educationprevention through

About a quarter-inch separated the neurologist’s index finger from his thumb, that tiny

space representing the infini-tesimal progress made through history in studying the most mysterious organ in the body.“We know this much about

the human brain,” the Colo-rado Springs doctor said, hold-ing a hand in front of his face to illustrate the point to the frustrated parents of Christie Los, who suffered a concussion in a club soccer game.Were the migraines a result

of the injury? He didn’t know. When could this high school sophomore expect the symptoms to subside?“It’s hard to say,” was all he could

offer.If experts remain so thoroughly

baffled by the brain and its injuries, what chance does anyone else have? Facing this reality, however, the gov-erning bodies for high school sports are combating the issue the only way they know — through education.Coaches in Colorado are required

to complete an online course on concussions, learning about causes of the injury, symptoms to watch for and the steps of recovery. Of course,

it’s one thing to hear clinical descrip-tions of head injuries and another to identify an affected athlete amid the chaos of competition.The Gazette’s Brent Briggeman

took the online course in an effort to better understand what informa-tion the state has given to these men and women charged with instruct-ing and protecting players. The course begins and ends with

the same five-question multiple-choice test. Walk through this test with us and, along the way, gain some firsthand accounts of an issue that, frankly, no one is close to fully understanding.

by bRENT bRIGGEMANbrent.briggeman@gazette.com

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Even as experts remain puzzled by the complexities of brain injuries,organizations at the high school level are determined to curb

the effects of concussions by arming coaches with information

Is it enough?

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see eDUCATION • PAge 4

ABOUT THE SERIESThe effects of concussions have been felt around the sports world, especially in the past year. The Gazette examines this unique injury in a five-part series:

Thursday:� Hot-button topic Friday:� Rehab

Saturday:� Effects Today:� Prevention Monday:� Rules

INsIDe, PAge 5 • �Hockey’s view of concussions has changed. • Area soccer players wear protective gear to protect against head injuries.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MARK REIS, THE GAZETTE

sPeCIAl serIes: CONCUssIONs (PArT 4)

Fisher DeBerry still re-members those walks to the picture show in downtown Cheraw, S.C.

He strolled along Market Street beside his mother,

Mildred, as they talked with excite-ment about the future. Mildred wanted her only child to grab everything he wanted from life. He would, she promised, graduate from college,

secure a good job and raise a family.

Mildred’s hopes all came true. Her son graduated from Wofford College, mar-ried childhood sweetheart LuAnn and developed a quirky, run-obsessed offense known as The Fishbone that carried Air Force to 17 win-ning seasons.

To honor her support, he created the Fisher DeBerry Foundation, which is over-seeing the fourth annual

DeBerry’s foundation a tribute to his mother

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

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see ramsey • Page 5

oPinion

david ramseydavid.ramsey@ gazette.com / 476-4895

Sports

nhl playoffsBruins pound Flyers in Game 1 of East semis. Page 2

SUNDAY ❘ May 1, 2011719-636-0250 or sports@gazette.comDeliverY qUeStioNS? CAll 1-866-632-NeWS

sprint cupKyle Busch adds to recent success at Richmond. Page 8

sports news at gazette.com and gazette preps.com

●

baseball >

iannetta powers rockiesChris Iannetta blasts a three-run homer while Jason Hammel, right, keeps Pirates at bay. Page 7

denver draftsex-hoops player

ENGLEWOOD • The Broncos are banking on tight end Ju-lius Thomas grabbing recep-tions like he did rebounds.

The team traded up in the NFL draft Saturday to take

the Portland State prod-uct, picking Thomas in the fourth round de-spite his lim-ited football experience.

A standout b a s k e t b a l l player for the Vikings, he returned to football last season after

a seven-year hiatus.Even with his inexperience

at tight end, Thomas may challenge for playing time right away. The Broncos, who also selected Nevada tight end Virgil Green in the seventh round, have Daniel Coats, Dan Gronkowski and Richard Quinn on the ros-ter, a trio that collected just nine catches altogether last season.

Quinn was a coveted sec-ond-round pick in 2009 by then-coach Josh McDaniels

by Pat GrahamThe Associated Press—

broncos

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sEE brONcOs • PaGE 5

Julius Thomas:Ran a 40-yard dash in 4.72 seconds.

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