One guy blamed larger, bigger stronger players, state of the art training facilities, strength coaches and better conditioned players. That made sense. Another talked about safer and better helmets. It came around to me for an answer.
"TV, I blame TV, and the fans. Watch highlight reels, all about the "hits" they highlight the violence. Ohio State has an award for the best "hit" ...... The Tatum Award, they award the biggest and best hit. Not the best tackle or the best catch, the most violent hit.
There is one highlight reel on TV that is nothing but violent hits. I don't think they teach tackling anymore, just hard hitting. The art of tackling is a thing of the past. The crowds go wild over a hard hit, they love to see a player in agony on the ground ..... until the body is lifeless, then the crowd quiets down.
The first one I remember was Darryl Stingley, hit by, not tackled, hit by Jack Tatum. He was the first that I recall, just hitting, trying to injure or put out of the game. When he left Ohio State he went with the Oakland Raiders who specialized in hard hits.
TV loved the hits, they replayed the hits, over and over, they made the "highlight" reels.
When did you last hear of a player making a nice "tackle"?
There is some responsibility also to equipment, helmets are designed to absorb more shock, so instead of being protective, they are now used as battering rams."Hell, man, I can run into a wall, head first, with this thing (helmet), and not feel a thing, man."
I say blame TV, and the crowds, like the spectators in the old Colosseum, "Kill the Christians." Blood and hard hits sell advertising, no one wants to watch a "touch" football game.
