Leading off today: Although the use of Guardian Caps has grown considerably in the face of concerns around chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a recent Yahoo Sports report revisits concerns about the effectiveness of the foam-padded helmet coverings in protecting players.
Some quick background: More than 25% of former NFL players examined following their deaths from 2016-21 had CTE, according to a recent study in the British Medical Journal. Meanwhile, the NFL has touted Guardian Caps as a breakthrough since 2022, citing lab tests showing the device cushions the impact of hits to the head by at least 9%. The league also points to a sharp reduction in concussions incurred during practices.
According to the Yahoo report, some independent neurologists and neuroscientists continue to contend Guardian Caps give athletes a false sense of security without meaningfully reducing the risk of CTE. That's at odds with a 2024 finding by researchers at Virginia Tech's helmet-testing laboratory that the Guardian Cap's NXT model resulted in an 8% decline in linear accelerations and a 14% decline in rotational accelerations.
Concerns have returned at the youth and high school levels because the NXT model worn by NFL and Division I college players differs from the lighter-weight XT model that is widely marketed for up to $89.99.
"The jury is out on whether the Guardian Cap is helping NFL players," said Chris Nowinski, co-founder of Boston University's renowned CTE Center. "We have no reason to believe it's helping high school and college players."
The Sept. 22 Yahoo story is a lengthy read if you want more details.
Heavyweights set to show up at McQuaid Invitational
The McQuaid Invitational is shaping up to be a bit smaller than usual, but Saturday's cross country meet remains massive in quantity and quality.
Without even considering the out-of-state and Canadian entries that add to the depth, the fields for the Premier races carrying the name of Section 5 coaching legend Bob Bradley assure phenomenal times on the flat and fast Genesee Valley Park course with the temperature expected to peak only in the high 50s.
The boys field includes a chunk of Milesplit's New York top 10: No. 1 East Aurora, No. 2 Saratoga Springs, No. 3 Guilderland, No. 8 Pittsford Sutherland, No. 9 Baldwinsville, and No. 10 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
It's not unreasonable to speculate that if East Aurora pulls off a victory against that deep field, then the NYSPHSAA Class C championship next month will have already been decided for all practical purposes.
The girls side looks like a Section 2 invitational with one other team with a Milesplit top-10 ranking mixed in for good measure: No. 2 Guilderland, No. 3 Saratoga Springs, No. 4 Shenendehowa, No. 8 Voorheesville, and No. 9 Fayetteville-Manlius. All that's missing is No. 1 Bethlehem.
For what its worth, I think this will be the first time this century that Saratoga Springs and Fayetteville-Manlius, two traditional powers, are both showing up with their 'A' varsities.
Another Syracuse CSD coach is on leave
Henninger girls basketball coach Ben Kochan is on paid administrative leave, a Syracuse City School District spokesperson confirmed to
Syracuse.com.
The district's Amanda Malinowski declined to cite a reason for placing Kochan on non-disciplinary administrative leave on Aug. 6, but she said the district has notified the Syracuse Police Department.
Kochan, who began his second stint as the school's coach in 2019, did not respond to inquires by the website.
A police spokesman said the department had not received any reports relating to Kochan as of Wednesday afternoon, and the Onondaga County District Attorney's office also had not been contacted by anyone regarding any possible allegations.
The district has appointed Justin Smorol as Henninger's coach for the upcoming season.
Earlier this week, the website reported that Nottingham football coach Will Hunter has been on administrative leave since Sept. 22.
Labor pains in Rochester
The sports schedule for Rochester City School District teams could be disrupted in the coming days as the union representing security workers at high school games is upset over slow payments for more than 50 staffers.
Union president Angelo Palmerini told WROC-TV that workers have not been paid for September assignments. Palmerini said payments should be part of the biweekly payroll run, but the district is telling them to wait for their money until mid-October.
"We were told they would be paid on Oct. 16 and we said that was not acceptable," he said. "They should be paid within that payroll period, so we're (only) on a two-week lag.
The school district did not respond to a request for comment. It's unclear if the non-payment issue is related to substantial problems RCSD had last school year in making correct payments and deductions district-wide while being unable to figure out new Oracle software.
In a Facebook post this week, the union encouraged those who haven't been paid to skip upcoming events, including Friday night's football games.
