Gabe Horan medically disqualified due to concussions

[CuseCrew08]

Definitely need to read the article.

I was just formulating a reply... seems all too familiar when the board was calling for Tucker's head with Steven...

 

[PAcuse]

Oh boy this thread is going to get ugly...

 

[C Bomb]

Knapp’s dad posted on this forum after Kyle was DQ’d and gave a lot of information about his son’s plight since there had been some murmuring about what happened. Similar story with ocular concussion and going to a specialist in Pittsburgh who cleared him to play. Kyle ended up transferring to WMU where it was indicated he could play. Social media indicated he was indeed a student there, and he would post stuff about the football teams success, but I never saw his name on a roster

Edit, Found it:

orangeintheacc
Walk On


Dec 4, 2015
#38
Our family wanted to go quietly from SU, but this thread has my blood boiling. Kyle does in fact have parents, I happen to be his dad. Other than the obvious football stuff, Kyle and our family have had a great experience at SU. We've met a lot of great people - parents, faculty and fans that have welcomed us with open arms.

Just to set the record straight Kyle had 2 concussions - the "3rd" one that Tucker DQ'd him for was questionable -even Dr. Tucker wasn't sure about it. So no, he did not have anywhere near 7 concussions.
As far as I know, Dr. Tucker is a GP. He has the final say with regard to medical DQs. We asked and he would not allow us to get a second opinion from a neurologist or anyone else. In a phone call Dr. tucker said Kyle was done and that was it.

On our own dime we took Kyle to a concussion specialist at UPMC. He literally knew within 5 minutes what was wrong with him and he couldn't believe SU's people couldn't see it themselves. Kyle's eyes weren't converging which made him susceptible to getting concussions. 7 weeks of eye therapy later his baseline tests were back to normal or above. The Dr. At UPMC had zero qualms about Kyle playing again. neither did the other doctor we saw. Unfortunately, SU had already moved on.

Our family loves football, but we would never put his future at risk if we thought it was dangerous to his future. Kyle wanted to play for SU more than anything. I don't think he deserves some of the stupid crap in this thread.

 

[bcubs9497]

Knapp’s dad posted on this forum after Kyle was DQ’d and gave a lot of information about his son’s plight since there had been some murmuring about what happened. Similar story with ocular concussion and going to a specialist in Pittsburgh who cleared him to play. Kyle ended up transferring to WMU where it was indicated he could play. Social media indicated he was indeed a student there, and he would post stuff about the football teams success, but I never saw his name on a roster

Video of Kyle: WMU-Syracuse provides unique opportunity for former Portage Central star

I've never heard of him.

 

[C Bomb]

Video of Kyle: WMU-Syracuse provides unique opportunity for former Portage Central star

I've never heard of him.

He was going to be our starting left tackle, had real high hopes for him. I’m glad he’s gotten degrees from both universities

 

[IthacaMatt]

His parents are pissed. Can't blame them.
Why do they have a family doctor with no special qualifications (who is also about 80 years old) making these decisions?

 

[Cuseregular]

His parents are pissed. Can't blame them.
Why do they have a family doctor with no special qualifications (who is also about 80 years old) making these decisions?

He got Tuckered is the new saying I've read.

That said its a Real tough issue but in consistent fashion seems Kinda quick and presumably short sighted as it's become pretty conclusive it's not the major hits as much as much as the daily chronic repetitive mini hits. I would not be suprised to see him playing elsewhere down the road.

 

[RoysRunts]

Sad, Saw greatness in this lad (as far as Football) He'll do well in whatever he chooses..

 

[bnoro]

Here come all the board doctors led by the obvious ringleader...

The kid needed a pretty unusual treatment just to feel normal again. What happens when he gets the next concussion? Read about Ted Johnson and Marc Savard and the countless others. It's not worth it.

 

[CuseOnly]

Here come all the board doctors led by the obvious ringleader...

The kid needed a pretty unusual treatment just to feel normal again. What happens when he gets the next concussion? Read about Ted Johnson and Marc Savard and the countless others. It's not worth it.

Dude, what part of a "The decision to bar Horan from football went against the opinion of an internationally renowned concussion specialist in Pittsburgh. " did you not understand?

All I know is that our Dr Tucker DQ's kids at Syracuse University almost 25x more than any other program.

The knowledge that he does not take into consideration the opinions of specialists infinitely more qualified in the field of concussions is pretty shocking.

 

[bnoro]

Dude, what part of a "The decision to bar Horan from football went against the opinion of an internationally renowned concussion specialist in Pittsburgh. " did you not understand?

All I know is that our Dr Tucker DQ's kids at Syracuse University almost 25x more than any other program.

The knowledge that he does not take into consideration the opinions of specialists infinitely more qualified in the field of concussions is pretty shocking.

The concussion specialist said he could play again. However, he didn't say what could happen if he had another concussion. Tucker will have a higher standard due to the liability that falls on Syracuse University.

If Gabe wants to go play elsewhere, all the best to him, I sincerely hope his story doesn't end up like many others before him.

 

[CuseOnly]

The concussion specialist said he could play again. However, he didn't say what could happen if he had another concussion. Tucker will have a higher standard due to the liability that falls on Syracuse University.

If Gabe wants to go play elsewhere, all the best to him, I sincerely hope his story doesn't end up like many others before him.

Any medical professional who is a specialist will explain the risks of another concussion and the consequences if there is another one and yet he still cleared him to play. I have been to a few specialists and they always always always tell you the risks.

Tucker should listen to an expert in the field who knows more than he does.

GP's send people to specialists because they don't know, that is kind of the whole point.

If you are going to automatically DQ the kid, don't waste his and the family's time.

 

[corpjet]

Either way this doesn't end well...the school takes the safe route and says he cant play.....naysayers sat they are uneducated and don't have real doctors......they let the student athlete play and he sustains major brain damage and they are then sued and held responsible......Im sure the right thing was done and a non football scholarship was extended.....If the family thinks he's safe to play then head elsewhere, otherwise enjoy the college atmosphere and take advantage of the $250k scholarship at a great University

Unfortunately we will see more of this happen esp in a lawsuit happy world......if Im the School chancellor Im def going the safe route for the student athletes safety

 

[Bayside44]

His parents are pissed. Can't blame them.
Why do they have a family doctor with no special qualifications (who is also about 80 years old) making these decisions?

Cannot speak to the age but other ACC schools have a general practice guy in the same role.

 

[Bayside44]

Dude, what part of a "The decision to bar Horan from football went against the opinion of an internationally renowned concussion specialist in Pittsburgh. " did you not understand?

All I know is that our Dr Tucker DQ's kids at Syracuse University almost 25x more than any other program.

The knowledge that he does not take into consideration the opinions of specialists infinitely more qualified in the field of concussions is pretty shocking.

We had kids (guys like AJ Long) that were trying to box over their weight being here, that was part of it as far as getting hurt.

Our DQ level was a little higher than ACC average, but the kids getting DQed might not on the average been ACC guys.

 

[BlitzMore]

His parents are emotional about it and I understand. But are three more years of ball really worth the risk of what’s to come down the line? If Horan and his parents really feel like that’s necessary, then he can go elsewhere. The university would be silly to take upon this liability knowing his history

 

[bcubs9497]

Here come all the board doctors led by the obvious ringleader...

The kid needed a pretty unusual treatment just to feel normal again. What happens when he gets the next concussion? Read about Ted Johnson and Marc Savard and the countless others. It's not worth it.

Because stuffing a huge leg into a tiny brace, cinching the crap out of it to make it stay on, then telling him to stay immobile for days is a great tx...

 

[AAM62]

Here come all the board doctors led by the obvious ringleader...

The kid needed a pretty unusual treatment just to feel normal again. What happens when he gets the next concussion? Read about Ted Johnson and Marc Savard and the countless others. It's not worth it.

I have to agree. It’s not short sided to think about what happens with the next concussion (almost inevitable when playing on the LOS). Also, aren’t the trips to Pittsburgh odd?

 

[CuseLegacy]

He got Tuckered is the new saying I've read.

That said its a Real tough issue but in consistent fashion seems Kinda quick and presumably short sighted as it's become pretty conclusive it's not the major hits as much as much as the daily chronic repetitive mini hits. I would not be suprised to see him playing elsewhere down the road.

What was missing from the article was if Gabe had suffered concussions in HS.

 

[CuseOnly]

What was missing from the article was if Gabe had suffered concussions in HS.

Shouldn't matter if he was cleared by a specialist in that field.

 

[CuseOnly]

His parents are emotional about it and I understand. But are three more years of ball really worth the risk of what’s to come down the line? If Horan and his parents really feel like that’s necessary, then he can go elsewhere. The university would be silly to take upon this liability knowing his history

You nor anyone else has any idea what is to come down the line.

 

[CuseOnly]

We had kids (guys like AJ Long) that were trying to box over their weight being here, that was part of it as far as getting hurt.

Our DQ level was a little higher than ACC average, but the kids getting DQed might not on the average been ACC guys.

I put up some stats and what you are saying is completely false.

Between 2013 and 2015 there were a total of 27 concussion related DQ's in all of FBS football, 129 schools. FOUR of those were from Syracuse, almost a full 20% of all concussion related DQ's.

That is an alarming stat and it means we are DQing kids that shouldn't be. Either that or other schools are not DQing kids that should be.

If every school had DQ'd kids at Tuckers rate there would have been 4 per school or 520 disqualifications in that time period. If that happened, the NCAA and the school AD's, Presidents and Chancellors would be before Congress to explain why. That would pretty much put a final nail in the College Football Coffin and by default the NFL as well.

Maybe Tucker is just more knowledgeable, smarter and better than everyone else in the field or he just shouldn't be making these decisions and should leave it up to experts.

 

[maxxyz]

Shouldn't matter if he was cleared by a specialist in that field.

SU is not making a medical decision. They are making a risk assessment decision. The specialist who cleared him to play has very little in the way of liability risk with his decision. A university (which is currently being sued by at least one former player for concussion negligence) has enormous liability risk.

It sucks for the affected player, but the protocol has to be followed rigidly. Making exceptions, even though supported with expertopinions, leaves the university open to lawsuits. Google Marcus Clayton to see articles on a lawsuit brought against SU.

There is going to be a flood of litigation soon involving football concussions vs the schools and whether they willfully ignored the risks to player health. Because they have been sued before, SU’s position appears to be proactive.

 

[sutomcat]

I feel for Gabe and the Horan family. The more we learn about football and concussions, the harder it becomes to advocate for letting the kids continue to play. What a shame.

John Greenleaf Whittier had it right.

For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'.

 

[McNabb2Brominski]

Sounds like it was just one fluke accident in practice and not a series of repeated concussions. Very unfortunate; maybe the guys should take it easy with the headshots in practice?