Chain crew injury

[bitols]

how is the guy in New Orleans ? it looks to be in bad condition...he's an officials ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3FYkWrVzAY&feature=player_embedded

BTW: it looks VERY old too...

[TXMike]

Looks like he was a HS coach

http://www.wdsu.com/r/25505372/detail.html

Chain Gang Member Stable After Collision At Saints Game
Al Nastasi Injured In Sunday's Game At Superdome
POSTED: 2:24 pm CDT October 25, 2010
UPDATED: 5:16 pm CDT October 25, 2010
 NEW ORLEANS -- A member of the chain gang on the sidelines during Sunday's Saints game is in stable condition at a local hospital following a rough hit from Courtney Roby.

Roby collided with Al Nastasi while recovering a punt during the game against the Browns. Nastasi was taken from the field on a stretcher.

Roby said Monday that he feels terrible about the accident, and he has visited Nastasi at Ochsner Medical Center. He said Nastasi was alert, and they chatted for a while, "not only about the incident, but life in general."

"Everything happened so fast," Roby said. "Once I saw what happened, I ran down there... I'm just happy that everything's OK and that he'll be fine."

Nastasi is a longtime coach at East Jefferson High School. Staff members there said they are worried about him and wish him well.

In a statement, an Ochsner spokesman said Nastasi "sustained a closed head injury" and that the family had asked for privacy.

Roby said he couldn't stop thinking about the collision through the rest of the game.

"Football is a sport, but life is precious, and you never want to see anyone get injured," Roby said.

[KB]

Maybe the NFL should consider baseball-type helmets for chain crew and ball persons. Especially if they have people of age (who DO have much longer reaction times than 30-year olds) to work on or near the sideline.

All the best wishes to Mr. Nastasi, who is obviously missed by his students.

[bitols]

NFL games are becoming bigger and faster, don't think it's a good idea to have 70 years old people three yards near to athletes at their best, at full speed, in full pads...know it can be a tradition in some areas, but people, younger, in better conditions, with a minimum of training and a minimum of pads should avoid terrible troubles and legal troubles...

[AlUpstateNY]

Maybe the NFL should consider baseball-type helmets for chain crew and ball persons. Especially if they have people of age (who DO have much longer reaction times than 30-year olds) to work on or near the sideline.

All the best wishes to Mr. Nastasi, who is obviously missed by his students.

Some type of protective head gear is a really sensible and practical idea, and at the NFL level seems like a no-brainer.  At any level, it's not unusual to be presented with inexperienced assistants or those whose physical capabilities have passed them by. 

This is another part of the "congestion on the sideline" issue especially in front of the team box.  Even a chain crew member who knows enough to quickly lay the poles down, backwards as soon as play turns in his direction, needs the space to lay it down.  Still, "young people running forward move a lot faster than older people moving backwards", no matter how great a shape you might think you're in.

[fbrefga]

I pray that Mr. Nastasi will fully recover.  I have been very fortunate in being a member of the chain crew for the University of Georgia's home games for the last 12 years (when not working Div II games).  The speed of the game makes it an inherently dangerous place to be.  I do have very good reaction time when the play comes near the numbers and toward the sideline area.  No, I am not 70 years old, but I am not 30 either.  I am 50 and in good shape!  One cannot get caught up in the play itself; as I have witnessed sideline officials being hit from "unseen" action away from the ball.  We have to keep our heads on a swivel.

That being said, it has occurred several times where I have dropped my pole and started to back up when I suddenly feel some hands in my back pushing me forward.  It seems as though players do not move; or want to move sometimes. 

Notwithstanding the potential danger on the sidelines, I have been so fortunate to learn from some very good NCAA officials, whether it is mechanics, demeanor or just plain "be in the proper position to make the call".  This has helped in my HS and Div II officiating.

As a side note, I wish reporters, announcers and others would refer to us as the "chain crew" rather than the "chain gang".  One wears vertical stripes and the other may wear horizontal stripes!