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t m c » p u l s e | j a n / f e b 2 0 1 7 30 "Football's my No. 1 sport," Luke said. "Ever since I could remember, I've always wanted to walk out into the stadium with thousands of people cheering me on, and be on national television." He was indoctrinated at an early age. Since the age of 4, he has watched teams including the University of Notre Dame and Louisiana State University compete on the field. His father, who was an all-American high school football athlete in Mississippi and fullback for Ole Miss from 1971 to 1974, often shared memories of the good ol' days. "My dad would always tell me stories of him and his friends in high school and college. That made me love football even more," Luke said. "He was my role model. I wanted to be him." While violent, football can also benefit chil- dren and teens. The highly cardiovascular nature of the game helps combat obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illnesses. Football also encourages social and emotional growth by teaching sportsmanship, teamwork and the value of hard work. But because there's an inherent risk of concus- sion and injury in football, the onus is on parents to determine whether the benefits outweigh the risks. And the spectrum of risks is broadening. Recent research findings from UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas showed concerning changes and abnormalities in the brains of 24 high school football players over the course of one season, even though none reported concussions. "We know that some professional football players suffer from … CTE. We are attempting to find out when and how that process starts, so that we can keep sports a healthy activity for millions of children and adolescents," said the study's lead investigator Elizabeth Moody Davenport, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at UT Southwestern Medical Center, in a press release. For parents and young athletes, concus- sions are "a scary thing to think about," Roton said. "I think all we can do is give them the information—the pros and cons—and help them make an educated decision." Part of Podell's job is counseling parents on how to transition children into a different sport if football poses too great a risk to their physical and cognitive health. "It's a difficult situation, but it's a very import- ant life lesson where this is what you're dealt, so how do you make the best out of it?" Podell said. "My allegiance and my concern is for the health and well-being of my patients, presently and in the future. How that affects the continuation of the sport or the team, I really don't care." For Luke, a concussion didn't compromise his love for the sport. He plans to continue playing football in hopes of getting recruited by his dream school, the University of Notre Dame. But he has a newfound appreciation for player safety and will be more cautious, play smarter and not be as "aggressive or stupid and charging at people with my head," he said. "Before I had my concussion, I would make jokes with my friends about it and say that it's only mental," Luke said. "But after this incident, I've realized how severe this can be and how it can really impact your life and your future. Now, looking back, I realize this is an issue that needs to be fixed for this sport because this is a really great sport, but the safety of the people who play it is just as important." MenningerClinic.com | Named a National Best Hospital in Psychiatry 27 Consecutive Years When someone in your family needs help to regain mental health, our specialists are ready to assist with: One-stop comprehensive psychiatric assessments for ages 6 and older with physician-led specialists Individual, family and couples therapy Medication management Addiction counseling Find the best outpatient mental health partners at Menninger Consultations for ADHD, suitable education or vocational setting, autism spectrum disorder and more Scheduling appointments within 2 weeks. Call today. 713-275-5779 Affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine Menninger OPS ad for TMC Pulse updated 9-13-16.indd 1 9/14/2016 1:14:16 PM Jimmy Roton, Jr., director of sports medicine at St. John's School, helps Luke Venus with his helmet.