Bigrhsfan

Ive got a bad knee, back injury (that has healed with time and daily stretching) and a bad shoulder(both are damaged but my left more so) from playing football. Also a few other injuries from weightlifting(one of which actually bothers me more than any other injury). As far as concussions, well I got my bell rung a few times, I'm no Doctor but those were without a doubt concussions. I didn't play football until 7th grade so I cant speak on the effects of little league. I think for the game of football it would be better to play only flag until they're 12 years old: too many bad habits are formed and too many players lost from sitting on the sidelines or being told "just block somebody". Better to play 7 on 7 flag and keep them interested in the game.
I wouldn't trade my playing experience for anything. I wasn't the best player but what the game taught me and gave me, is still giving me, is irreplaceable and without a doubt made me the man I am today. Well worth the injuries and long term effects to me.

I know when my wife ( at the time ) and I decided to have our first child back in the early 80's that if we had a son ( had a beautiful girl ) that I would not push him to play football,  and in fact, try to nudge him toward a more none contact sport ( if he decided to play sports )  because of what I have had to deal with, which has gotten worse as I get older. ( now 61 turn 62 in July ).  But if he really wanted to play, then of course I would help him any way I could.
I started playing football when I was 7 in Maryland and continued through high school at Richlands. I transferred here back in the mid 70's.  My parents were from Richlands and moved to Aberdeen Md in 58 after they got married for work but would get homesick every time we came back to visit family, anyway I digress, I also played baseball and had a couple of small injuries, but most of my issues have come from the sport I absolutely love........football.
I have had 3 knee surgeries, 1 ACL, 1 MCL and 1 to remove the meniscus from my right knee, I am now told that I will have to have a total knee replacement on my left knee.  I recently had a total shoulder replacement done to my right shoulder ( done by Dr Hommel in Bristol - highly recommend him ) because of 2 shoulder separations and 1 dislocation on my right shoulder, and I suffer from migraines and vision issues that the Dr's at UVA say are more than likely from the concussions I  "probably"  had from football.  I say probably because back in the days I played, ( and I am sure a lot of you old guys on here know about this } they were simply called "getting your bell rung " and you were very often told to "suck it up and get back in there"  which is what I wanted to do.  I don't blame my coaches because they did not have the info back then of course that they have now. 
Now let me say this,  I still would not change my years of playing football !  I learned so much about life and how to push myself and made some fantastic friends  because of football and still have a love for the sport,  but I do understand why some parents do not want their kids playing and maybe nudge them in a different direction or to flag football.  I also think that maybe flag football for the younger kids is a good idea. One of my knee injuries and I of my shoulder separations were during youth football.  I just would not want my son ( if I had one) to have to deal with the pain and surgeries and other issues that I have to deal with,  and will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
But I guess each parent has to make that decision for them selves.  But you know, saying all of that..........if I had do it over again, as I sit here and think about this,  I think I would still want to play !  God I loved being on that field with my teammates !
Sorry about the long post just wanted to give my perspective. 

I know when my wife ( at the time ) and I decided to have our first child back in the early 80's that if we had a son ( had a beautiful girl ) that I would not push him to play football,  and in fact, try to nudge him toward a more none contact sport ( if he decided to play sports )  because of what I have had to deal with, which has gotten worse as I get older. ( now 61 turn 62 in July ).  But if he really wanted to play, then of course I would help him any way I could.
I started playing football when I was 7 in Maryland and continued through high school at Richlands. I transferred here back in the mid 70's.  My parents were from Richlands and moved to Aberdeen Md in 58 after they got married for work but would get homesick every time we came back to visit family, anyway I digress, I also played baseball and had a couple of small injuries, but most of my issues have come from the sport I absolutely love........football.
I have had 3 knee surgeries, 1 ACL, 1 MCL and 1 to remove the meniscus from my right knee, I am now told that I will have to have a total knee replacement on my left knee.  I recently had a total shoulder replacement done to my right shoulder ( done by Dr Hommel in Bristol - highly recommend him ) because of 2 shoulder separations and 1 dislocation on my right shoulder, and I suffer from migraines and vision issues that the Dr's at UVA say are more than likely from the concussions I  "probably"  had from football.  I say probably because back in the days I played, ( and I am sure a lot of you old guys on here know about this } they were simply called "getting your bell rung " and you were very often told to "suck it up and get back in there"  which is what I wanted to do.  I don't blame my coaches because they did not have the info back then of course that they have now. 
Now let me say this,  I still would not change my years of playing football !  I learned so much about life and how to push myself and made some fantastic friends  because of football and still have a love for the sport,  but I do understand why some parents do not want their kids playing and maybe nudge them in a different direction or to flag football.  I also think that maybe flag football for the younger kids is a good idea. One of my knee injuries and I of my shoulder separations were during youth football.  I just would not want my son ( if I had one) to have to deal with the pain and surgeries and other issues that I have to deal with,  and will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
But I guess each parent has to make that decision for them selves.  But you know, saying all of that..........if I had do it over again, as I sit here and think about this,  I think I would still want to play !  God I loved being on that field with my teammates !
Sorry about the long post just wanted to give my perspective. 

I know when my wife ( at the time ) and I decided to have our first child back in the early 80's that if we had a son ( had a beautiful girl ) that I would not push him to play football,  and in fact, try to nudge him toward a more none contact sport ( if he decided to play sports )  because of what I have had to deal with, which has gotten worse as I get older. ( now 61 turn 62 in July ).  But if he really wanted to play, then of course I would help him any way I could.
I started playing football when I was 7 in Maryland and continued through high school at Richlands. I transferred here back in the mid 70's.  My parents were from Richlands and moved to Aberdeen Md in 58 after they got married for work but would get homesick every time we came back to visit family, anyway I digress, I also played baseball and had a couple of small injuries, but most of my issues have come from the sport I absolutely love........football.
I have had 3 knee surgeries, 1 ACL, 1 MCL and 1 to remove the meniscus from my right knee, I am now told that I will have to have a total knee replacement on my left knee.  I recently had a total shoulder replacement done to my right shoulder ( done by Dr Hommel in Bristol - highly recommend him ) because of 2 shoulder separations and 1 dislocation on my right shoulder, and I suffer from migraines and vision issues that the Dr's at UVA say are more than likely from the concussions I  "probably"  had from football.  I say probably because back in the days I played, ( and I am sure a lot of you old guys on here know about this } they were simply called "getting your bell rung " and you were very often told to "suck it up and get back in there"  which is what I wanted to do.  I don't blame my coaches because they did not have the info back then of course that they have now. 
Now let me say this,  I still would not change my years of playing football !  I learned so much about life and how to push myself and made some fantastic friends  because of football and still have a love for the sport,  but I do understand why some parents do not want their kids playing and maybe nudge them in a different direction or to flag football.  I also think that maybe flag football for the younger kids is a good idea. One of my knee injuries and I of my shoulder separations were during youth football.  I just would not want my son ( if I had one) to have to deal with the pain and surgeries and other issues that I have to deal with,  and will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
But I guess each parent has to make that decision for them selves.  But you know, saying all of that..........if I had do it over again, as I sit here and think about this,  I think I would still want to play !  God I loved being on that field with my teammates !
Sorry about the long post just wanted to give my perspective. 

I know when my wife ( at the time ) and I decided to have our first child back in the early 80's that if we had a son ( had a beautiful girl ) that I would not push him to play football,  and in fact, try to nudge him toward a more none contact sport ( if he decided to play sports )  because of what I have had to deal with, which has gotten worse as I get older. ( now 61 turn 62 in July ).  But if he really wanted to play, then of course I would help him any way I could.
I started playing football when I was 7 in Maryland and continued through high school at Richlands. I transferred here back in the mid 70's.  My parents were from Richlands and moved to Aberdeen Md in 58 after they got married for work but would get homesick every time we came back to visit family, anyway I digress, I also played baseball and had a couple of small injuries, but most of my issues have come from the sport I absolutely love........football.
I have had 3 knee surgeries, 1 ACL, 1 MCL and 1 to remove the meniscus from my right knee, I am now told that I will have to have a total knee replacement on my left knee.  I recently had a total shoulder replacement done to my right shoulder ( done by Dr Hommel in Bristol - highly recommend him ) because of 2 shoulder separations and 1 dislocation on my right shoulder, and I suffer from migraines and vision issues that the Dr's at UVA say are more than likely from the concussions I  "probably"  had from football.  I say probably because back in the days I played, ( and I am sure a lot of you old guys on here know about this } they were simply called "getting your bell rung " and you were very often told to "suck it up and get back in there"  which is what I wanted to do.  I don't blame my coaches because they did not have the info back then of course that they have now. 
Now let me say this,  I still would not change my years of playing football !  I learned so much about life and how to push myself and made some fantastic friends  because of football and still have a love for the sport,  but I do understand why some parents do not want their kids playing and maybe nudge them in a different direction or to flag football.  I also think that maybe flag football for the younger kids is a good idea. One of my knee injuries and I of my shoulder separations were during youth football.  I just would not want my son ( if I had one) to have to deal with the pain and surgeries and other issues that I have to deal with,  and will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
But I guess each parent has to make that decision for them selves.  But you know, saying all of that..........if I had do it over again, as I sit here and think about this,  I think I would still want to play !  God I loved being on that field with my teammates !
Sorry about the long post just wanted to give my perspective. 

I know when my wife ( at the time ) and I decided to have our first child back in the early 80's that if we had a son ( had a beautiful girl ) that I would not push him to play football,  and in fact, try to nudge him toward a more none contact sport ( if he decided to play sports )  because of what I have had to deal with, which has gotten worse as I get older. ( now 61 turn 62 in July ).  But if he really wanted to play, then of course I would help him any way I could.
I started playing football when I was 7 in Maryland and continued through high school at Richlands. I transferred here back in the mid 70's.  My parents were from Richlands and moved to Aberdeen Md in 58 after they got married for work but would get homesick every time we came back to visit family, anyway I digress, I also played baseball and had a couple of small injuries, but most of my issues have come from the sport I absolutely love........football.
I have had 3 knee surgeries, 1 ACL, 1 MCL and 1 to remove the meniscus from my right knee, I am now told that I will have to have a total knee replacement on my left knee.  I recently had a total shoulder replacement done to my right shoulder ( done by Dr Hommel in Bristol - highly recommend him ) because of 2 shoulder separations and 1 dislocation on my right shoulder, and I suffer from migraines and vision issues that the Dr's at UVA say are more than likely from the concussions I  "probably"  had from football.  I say probably because back in the days I played, ( and I am sure a lot of you old guys on here know about this } they were simply called "getting your bell rung " and you were very often told to "suck it up and get back in there"  which is what I wanted to do.  I don't blame my coaches because they did not have the info back then of course that they have now. 
Now let me say this,  I still would not change my years of playing football !  I learned so much about life and how to push myself and made some fantastic friends  because of football and still have a love for the sport,  but I do understand why some parents do not want their kids playing and maybe nudge them in a different direction or to flag football.  I also think that maybe flag football for the younger kids is a good idea. One of my knee injuries and I of my shoulder separations were during youth football.  I just would not want my son ( if I had one) to have to deal with the pain and surgeries and other issues that I have to deal with,  and will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
But I guess each parent has to make that decision for them selves.  But you know, saying all of that..........if I had do it over again, as I sit here and think about this,  I think I would still want to play !  God I loved being on that field with my teammates !
Sorry about the long post just wanted to give my perspective. 

I know when my wife ( at the time ) and I decided to have our first child back in the early 80's that if we had a son ( had a beautiful girl ) that I would not push him to play football,  and in fact, try to nudge him toward a more none contact sport ( if he decided to play sports )  because of what I have had to deal with, which has gotten worse as I get older. ( now 61 turn 62 in July ).  But if he really wanted to play, then of course I would help him any way I could.
I started playing football when I was 7 in Maryland and continued through high school at Richlands. I transferred here back in the mid 70's.  My parents were from Richlands and moved to Aberdeen Md in 58 after they got married for work but would get homesick every time we came back to visit family, anyway I digress, I also played baseball and had a couple of small injuries, but most of my issues have come from the sport I absolutely love........football.
I have had 3 knee surgeries, 1 ACL, 1 MCL and 1 to remove the meniscus from my right knee, I am now told that I will have to have a total knee replacement on my left knee.  I recently had a total shoulder replacement done to my right shoulder ( done by Dr Hommel in Bristol - highly recommend him ) because of 2 shoulder separations and 1 dislocation on my right shoulder, and I suffer from migraines and vision issues that the Dr's at UVA say are more than likely from the concussions I  "probably"  had from football.  I say probably because back in the days I played, ( and I am sure a lot of you old guys on here know about this } they were simply called "getting your bell rung " and you were very often told to "suck it up and get back in there"  which is what I wanted to do.  I don't blame my coaches because they did not have the info back then of course that they have now. 
Now let me say this,  I still would not change my years of playing football !  I learned so much about life and how to push myself and made some fantastic friends  because of football and still have a love for the sport,  but I do understand why some parents do not want their kids playing and maybe nudge them in a different direction or to flag football.  I also think that maybe flag football for the younger kids is a good idea. One of my knee injuries and I of my shoulder separations were during youth football.  I just would not want my son ( if I had one) to have to deal with the pain and surgeries and other issues that I have to deal with,  and will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
But I guess each parent has to make that decision for them selves.  But you know, saying all of that..........if I had do it over again, as I sit here and think about this,  I think I would still want to play !  God I loved being on that field with my teammates !
Sorry about the long post just wanted to give my perspective. 

I know when my wife ( at the time ) and I decided to have our first child back in the early 80's that if we had a son ( had a beautiful girl ) that I would not push him to play football,  and in fact, try to nudge him toward a more none contact sport ( if he decided to play sports )  because of what I have had to deal with, which has gotten worse as I get older. ( now 61 turn 62 in July ).  But if he really wanted to play, then of course I would help him any way I could.
I started playing football when I was 7 in Maryland and continued through high school at Richlands. I transferred here back in the mid 70's.  My parents were from Richlands and moved to Aberdeen Md in 58 after they got married for work but would get homesick every time we came back to visit family, anyway I digress, I also played baseball and had a couple of small injuries, but most of my issues have come from the sport I absolutely love........football.
I have had 3 knee surgeries, 1 ACL, 1 MCL and 1 to remove the meniscus from my right knee, I am now told that I will have to have a total knee replacement on my left knee.  I recently had a total shoulder replacement done to my right shoulder ( done by Dr Hommel in Bristol - highly recommend him ) because of 2 shoulder separations and 1 dislocation on my right shoulder, and I suffer from migraines and vision issues that the Dr's at UVA say are more than likely from the concussions I  "probably"  had from football.  I say probably because back in the days I played, ( and I am sure a lot of you old guys on here know about this } they were simply called "getting your bell rung " and you were very often told to "suck it up and get back in there"  which is what I wanted to do.  I don't blame my coaches because they did not have the info back then of course that they have now. 
Now let me say this,  I still would not change my years of playing football !  I learned so much about life and how to push myself and made some fantastic friends  because of football and still have a love for the sport,  but I do understand why some parents do not want their kids playing and maybe nudge them in a different direction or to flag football.  I also think that maybe flag football for the younger kids is a good idea. One of my knee injuries and I of my shoulder separations were during youth football.  I just would not want my son ( if I had one) to have to deal with the pain and surgeries and other issues that I have to deal with,  and will probably have to deal with for the rest of my life.
But I guess each parent has to make that decision for them selves.  But you know, saying all of that..........if I had do it over again, as I sit here and think about this,  I think I would still want to play !  God I loved being on that field with my teammates !
Sorry about the long post just wanted to give my perspective. 

Well my years as a "Raiders Football Dad" have come to an end. Kind of a big pill to swallow for sure!
My oldest son graduated in 2018 and finished his years as a Raider with a 54-3 record and accumulated three championship rings along the way.
My youngest son will graduate this year. He finished his years as a Raider with a 47-5 record (senior year only had 6 games) and accumulated three championship rings along the way.

As a Raider Dad over the past 6 years I've watched my boys be part of a program that has gone 77-5!! What a blessing!! Even more so than the record is the fact that they got to play under Coach Smith and his staff (Coach Stephan Castello serving as interim HC this year). They pushed these kids to be their best and spent countless hours preparing to help their teams be ready to compete. Coach Smith has gone well beyond football with the boys and for many of them (mine included) is a pillar for them to have faith in for the future.
During this time I've enjoy two trips to Big Stone Gap and had the privilege of witnessing an awesome OT game against Richlands in 2015. 

I have a park full of empty trailers ready to welcome in some new tenants!  

Coach Smith came over to the Richlands sideline after the quarterfinal up in Appo and applauded our fans and yelled at us telling us it was the most fun he had ever had at a high school game and thanked us for bringing so many to boost the atmosphere. 
 
Absolutely tired of them winning, but it’s hard to dislike their program. 😂😂

Really man? Just because you don’t agree with what Democrats think doesn’t give you the right to call those who do agree “dumbocrats.” This is what’s wrong with our country. If you don’t agree — we just insult the other side. All it’s doing is further diving our country. Conservatives deserve due respect. Democrats deserve due respect. Green Party members deserve due respect. Humans deserve due respect. 
 
You have a highly public job that our next generations look up to... help make the world a better place — not a more divisive one. 

Don't be ridiculous.  It's actually going to be the reconstructed DNA of Ernie Hicks.

I am so very proud of those young men,  coach Tater and the rest of the staff for the way they have handled this unfortunate situation !  I hope we can now find a more long term coach & staff for these young men !  They do deserve better !
I don't blame coach Wells for taking a move that will help him do what has always been his goal,  I just hate the way it all went down for these wonderful young men !

I like this new "translation" feature. 

I watched it, they represented their program, families, and community very well

Congratulations to both on a great game! I’m glad Richlands had a good showing after the events of the past 36 hours.

I’ve never been more proud of a group of kids. 
 
Short season. Covid regulations. Cancellations. Reschedules. They’ve been through hell for the last 2 weeks. They’ve been wished ill and torn in half in the public eye, and to come back from down 28-0 to take the lead and fall one yard short of a miracle win, I couldn’t be more proud. 
 
Thank you to coaches Tarter and Altizer for all they’ve done for our community over the years. 

My heart really goes out to the kids on the Richlands squad. A fact of life is that adversity will come. I hope these young men grow from this. None of this as any of their fault/has been anything that they could control. I love the Bears,but I love ALL of our kids here in SWVA,and want only the best for them (because we all know that living here puts us behind the 8 ball in other folk's eyes). Having said that I humbly ask that folks don't revel in the misery of young kids. To do shows a blatant lack of character.

Depending on their performance today I would think Tarter could be a good fit as a replacement if he wanted it that is. 

What a game Richlands played today.  Congrats to Coach Tarter and staff.  They made some excellent adjustments at the half.  I was overjoyed to see Cox run the ball.  He showed today he can pick up good yardage.  Like what Coach Tarter said he told Cox early today, "if you see green in front of you run."  Proud of the Blues today.  
Also, congrats to the Wolfpack!!!  It seemed like a playoff game you were watching.  Of course, Beavers has that "Richlands football DNA."  I was impressed with him today.  

Best wishes to Thad Wells.  I could never fault a coach for wanting to move on to bigger and better things, or climb up the ladder when an opportunity were to present itself.  Thad Wells would not have been offered the position if he were not successful in his past, and that past included hard work.  He told the principal at Richlands immediately when he decided to take the position and that's what you are supposed to do.  The decision for him to move on and not coach the Ridgeview game was the Principal's, not his.  Folks, we are talking about UVA here, not Wise.  This is a big deal.  Richlands folks should be incredibly happy for guy who is coaching at a FBS-BCS school.  That's an incredible opportunity and he would have to be a fool to turn that down.  He's going to quadruple his pay.  

Exactly! Maybe he doesn’t deserve all the trash talking he’s received the past 24 hours but it could have been partially curtailed if he would have held that letter until Monday. I’m sure UVA wouldn’t have minded if he showed up Monday afternoon rather than Sunday. He did himself no favors with the timing and Ringstaff/Stacey compounded the situation. Yeah, he looks like the bad guy but I wish him well and hope the Blue “Tornado” find a coach that’s a good fit for them who will stay more than one season to rebuild the program.  

Keep going strong boys. We are going to have 10 pages of trash talk on the game that never was.

Can somebody start Richlands vs Radford thread? I would but being a Graham fan it seems inappropriate, lol. 
We’re beating a dead horse here on this thread. But if you’re so inclined, beat on 😂