTION: A federal judge’s approval Wednesday of an NFL plan to pay $1 billion over 65 years to settle thousands of concussion lawsuits sent a ripple effect all the way down to the high school level.
Opinions varied among local prep football coaches, who are left trying to figure out what this means for the future of the sport.
Even those who might be considered experts concede there is more than one side to the story.
“There is no doubt that we need to take concussions more serious than coaches did 20 years ago, even 10 years ago,” said Hesperia Oak Hills High coach Chris Fore, who is also a consultant to coaches nationwide through ChrisFore.org and EightLaces.org. “The medical field is using technology to help us know more and more about the negative effects of repeated hits to the head.