BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – With the regular season complete and post-season accolades continuing to file in, the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference announced its All-Academic Team on Tuesday with defensive back Tim Coutras standing as Tennessee Tech's representative on the roster Each institution nominated one individual – with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average – for inclusion for the All-Academic Team To be considered for Scholar-Athlete of the Year which was voted on by the combined conferences' football communications contacts the nominees had to have at least a 3.30 GPA currently in his first semester pursuing his master's degree in business administration put up spectacular numbers on defense this season He finished third on the team in overall tackles with 59 Coutras also had three tackles-for-loss for 12 yards and two forced fumbles He intercepted three passes for 30 yards and had eight pass breakups The Nolensville native was a selection last week to the All-Big South/Ohio Valley Conference first team roster Joining Coutras on the All-Academic Team were: a finalist for the Stats Perform FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was named the winner of the Big South-OVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor He passed for 4,087 yards and 33 touchdowns while rushing for three other scores this season We use cookies to ensure you have the best browsing experience on our website. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy & Terms of Service – As the Tennessee Tech football team locks horns with the UT Martin Skyhawks on Saturday The Golden Eagles are very much in the hunt for the Big South-Ohio Valley Conference Football Association championship and the annual battle for the Sergeant York Trophy is at a fever pitch For Tennessee Tech's Tim Coutras the battle for the Sergeant York Trophy cuts a little closer to home Coutras is the eponymous war hero's great-nephew Tennessee students have studied York's exploits in World War I for over a century as the Pall Mall native was one of the most decorated American soldiers of that conflict As a corporal in the 2nd battalion in the 328th Infantry York earned the Congressional Medal of Honor as he led an attack with sixteen other soldiers on a German machine gun nest capturing 132 prisoners during the Battle of the Meuse River-Argonne on Oct under the command of Sergeant Bernard Early then German small arms fire killed six Americans and wounded three others As Early's group returned fire at the German troops York took another group and attacked the machine gun position A German officer overseeing the machine gun Imperial German Army First Lieutenant Paul Jurgen Vollmer offered in English to surrender and York – a devout Christian in the Church of Christ denomination and a conscientious objector – accepted the officer's request York and his men brought the 132 prisoners back to their unit's command post Brigadier General Julian Robert Lindsey remarked: "Well I hear you have captured the whole German army.' York was promoted to the rank of sergeant and received the Distinguished Service Cross the Croce di Guerra of Italy and the War Medal of Montenegro among 50 decorations He received the Medal of Honor after returning stateside in 1919 The citation reads: "After his platoon suffered heavy casualties and three other noncommissioned officers had become casualties a machine gun nest which was pouring deadly and incessant fire upon his platoon together with four officers and 128 men and several guns." During the 1919 investigation that led to the Medal of Honor "A higher power than man guided and watched over me and told me what to do." York's story was immortalized in the 1941 Warner Bros film "Sergeant York" with Gary Cooper in the title role York put his efforts into various charitable and civic causes York campaigned the state to build a highway through the mountains to aid his region York Foundation to expand educational opportunities in the state which helped to lead to the founding of Jamestown's York Agricultural Institute – and the school stands to this day York also oversaw the creation of Cumberland Mountain State Park's Byrd Lake His farm in Pall Mall was preserved by the state as it became the Sgt The Veterans hospital in Murfreesboro also bears his name along with several other governmental buildings who is in his second season with the Golden Eagles and has been a standout on defense had a tremendous career at Nolensville High School where he was the 2019 Tennessee Titans/TSSAA Class 4A Mr Football winner and was named the Football Player of the Year by The Tennessean he collected 55 tackles – 24 solo and 31 assisted – with 4.5 for-loss while also leading the team with four interceptions He had a season-high nine tackles against UT Martin last season Coutras was a first-team All-Big South/OVC selection Coutras has 47 tackles so far this year with two games remaining with 38 solo and nine assisted He also has three interceptions with picks at Gardner-Webb and Southeast Missouri with one at home against Charleston Southern the significance of his heritage isn't lost to Coutras and with the deciding game for the Sergeant York Trophy coming up Saturday it's an added incentive to make sure the Golden Eagles win the day and bring Sergeant York's likeness back to his home area "Playing for the Sergeant York Trophy means a lot to me not only because he is family," Coutras said "but because it would be big for the community and our University To be able to win that trophy would be big for a program as well 2024 marks the 18th season of competition for the Sergeant York Trophy The Golden Eagles have officially owned shares of the trophy four times but actually possessed the trophy just twice with the 2009 season and the Spring season of 2020-21 The Nashville Sports Council and the Ohio Valley Conference started the trophy in 2007 as a round-robin between the then-four Tennessee schools in the league Austin Peay dropped out of the trophy's contest following the 2021 campaign Tech and Tennessee State with the Skyhawks and the Golden Eagles both 1-0 coming into Saturday's contest It's a special award because it is only the second traveling trophy that involves more than two teams in college sports – the other is the Commander in Chief's Trophy between Air Force but like the trophy's namesake and the insurmountable odds he faced over a century ago Kickoff on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m Roger Ealey and Dylan Vazzano will have the call on 106.1 The Eagle while the game will also be broadcast on ESPN+ (subscription required) Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application and spent his formative years traveling the globe as a military child attending elementary school in Germany and high school in Italy This unique upbringing enriched his worldview and instilled in him a love for travel that would stay with him throughout his life Ray proudly served as the Owner and Operator of Burnswick Construction Company specializing in commercial and residential construction throughout Williamson County and its surrounding areas leaving a legacy of integrity and hard work to his son He was a self-taught master mechanic who relished the challenge of restoring cars and building race cars enjoying a good read that allowed him to further delve into the past He relished the moments spent with family and close friends as well as the time he dedicated to working in his shop He is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years Paul (Kerry) Arnold; and his mother-in-law Ray also leaves behind a cherished family of brothers & sisters in-law Catrina (Terry) Bartley; nieces and nephews Anna-Claire Harrison and Eli Coutras; aunt Rita Lake and many other loving cousins and family members A Celebration of Life will be held 2:00PM Sunday 2025 with visitation one hour prior to the service at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Disease Research Ray will be remembered as a man whose zest for life and dedication to his craft left an indelible mark on all who knew him Williamson Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text Click to watch This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors School of Computing News and Announcements Faculty and students of Computer Science Department held a fantastic hands-on workshop at Buzz Aldrin Middle School Posted in: Robotics On the 16th of March, the MSU Robotics Club orchestrated a workshop Lighting the First Light of Your Robotics World by Arduino at the Buzz Aldrin Middle School where students were introduced to robotics components such as Arduino microcontrollers and sensors through hands-on activities The workshop was hosted by the Robotics Club President Omar Obidat and supported by executive board members Jesse Parron, Laury Rodríguez, Abeeha Rehman as well as their Advisor Dr. Weitian Wang and Computer Science Department Chairperson Dr. Constantine Coutras The club was invited by the STEM Coordinator at Montclair Board of Education Daniel Taylor who became acquainted with MSU Robotics Club after being introduced by CSAM Dean’s Office The workshop commenced with opening remarks from Obidat and Dr Coutras where they expressed their excitement about developing new STEM outreach programs between Montclair State University and the local community Students were handed a robotics programming kit containing an ultrasonic sensor and two LED lights connected to an Arduino board The goal was to light up certain colored LEDs using a moving object in the range of sensors Every student was also provided with a workshop activity sheet The e-board members explained each line of code and then allowed the students the opportunity to tweak certain parameters to see how it affected their projects Their customizations included changing the range of distance The students were also responsible for filling out a questionnaire packet throughout the event each e-board member was responsible for five students to ensure they understood the concepts being taught as well as answer any questions they may have This workshop was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant CNS-2104742 and Grant CMMI-2138351 The success of this workshop indicates that a new STEM education bridge was built from Montclair State University to local schools It also establishes a healthy academic environment where university students and K-12 students are able to collaboratively work on tangible STEM projects and brainstorm new ideas which will highly nurture and boost their scientific creativity Montclair State University Policies Return to Top Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” mirrors real-life battles with addiction recovery and the healing power of narrative medicine Katie Arvia is a digital content specialist at the AOA Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” is one of the best-selling books of all time the struggle against darkness is as much an internal battle as it is an epic quest At OMED24 explored how the forces that ensnare characters in Tolkien’s work mirror the real-world grip of addiction By bridging the worlds of Middle-earth and modern medicine they offered attendees a fresh perspective on how fantasy literature can inspire healing among patients suffering from substance use disorders Berry is an addiction psychologist with over 22 years of experience in addiction treatment and a professor and chair of the department of behavioral medicine and psychiatry at West Virginia University (WVU) Terris is an adjunct professor at WVU and is an international expert on Tolkien The presentation emphasized the transformative power of storytelling in medicine Berry explained that stories like Tolkien’s allow individuals to relate their personal struggles to larger narratives helping them to contextualize suffering and envision a hopeful future “[There’s huge value] of story in various medias books [or] poems in helping people appreciate the conditions they are in … and also to have a vision for the future get through suffering and bring meaning to their lives,” Dr For physicians, exploring literature with a narrative medicine lens can deepen empathy and understanding fostering a healing connection between health care professionals and patients Tolkien’s own experiences as a World War I veteran who fought in the trenches provided him with a profound understanding of trauma Within “The Lord of the Rings,” the One Ring symbolizes the grip of addiction: Something that isolates drives people to act against their own values and instincts fostering isolation and damaging relationships Coutras used in-depth textual examples to delve into Tolkien’s insight into the interplay of body and spirit noting that addiction fundamentally undermines community as it drives individuals into isolation and away from meaningful connections as seen through fictional characters Gollum and Frodo “We see addiction portrayed all throughout [Tolkien’s] stories not just ‘The Lord of the Rings,’” explained Dr addiction is both a spiritual temptation as well as a physiological or psychological disorder.” While addiction can feel all-encompassing for both patients and clinicians alike Berry and Coutras reminded attendees that choice remains a powerful element individuals have the capacity to choose a path toward recovery especially when supported by hope and a compassionate community Berry encouraged health care professionals to foster empathy and recognize the vulnerabilities that all humans share This full presentation and many more are available on the OMED24 On-Demand platform Registrants can also access additional virtual educational content from 20 medical specialties through Dec Understanding the connection between ADHD and substance use disorder Olympic water polo team physician shares insights on taking care of elite athletes the May 12 webinar will feature thought leaders’ insights and guidance on the evolving use of AI in medicine This award aims to recognize individual and organizational contributions to DEI initiatives in the osteopathic community Is there any way to obtain access to this if you are not an OMED24 participant I’m a fan of Lisa Coutras’s work on Tolkien and I’d love to hear what she had to say about this you must be registered for OMED to be able to view the sessions; these will be available through the platform through December 31st Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Allergy is an over-reaction of the body’s immune system to a foreign substance (e.g. The reaction usually causes symptoms in a specific part of the body Perhaps the most familiar reactions are in the nose (hay fever) and airway (asthma) Our Allergy experts come from varying departments with a wide range of expertise Still not sure which provider is the best for you Our scheduling line is available 24/7 at 855-WVU-CARE and let one of our schedulers help get you the most convenient location and the best provider to meet your needs Nick Coutras walked up to the stage on crutches Monday afternoon A torn ACL during the first quarter of Nolensville's Class 4A semifinal loss to Elizabethton was the beginning of a difficult weekend for the Knights' two-way football star becoming the school's first Tennessee Titans Class 4A Mr was one of three Nashville area high school players who received Mr All three were the first recipients from their school my whole focus was on Elizabethton," said Coutras who is the grandson of former John Overton football coach Nick Coutras I didn't think I still had the knee injury." The pain in his knee served as a wake up call that the injury was indeed real Coutras had 52 catches for 1,005 receiving yards and 18 total touchdowns He had 56 tackles and eight interceptions on defense Coutras joined Stratford running back James Moore and Middle Tennessee Christian School running back Kemari McGowan as Mr Moore won the Class 3A award while McGowan was the Division II-A winner "I've been working so hard for this," said Moore who finished with 2,381 rushing yards on 287 carries and had 35 total touchdowns I was wondering if I was going to bring this home to Stratford or not." McGowan finished his season with 2,369 rushing yards on 202 carries He moved to quarterback late in the year after the Cougars' starting quarterback got mononucleosis "I feel like I accomplished everything I wanted to," McGowan said I wouldn't be here and get this without them." Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Texas – If you break down every successful college football program and an essential team of workers behind the scenes An even deeper look reveals the hard work and dedication of the equipment managers they put in more hours than the actual players do was sitting at the dinner table with a hot plate of turkey But the equipment managers had some unfinished business to attend to: pack up the team for Lawrence They say it takes a village to raise a child it takes an army to travel a Division I football program The managers loaded thousands of pounds of equipment into a semi-truck to be driven 512 miles north “There’s 18 of us and it takes all 18 to put on this production,” said director of equipment Brian Coutras The student managers know a thing or two about commitment “The hours are long,” said third-year student manager Michael Barzarevitsch “Sometimes I go to class and then work right after So I spend more time with the team than I do with my roommates.” they develop key relationships with players and coaches who’s been with the program for three years has hopes of one day becoming a college head coach So this job is the perfect way to experience everything firsthand and learn how the sausage is made “If it did come down to it and I was lucky enough to be a head coach I’d be able to recognize all the moving parts and how they can all impact each other,” said Trice that’s something you might not be able to understand unless you were in my position." What is well understood as everyone’s favorite part is bowl season That is the golden carrot that dangles in front of you,” said Coutras “It’s something you are constantly chasing." “Sophomore year going to the Alamo Bowl has been one of my best memories,” said fifth-year student manager Jackson Murray So there are a lot of those inside jokes that you make during those times because you’ve been together for so long.” After this year’s win over the Texas Longhorns head coach Gary Patterson recognized their efforts during this unpredictable pandemic season with a game ball “It makes you feel good that he recognized us He’s got a lot of things going through his mind But for him to recognize the strength staff the sports medicine staff and the equipment staff It was a special moment for an essential part of the team You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Introducing The Center For Computing And Information ScienceMallory Hall transformed into a technologically advanced research and instructional facility ’85 MA and University board member Francis Cuss join Susan A Lora Billings and Constantine Coutras at the opening When it was dedicated in 1963 to honor former Montclair State Mathematics Professor Virgil Mallory Mallory Hall was a modern educational facility with what was then considered state-of-the-art classrooms More than half a century and a complete renovation later the 34,400-square-foot Mallory Hall has been transformed into the 43,800-square-foot cutting-edge Center for Computing and Information Science the new $22.2 million facility – like the other bond-funded projects such as Partridge Hall the Center for Environmental and Life Sciences and the Feliciano School of Business building – supports Montclair State’s mission as a Carnegie-designated research doctoral university and state-designated public research institution “The new Center will allow New Jersey’s second-largest university to sustain and grow high-quality high-demand science programs that are directly aligned with the state’s and our students’ needs,” says Lora Billings the new dean of the College of Science and Mathematics Classrooms and labs in the Center for Computing and Information Science include specialized research labs and instructional spaces for areas such as cybersecurity human-computer interaction and computational sensing The University’s strategic technology partner Sony Electronics has delivered a unique mix of classroom technologies active learning solutions and state-of-the-art professional equipment – such as laser projectors; 55- and 85-inch displays; robotic pan/tilt/zoom cameras in collaborative spaces; and wireless microphone systems – to the high-tech center Department of Computer Science Chair Constantine Coutras is especially looking forward to the Center’s significantly expanded research spaces “We’ll be able to offer new graduate degrees including an MS in Cybersecurity and an MS in Data Science.” Another standout feature is the reconstructed and expanded skywalk that connects the Center to neighboring Schmitt Hall “These common areas encourage increased communication within and across different disciplines six former Overton football teammates sat on the bleachers at Nick Coutras Stadium telling old stories of the last undefeated season played by a Nashville Metro public school "It's humbling to write that number down," said former Overton defensive tackle Tim Brown but I'm still grateful; I'm still proud about it and I still brag about it." All six vividly remember the 1981 season — from the mile run that opened open the season to the 3-0 win over Rhea County in the 1981 Class 3A state championship It completed a 14-0 season and marks the last title by a Nashville Metro team at the state's largest classification which was coached by the stadium's namesake will be honored at halftime in Friday night's home game with Lipscomb Academy "It's kind of like the (1972 Miami) Dolphins," said Mark Morrison who kicked the game-winning field goal in the championship game "They kind of celebrate when everyone gets beat and doesn't go undefeated but maybe we need to do that — crack champagne." Overton's championship came in an era where all schools — public and private — played in three classifications the Bobcats competed with neighborhood rival Father Ryan and Montgomery Bell Academy Overton was picked to finish third in its district in 1981 after going 6-4 a year earlier "We had MBA and Father Ryan in our district." It was the best team coached by Coutras in his coaching career "He taught us always to be prepared," said Chris Coutras Chris Coutras was a junior cornerback and quarterback on the '81 team Overton's road to the state championship began under the hot sun where it was required that all run a mile under a predetermined time "A lot of us would meet and run for time (prior to the season)," Brown said "We held each other accountable to show up in shape That was the foundation that led to the state championship." The season began with a 17-0 win over Whites Creek and set the tone The Bobcats defense gave up eight or fewer points in all but one game — a 28-26 win over Father Ryan in front of more than 10,000 fans Overton warmed up in red jerseys and black pants But when the Bobcats came into the locker room Nick Coutras pulled out a box of black jerseys with the word "Cats" across the front "That was a really big game," said wide receiver James Lane People were inside the track because seating was so scarce." Names from the '81 team also included: captain Mike Beckham fullback Phil Hoard and quarterback/safety Mark Feemster "None of us (seniors) were outstanding players," said Beckham but somehow we all came together and played with the most outstanding teamwork I've ever seen." Sophomore running back Keith Davis later was a standout at Tennessee Lineman Stan Williams said playing for Coutras helped mold him later in life He and his brother formed Bradley Coatings Inc I learned things in life and business that I still use today from coach Coutras and the other coaches as well Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager Four Nashville public school teams have won high school football state titles since Overton's 1981 championship None has done it at the state's largest classification or with a perfect record Returning All-Conference Players: Daniel Rickert (1st Team; DL) Aaron Swafford (2nd Team; LB)Notable Incoming Transfers: Sean Pozniak (Maine; OL) Tennessee Tech enters the 2024 season under new leadership after head coach Bobby Wilder was hired last December The Golden Eagles parted ways with Dewayne Alexander after he failed to achieve a winning season in six years Coach Wilder served as the head coach at Old Dominion from 2009-19 and had a record of 46-14 while Old Dominion played at the FCS level An early win for Coach Wilder was that he was able to keep four defensive All-Conference players from leaving via the transfer portal.Like many Big South- OVC teams in 2023 Tennessee Tech had a stout defense but struggled offensively The Golden Eagles failed to find a reliable quarterback but eventually settled with freshman Jordyn Potts Potts had an up-and-down season but showed some flashes of potential Potts has all the physical tools but will need to be more consistent next season He only completed 53% of his passes for 1,132 yards The Golden Eagles added an essential weapon in former New Hampshire wide receiver DJ Linkins this offseason Linkins recorded 413 receiving yards as a sophomore last season He will be joined by former Western Illinois wide receiver Jay Parker who earned fourth-team All-MVFC honors in 2023 Tennessee Tech will have an extremely experienced offensive line as four players return that played over 400 snaps last season Tennessee Tech's identity will be on the defensive side of the ball next season The Golden Eagles were a top-30 FCS defense last season and will return four All-Conference defensive players Defensive ends Daniel Rickert and Hudson Tucker will headline the talented defense after combining for 23.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks in 2023 Both players could be favorites to win the Big South-OVC Defensive Player of the Year award.Linebacker Aaron Swafford and safety Tim Coutras will lead the back end of the defense high-energy players who are not afraid to be physical Coutras led the conference with four interceptions and Swafford led the team in tackles with 72 last season.If Tennessee Tech is going to achieve its first winning season since 2011 it will be because Jordyn Potts realizes his potential The defense should still be a top 30-40 unit in the FCS then the Golden Eagles could realistically make a run for six or seven wins next season Tennessee Tech will be a fascinating team to watch in 2024 Play Duration: 54 minutes 5 seconds54m Brought to you by That there was ever a time when we all didn’t know about elves and orcs Since a children’s book about a Hobbit was first published in 1937 and a sequel appeared in 1954 called “Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” we’ve been living in a world where our imaginations are deeply and richly informed by JRR Tolkien’s September 2 marks 50 years since Tolkien's death his place as one of the most influential authors of the 20th Century is unquestionable He has influenced writers from Salman Rushdie to JK Rowling The Star Wars movies can trace their lineage back to him There are even Tolkien-ologists in academia and the wondrous cosmos he created in his stories Matt Graf whose YouTube channel Nerd of the Rings is the leading channel on Tolkien's Middle Earth and has over 950,000 subscribers Dr Lisa Coutras a US-based theologian and academic who has written a book titled Tolkien’s Theology of Beauty: Majesty A composite image of the cover of JRR Tolkien's novel Beren and Luthien, and the author smoking a pipe.(Supplied) Published: 25 Apr 2025Fri 25 Apr 2025 at 6:00am Published: 17 Apr 2025Thu 17 Apr 2025 at 6:00am Download the ABC listen app to hear more of your favourite podcasts buying new gear in bulk is part of the job every offseason TCU’s latest product shipment should arrive any day now But there’s something unique about this order: Nobody at TCU has actually tested or used the incoming product a new helmet face guard from Schutt Sports meant to block exposure to droplets and the spread of COVID-19 or other diseases It’s a two-part shield that can attach to any football helmet With just weeks until the scheduled start of the college football season everyone involved in the sport faces a serious time crunch Schutt had a quick turnaround on the product out of necessity announced the shield in early June and said orders would head out in July When TCU assistant athletic director for football equipment Brian Coutras got the email about it “There was no opportunity to do any (research and development),” Coutras said “This is just something you come up with and say TCU is one of many schools that have expressed interest. As of July 1, Schutt said around 50 Division I football programs had put in orders for the shields. The NFL and many high school organizations are also in talks with Schutt and the NCAA has been consulted throughout the process NCAA chief medical officer Brian Hainline said Schutt is the only helmet manufacturer making face shields right now The first step toward the return of football involves proper testing and safety protocols on a daily basis for workouts actual football comes into play and presents its own challenges The first line of defense could be a face shield (in addition to possible masks and face shields on a socially distanced sideline every single person on that sideline should be wearing a mask or a face shield,” Hainline said Some sports have already returned without face coverings soccer in Europe and the National Women’s Soccer League in the United States But no sport has as much close contact with so many bodies at once as football Whether it’s linemen pushing into each other on every play or a pile of players on a tackle the risk of a virus spreading through droplets would seem to be most prevalent in football “This is the most difficult sport of any sport that’s out there to come up with some type of solution,” Coutras said Face shields operate in much the same way masks do for the general public Experts recommend social distancing — keeping at least six feet apart from other people — to avoid transmission Several states have instituted mask mandates Masks help protect people and those around them Those infected may not know they are asymptomatic carriers Face shields do the same and help protect the wearer Schutt Splash Shield Simulation. #howitworks #letsplayfootball pic.twitter.com/EszKWbNQri — Schutt Sports (@schuttsports) June 15, 2020 that extra barrier that will prevent those droplets both from leaving you and going to infect other people,” said Dr an assistant professor of infectious disease and tropical medicine at Baylor College of Medicine “But it also could provide an extra barrier to prevent those respiratory droplets and somebody else coming toward you.” Hainline underscored a similar point: Masks work and face shields can substitute for masks in a football environment Even with potential added protection for the wearer it’s important that humans who will interact in close proximity wear them That means coaches and players on sidelines — which is particularly important when in light of how many college football coaches are over the age of 60 “What does that mean when you have a 30-second timeout?” Hainline said when that quarterback or whomever is coming off that coach isn’t being protected from that potentially infectious quarterback if that quarterback doesn’t have a face shield or mask on … If you have a football player wearing a face shield and face shields are really effective in terms of preventing the outward propulsion of respiratory droplets then you’re essentially conducting football in a matter that is following really great guidance from the CDC.” Face shields may be important at the high school and youth levels Organizations will not be able to test the way major college football programs can so physical barriers and hand hygiene will be of utmost importance The other major football helmet manufacturer is Riddell When asked about any shields or protective gear it’s working on “Riddell is committed to delivering innovation in protective equipment with player health and safety as our top priority We continue to explore options to further these efforts with COVID-19 in mind and will share developments when appropriate.” Hainline said he hopes Riddell will move in that direction soon Schutt first started looking at face shields two months ago With a pair of scissors and different materials in his office It quickly became evident they couldn’t develop a different shield for the many different helmet models The Splash Shield is a “clear optical material” with slots around the upper half and bottom half so it can be tied to the face mask but the challenge with a full shield is keeping it breathable and making sure it doesn’t fog up when it covers the whole face “You wear a mask to prevent those coughs or sneezes and the droplets leaving that mask area It’s the same sort of mechanism we tried to create for a football helmet,” Meyer said What we’re trying to do is provide just an additional layer of protection of the nose Schutt turned to the Central Illinois Panthers a semi-pro team near Schutt’s headquarters outside St The Panthers frequently test new products Schutt is working on The team is currently going through its training camp and is scheduled to begin its season next week When Schutt came by with the Splash Shield Panthers players had been frustrated working out in regular masks Feedback on the shield was overwhelmingly positive See what they are saying about the new Schutt Splash Shield. #letsplayfootball pic.twitter.com/94kFrJVZDm — Schutt Sports (@schuttsports) June 18, 2020 Now college programs and other football teams await the shields’ arrival TCU bought bottom halves to pair with regular visors as director of football equipment Eryk Jackson noted the Wildcats’ equipment contract with Under Armour includes visors Coutras said every TCU player has six helmets Jackson said Northwestern players have four Bottoms come in a pack of three for $10 in bulk a Velcro-adjustable mask wrap meant for workouts and other situations where players aren’t wearing the helmet TCU and Northwestern did not purchase those saying they would instead use the Clavagator head covers players use in cold weather and teams already have in stock “No option is a bad option at this point,” Jackson said Asked if Schutt has the capacity to meet every order because it’s a domestic manufacturer.  “We virtually have unlimited capacity,” he said “We will increase people and shifts to cover all orders.” Even if schools ramp up testing and safety protocols to allow a team to be together practices and games provide another challenge Don’t be surprised if the length of the team sideline box expands from the 25-yard lines to as far as the 15-yard lines to allow for social distancing In June during an Instagram Live conversation about tennis Hainline modeled a prototype hat with a built-on shield new strategies and new mindsets have to be the new normal “If you could do sports and everyone’s masking that’s like opening up society in the proper way,” Hainline said A face shield can now substitute for a mask.”