Former NFL players Jim Molinaro (L) and Ethan Albright (R) were the guest
speakers during the New Bridge Invitational luncheon held at the Milton
Rhodes Center.
Photos by Tevin Stin son
Football coaches, cheerleading coaches, and athletic directors from around the
state gathered at the Milton Rhodes Center for the New Bridge Invitational
Luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
Former NFL players speak on
concussion prevention
Matthew Gfellar Foundation
spreads concussion aware
ness during annual luncheon
BY TEVIN ST1NSON
THE CHRONICLE
With the start of the 2015 football sea
son right around the corner, most head
football coaches don't have much time for
anything, but on Wednesday, Aug. 12,
coaches from around the state met to dis
cuss concussions and football safety dur
ing a luncheon for the New Bridge Bank
Invitational.
This year's luncheon was presented by
the Matthew Gfellar Foundation, which
was named after a student athlete who died
after suffering a concussion during a high
school game in 2008.
Matthew's father. Bob Gfellar, spoke
during the opening of the luncheon and
talked about the foundation's dedication to
spreading awareness of concussion pre
vention.
"We are really happy to be here to help
bring awareness to a major problem in
high school football," said Gfellar.
"Although Matthew is no longer with us,
through this foundation he will leave one
forever."
During the luncheon, former NFL
players Jim Molinaro and Ethan Albright
were joined by certified athletic trainers in
an open discussion on football safety, con
cussion protocol and prevention.
Ethan Albright, who played over 10
years in the NFL, said when he was grow
ing up nobody was really thinking about
concussions or injuries. He said when he
played, many athletes didn't even report
their injuries to trainers or coaches out of
fear of being labeled as weak.
"Football has really changed over the
years, and I think that is a good thing," said
Albright. "Back when I was in high
school, we barely took water breaks
because getting water was a sign of weak
ness. I'm glad the coaches and student-ath
letes have educated themselves on making
the game safe."
Jim Molinaro, who played four years
in the NFL with the Washington Redskins
and Dallas Cowboys, also talked about the
improvements in football safety.
"Football is a contact sport that can be
very dangerous," said Molinaro. "There
will always be some danger in playing
such a violent contact sport, but with the
improvements in technology over the
years, I think the game of football is
becoming safer every year.
Over the past decade football safety
has come a long way, according to a article
on ESPN.com last season concussions
were down 25%.
Zachary Smith, a licensed athletic
trainer, believes concussion prevention on
the high school level still has a long way to
go
"I agree football is a much safer sport
than it was a decade ago on all levels, from
Pop Warner to the NFL, but I think we still
don't have enough funds to fully protect
the athletes playing high school football."
According to Smith, a number of pro
fessional and college programs have tech
nology that will notify trainers when a
player has suffered a concussion or head
injury. The technology will allow trainers
to get those players out of the gtaie or
practice before it becomes any worse.
"It would be great to have that type of
technology at every high school, but finan
cially that is not possible, so it is up to the
coaches and training staff to monitor the
athletes and know the signs of someone
who is suffering from a concussion."
For more information on the Matthew
Gfellar Foundation visit
wwwmatthewgfellerfoundation .org.
Randy Butt Joins WSSU Athletics Staff
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Winston-Salem State University
Department of Athletics is pleased to
announce that Randy Butt has joined the
department as associate athletics director
for business & finance.
Butt, who has extensive experience in
the financial aspect of college athletics,
comes to WSSU from Radford university.
the requirements of NCAA Regional
Tournament host sites.
Another addition was unveiled in the
spring of 2014 as Radford softball entered
a new home featuring state-of-the-art
dugouts, a press box and chairback stadi
um seating.
Butt joined Radford from Virginia
Tech, where he spent 21 years working in
the Hokies' accounting office. Since 1994
hp has hppn in rharcre of
the Athletic Business
Office, first as the
Business Manager.
In 1998, he was pro
moted to the Director of
Financial Affairs and
then in 2000, he was
named Assistant
Athletics Director for
Financial Affairs. He was
again elevated in 2003 to
Associate Athletics
Director for Financial
Affairs.
Butt began his career
at Virginia Tech in 1986 as a Fiscal
Technician following three years as an
accountant with Woody Distributors and
the Kroger supermarket chain.
"I thank our Lord for opening this door
for me and my family, and also thank
Virginia Tech for helping to guide my
career in athletics administration," Butt
added.
A graduate of nearby Eastern
Montgomery High School (formerly
Shawsville High School), Butt received
his Bachelor's Degree in Business
Administration from the National
Business College in Roanoke, Virginia. He
has a Master's Degree in Health and
Physical Education from Virginia Tech.
Butt is married to the former Debi
Shutters (Radford University class of
1990) and has three daughters: Mallory,
Casey and Lianna.
where he was responsible for all financial
operations, and created a fiscally responsi
ble monitoring and reporting structure for
Radford Athletics.
In addition, he oversaw the internal
day-to-day operations of the athletics
department, including facilities, finance,
human resources and event management.
Butt was instrumental in enhancing
existing and creating new revenue streams
.to boost the financial stability of the athlet
ics department at Radford.
; Radford's athletics facilities reaped the
benefits of Butt's financial expertise. In
April 2011, Radford baseball played for
the first time in its brand-new stadium,
which was the department's first capital
project funded entirely through private
donations made to Radford Athletics. For
the first time ever, the Highlanders had the
capability to host night games. The stadi
um features lighting standards that meet
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