After watching Concussion HS player turns down 7 I-AA offers

[BDKJMU]

"Concussion’ Film Inspires High School Football Star to Reject College Scholarships

A high school football star in Pennsylvania got what most players dream of: several scholarships to Division I schools. But after 18-year-old John Castello saw the movie "Concussion," he decided the potential health risks the game poses isn't worth the free ride to college, so he turned them all down.

Castello had been offered full scholarships to seven Division I AA schools, including the University of Delaware and James Madison University, he told ABC News today. Watching the movie "Concussion" over the Christmas holiday, which stars Will Smith as Nigerian doctor Bennet Omalu and his findings on the impact of concussions on NFL players, significantly altered how he thought about his future.

"I thought it would shed some light and help me make a decision on whether I should play football or not," he said.

Castello was "taken aback" by the movie, he said, adding that watching the health of Pittsburgh Steelers center "Iron Mike" Webster deteriorate made him think twice about the sport he loved so much growing up.

"Growing up a Steelers fan, everyone loved Mike Webster," he said. "To see what he went through, because of football, that really hit me hard."

Castello said witnessing the misfortunes of former football players, from the high school to the professional level, has served as a cautionary tale and aided in his resolution to stop playing.

"They've attempted suicide, gone bankrupt, broke,homeless -- and at a young age -- not older, but in their 40s and 50s," he said. "That’s very concerning to me."

The high school senior has received some flack from fellow students and recruiting coaches who have called him "soft" or "too scared" to play.

"They didn’t understand where I’m coming from," he said.

His high school football coach called him a "great football player."

"I don’t think there’s any doubt about that," Mars Area High School head football coach and athletic director Scott Heinauer told ABC News today, citing the level of recruitment Castello experienced.

"He’s a great kid," Heinauer said. "No matter what he does in life, John will be successful."

Castello said the thing he'll miss most about football is the brotherhood, but the 6-foot-5-inch, 225-pound tight end and defensive end decided to focus on another sport he's been playing for almost 10 years: basketball. But the decision was made even more difficult by the fact that he hadn't yet been offered any basketball scholarships.

"It was very, very hard to choose,” Castello said, but added that it's "probably the right choice" for the future.

Castello's basketball coach, Rob Carmody, said the "prominent" athlete isn't trying to make "a statement for everybody else."

"This was a very personal decision that John made, Carmody said. "It’s not easy to walk away from a free education when the opportunity may not be there in basketball."

He already has a partial scholarship offer from Shippensburg University and a full scholarship offer from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, and more offers are continuing to trickle in, Carmody said.

Wednesday was National Signing Day, when high school students sign a binding letter of intent for college football. Castello said he has "no regrets" about not participating in it.

"I’m very happy for all the guys who signed today. That’s great for them," he said. "But, I’m very happy with choosing basketball. I really love basketball."

The Mars Area High School student still has several friends and teammates who plan to further their football career, he said, and some have even been offered scholarships to play. He said that he "respects" their decision and will be praying for them.

"That's their decision, and they know the consequences that can come with playing college football, Castello told ABC News affiliate WTAE in Pittsburgh. "But, they're tough kids and they really love the game, so I think they're going to do it."

The director of "Concussion," Peter Landesman, reached out to Castello through WTAE after hearing about his story.

"[Landesman] just said he wanted to commend me for what I’m doing," Castello said. "He said, 'Sometimes you’re going to face difficulties like this in life.'"

Castello achieved his 1,000th rebound in yesterday's game, Carmody said. He will spend the rest of the school year trying to win a basketball state championship alongside his twin brother, Steven. He said, they will graduate from high school in June.""
http://abcnews.go.com/US/high-school-fo ... d=36692778" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Of course with the movie, Hollywood doesn't get the story right:

Six things ‘Concussion’ the movie won’t tell you (but brain experts will)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/six-th ... 2016-01-11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Mvemjsunpx]

The future effects of concussions are a serious concern for anyone playing the game long term, but this quote tells me all I need to know about the movie's accuracy:

In response, Landesman, the film's director, stated that the film was "emotionally and spiritually accurate all the way through"

[JohnStOnge]

Of course with the movie, Hollywood doesn't get the story right:

Six things ‘Concussion’ the movie won’t tell you (but brain experts will)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/six-th ... 2016-01-11" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When I read the first post I thought that it would be a shame if someone made their decision on the basis of what's portrayed in a movie. But I can see deciding not to play football due to physical damage even if the movie would never have come out. I don't disrespect people who DO decide to keep playing it. But it IS very physically taxing and damaging.

Same with boxing, BTW. Same with MMA. All that stuff.

[CID1990]

I don't think I would ever watch a movie in order to help make a life decision.

[Jjoey52]

Kid was stupid, taking a biased movie literally.

[YoUDeeMan]

"Concussion’ Film Inspires High School Football Star to Reject College Scholarships

A high school football star in Pennsylvania got what most players dream of: several scholarships to Division I schools. But after 18-year-old John Castello saw the movie "Concussion," he decided the potential health risks the game poses isn't worth the free ride to college, so he turned them all down.

Castello had been offered full scholarships to seven Division I AA schools, including the University of Delaware and James Madison University, he told ABC News today.

Delaware?

Kid saved himself a lot of headaches.

[Pwns]

What's especially dumb here is thinking many years of pro ball and a few years of college ball in your early 20s are the same thing.

[GannonFan]

What's especially dumb here is thinking many years of pro ball and a few years of college ball in your early 20s are the same thing.

The concussion issue isn't just isolated to pro players. Heck, that rising captain of the Penn football team a few years ago who committed suicide right before his senior year, and on the autopsy they found massive amounts of brain trauma, is a pretty scary story. And he had never had a diagnosed concussion in all his years of playing football.

[Pwns]

What's especially dumb here is thinking many years of pro ball and a few years of college ball in your early 20s are the same thing.

The concussion issue isn't just isolated to pro players. Heck, that rising captain of the Penn football team a few years ago who committed suicide right before his senior year, and on the autopsy they found massive amounts of brain trauma, is a pretty scary story. And he had never had a diagnosed concussion in all his years of playing football.

If you autopsied the brain of every person who committed suicide, how often would you find some evidence of CTE or some kind of head trauma? You can't draw a conclusion unless you can show the prevalence is larger in college football players than the population at large.

[SeattleGriz]

What's especially dumb here is thinking many years of pro ball and a few years of college ball in your early 20s are the same thing.

The concussion issue isn't just isolated to pro players. Heck, that rising captain of the Penn football team a few years ago who committed suicide right before his senior year, and on the autopsy they found massive amounts of brain trauma, is a pretty scary story. And he had never had a diagnosed concussion in all his years of playing football.

I've had two concussions and I'm normal.

[AshevilleApp]

Who cares? The kid made a decision based on the evidence as he saw it.

[GannonFan]

The concussion issue isn't just isolated to pro players. Heck, that rising captain of the Penn football team a few years ago who committed suicide right before his senior year, and on the autopsy they found massive amounts of brain trauma, is a pretty scary story. And he had never had a diagnosed concussion in all his years of playing football.

I've had two concussions and I'm normal.

Sure you are.

[dbackjon]

The concussion issue isn't just isolated to pro players. Heck, that rising captain of the Penn football team a few years ago who committed suicide right before his senior year, and on the autopsy they found massive amounts of brain trauma, is a pretty scary story. And he had never had a diagnosed concussion in all his years of playing football.

I've had two concussions and I'm normal.