UMaine coaches, athletes, trainers quoted in BDN article on concussions
Several University of Maine student-athletes, coaches and athletic trainers were quoted in a Bangor Daily News article on treating concussions in college sports. UMaine’s athletic training staff, which cares for more than 400 student-athletes, focuses on education, prompt evaluation and cautious treatment when it comes to concussions, according to the article. “Medical disqualifications from concussions are on the rise across Division I athletics,” said UMaine head athletic trainer Ryan Taylor. “Unfortunately, it’s the cumulative effects (that are concerning).” Troy Reid-Knight, a member of UMaine’s basketball team, has had seven concussions since his arrival in 2013, the article states. “There’s certain days I feel like, why am I continuing to fight? Then there’s other days that I think, I love this sport and I love being part of the team, so why not fight for it?” Reid-Knight said. Former UMaine football head coach Jack Cosgrove, who is now a senior associate director of athletics, has dealt with concussions both as an athlete and as a coach, the article states. “It’s a lot different, only because there’s information now. We had no information,” Cosgrove said of his experience suffering from concussions in the 1970s.