3rd football player dies on field in New York

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 3, 2014

A third high school football player has died within a week’s span after sustaining a head injury during a game.

Linebacker Tom Cutinella, of Shoreham-Wading River High School in Long Island, N.Y., suffered an on-the-field collision with another player during last week’s game against John Glenn.

Cutinella, according to reports, was able to get up from the play, but later collapsed.

Additionally, Charles Henderson’s Demario Harris Jr. died on Sunday after collapsing on the field following a tackle on Friday.

A Rolesville High School, North Carolina football player collapsed and later died during warm ups and according to reports, the mother of the player said it was due to a blood clot in his brain.

Andalusia head football coach Brian Seymore said concussions are scary and added that coaches take them seriously if a player gets hurt.

“We have all of our kids impact tested,” Seymore said. “It’s a base-line test. If you get a head injury, or have concussion symptoms, we’ll pull you out of the game. You can’t go back in.

“Even though the technology on helmets are better now; still the strength and speed of the players are probably at an all-time high,” he said. “We take them out, then they’ve got to take multiple tests. They (the doctors) won’t let you back on the field unless you pass a test. Until you reach that level, and all of the thought processes are back and your balance is back, they won’t put you back in the game.”

Seymore said sometimes having a player out because of a concussion is easier because you don’t have to ache over wanting to get him back in the game.

“You know your kid wants to play and you need him to play, but when a doctor above you says he can’t play, it makes your job a lot easier,” he said.

Seymore said it’s tragic to hear of these football players dying as a result of head injuries.

“I just hope and pray that nothing happens like that because that’s something you hate to see,” he said. “Coaches have to be educated and smart because that’s a very serious situation, and gets bigger every year.”