{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://pascrell.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/rep-pascrell-urges-ncaa-to-implement-concussion-guidelines-penalties", "Rep. Pascrell Urges NCAA to Implement Concussion Guidelines, Penalties", "2014-11-12", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bill Pascrell", "P000096", "pascrell.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, urged the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to implement mandatory concussion management guidelines for players and to assess penalties for violations of those guidelines.\u00a0 In September, Rep. Pascrell urged Big Ten Conference Commissioner Jim Delany to investigate the circumstances surrounding the University of Michigan\u2019s mishandling of a player\u2019s head injury.\n\u201cI am writing to encourage you to address the NCAA\u2019s inadequate approach toward traumatic brain injury,\u201d Pascrell wrote in a letter to NCAA President Mark Emmert.\u00a0 \u201cThe NCAA\u2019s rules govern a wide array of coach, team, school, and player behavior, and the NCAA generally associates penalties with the violation of its rules. I think we can both agree that if the NCAA has rules and penalties governing the size of the envelopes permitted to be sent to recruits, it should have mandatory protocols and penalties for handling something as serious as head injuries.\u201d\nThe full text of the letter follows:\nNovember 12, 2014\nMr. Mark Emmert  \n\tPresident  \n\tNational Collegiate Athletic Association  \n\t700 W. Washington Street  \n\tP.O. Box 6222  \n\tIndianapolis, Indiana 46206\nDear Mr. Emmert,\nI am writing to encourage you to address the National Collegiate Athletic Association\u2019s (NCAA) inadequate approach toward traumatic brain injury (TBI). As the co-founder and co-chair of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, I urge you to implement strong, mandatory concussion management guidelines for your member organizations in light of what modern medicine has taught us about head injuries. Additionally, I ask you to assess penalties for violations of those guidelines.\nIn the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, which works to increase awareness of brain injury in the United States, supports research initiatives for rehabilitation and potential cures, and strives to address the effects such injuries have on families, children, education, and the workforce.\nAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related TBIs are estimated to occur in the United States each year, ranging from relatively mild concussions to fatal head injuries. Though symptoms may appear minor, the injury can have life-long effects on an individual\u2019s memory, behavior, learning, and/or emotions.\nThe threat was on full display during the University of Michigan\u2019s (Michigan) game against the University of Minnesota. After Michigan quarterback Shane Morris sustained a brutal hit from a Minnesota player, he struggled to stand up, appeared groggy, and almost collapsed into one of his teammate\u2019s arms. Despite exhibiting tell-tale signs of a concussion, Morris was kept in the game for one play, and then hobbled off the field. He later re-entered the game for a short period before leaving the field. While this incident gained a significant amount of attention, it is by no means the first time proper concussion protocol was not followed. Inadequate responses to head injuries span multiple sports.\nAfter the incident at Michigan, I wrote a letter to Big 10 Conference Commissioner Jim Delany and asked him to assess penalties for the violation of the Big 10\u2019s concussion protocol. In his response to me, Commissioner Delany declined to address that request. If individual conferences are not going to monitor and penalize concussion management protocol violations, the NCAA must step in and assume that responsibility.\nEarlier this year, your organization struck a tentative agreement with a group of former players who filed suit against the organization for medical problems stemming from concussions sustained during their college football careers. Under the terms of the settlement, none of the funds will be used for players\u2019 medical costs. However, in the future, NCAA schools would have to follow certain procedures when their players suffer head trauma. Let me be clear, in order for any concussion protocols you are considering adopting in order to comply with this settlement to be effective, there must be penalties associated with the violation of them.\nThe NCAA\u2019s rules govern a wide array of coach, team, school, and player behavior, and the NCAA generally associates penalties with the violation of its rules. For example:\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0On February 1, 2012, two Oklahoma University assistant coaches sent congratulatory text messages to two student athletes who signed with Oklahoma in violation in NCAA rules. The NCAA issued penalties in both instances  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0On July 19, 2012, an Oklahoma University assistant coach accidentally \u201cpocket-dialed\u201d a recruit a day after receiving a permissible text message from the recruit. The NCAA issued a penalty for this infraction.  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0In the fall of 2013, the father of a University of Oregon football recruit realized he\u2019d forgotten his shaving cream and razor at home while on an official visit. When a member of Oregon's game day staff learned of the forgotten toiletries, the employee bought a replacement set from a local store. The NCAA issued a penalty for this infraction.  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0On March 6 and 7, 2014, an Auburn University coach provided tickets to two postseason athletics events totaling $28 to a high school coach, who is also an alum and booster. The NCAA issued a penalty for this infraction.  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Between January 1, 2013 and March 21, 2014, when sending potential recruits information, the West Virginia University women\u2019s basketball sent it in envelopes measuring 10 inches wide and 13 inches tall. NCAA rules require that envelopes be 9 inches wide and 12 inches tall. The NCAA issued a penalty for this infraction.  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0During the 2013-2014 school year, Florida State sent recruits correspondence on stationary that included \u201ccolor, graphics, and other non-text items\u201d on two sides of the stationary, in violation of the NCAA\u2019s rule that these items only appear on one-side of the stationary. The NCAA issued a penalty for this infraction.\nI think we can both agree that if the NCAA has rules and penalties governing the size of the envelopes permitted to be sent to recruits, it should have mandatory protocols and penalties for handling something as serious as head injuries.\nI strongly urge you to take action to adequately address TBI in your organization. We witness the immediate effects of head injuries when they occur, but the long-term implications are rarely broadcast on national television. I encourage the NCAA to set a positive example for young fans who aim to emulate their favorite players. If young fans see college athletes and universities treat head injuries with such little regard, they too will by example not treat head injuries with the gravity they deserve. Every concussion is brain damage and must be diagnosed and treated by appropriate medical personnel, who prioritize players\u2019 health, safety, and well-being.\nThank you in advance for your attention to this matter, and I look forward to your response regarding NCAA\u2019s consideration of and implementation of policies that prioritize player safety in the event of a brain injury. Please feel free to contact Alyssa Penna in my office at Alyssa.Penna@mail.house.gov or (202)225-5751.\nSincerely,\nBill Pascrell, Jr.  \n\tMember of Congress\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://pascrell.house.gov//media-center/press-releases/rep-pascrell-urges-ncaa-to-implement-concussion-guidelines-penalties"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.454644137993455, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}