SMU Cornerback Gets His Bell Rung

By Richie Whitt Tue., Mar. 30 2010 at 1:00 PM

Categories: SMU

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Last Sept. 12, SMU cornerback Derrius Bell suffered a concussion in a game at Alabama-Birmingham. Sidelined for three weeks, he returned against TCU and, on the game's first play, violently hit a Frog receiver after a reception.

The tackle forced a fumble, and gave Bell another concussion.

The end.

Bell, considered the Mustangs' best defensive back as spring practice opens, didn't play again last season. And now, after seeing a neurologist last week, he likely won't play football again.

We're getting better at taking care of ourselves. Seat belts. Vitamins. No more NFL players running around the field sans helmets.

But are we also getting wussier? There was a time when football players suffered concussions, and merely wobbled off the field while their teammates giggled that they got their bell rung.

Now, that bell tolls.

Troy Aikman retired after numerous concussions. Last year Martellus Bennett missed a couple games after a similar head injury. Tim Tebow's bounced brain was constantly in the news.

It feels like progress, what with the research of the brains of former NFL players Terry Long and Mike Webster and Andre Waters. But by becoming less violent, could football become less entertaining?

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This valuable idea takes issue with the main sentence of this article and will go on for actually quite a while making it clear that the commenter didn�t study any further.
Richie, You write crap most of the time. Wussier? Really? These guys are stronger and stronger and are hitting harder and harder. Get a grip dude you loser
Let me get your understanding of this article before I judge you. I am the mother of the subject and wouldn't want to get the wrong understanding. My son finds this one of the hardest thing to deal with in his young life at age 21. He struggles with this each and everyday, he told me Mama I try not to think of it because it depresses me so much. He also said I don't think they would have let me play even if I went against what the Dr. advised. He has a brother that tells him daily that boy you can play we have kids at our college who have played and nothings happen. So he has his on problems to deal with, without you saying he's a wuss. He is far from it in fact. He tells me that Mama I'm just gone workout as hard as I can and just maybe just maybe they'll give me a chance. I just want him to happy and most importantly satisfy with his decision because truly it is his life we're talking about.
Richie, hold still.
A player at Tarleton State dies from a concussion on the same day you post this piece of trash. Nice job Ritchie.
@RW:But are we also getting wussier?...Really RW, being a father of twim boys, I'm will have to seriously debate the boys playing football in the future..did you see the story about boy at Tarleton on Sunday..normal middle drill, boy fell on his head wrong..died on the spot. WTF RW? Rub some dirt on it I guess and get back out there..you should go visit the kid from Duncanville that broke his neck a couple of years back, tell his mom about your little article and thoughts on the state of wussiness in sport.
Richie, this is completely pathetic. Disparaging someone because a neurologist has told them the risks are too great of getting another concussion and the attendant risks of long term problems? I guess the next thing you will start pushing for will be the return of leather helmets. By the tone and tenor of your article, you apparently find bell ringing hits and players being taken off the field on stretchers as "entertaining". Come back to reality, players being more careful of their brains and reacting to the very real danger of concussions will not make the game less "entertaining", as you wonder. In fact, articles like this make you less entertaining as a writer.
Seriously? Ever met a former pro-football player, now in their early 50s, who took hard hits "like a man" and now has to be fed by his wife every meal? 'Cause I have, and it's a sad, sad thing to see. Head injuries are not a sign of weakness, and taking precautions to prevent permanent brain damage has nothing to do with being a wuss. Really, Richie, not cool.
There's no glory in being a 40 something year old former football player and crying to your wife on the phone that you can't find your way home even though your are only five blocks away and you've lived in the neighborhood for 20 years. No, football won't be less entertaining but it would be nice if former players can still entertain by telling stories to their families when they are in their 60s and 70s instead of dying young.
I don't think we're getting wussier as much as we're getting smarter. . Gene Simmons said it best when talking about rock stars and drugs - there's no glory drowning in a pool of your own vomit. There's also no glory being a 50 year old ex-athlete sitting in a wheelchair and drooling on yourself while attempting to sign autographs at some card show.
I dont think football will be less violent, I just think that more guys will be retiring much younger to avoid living the vegetable life in their 50's and beyond. Look at Westbrook from Philly. He is tough RB but these 2 concussions in 1 season have him thinking of retiring. Why risk your life for 1 more hit, I think these players are understanding that more and more.