When the parents of a prospective Colorado football player express worry about the health and safety of their son playing the game, Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre is quick to offer a rebuttal. He asks if that player ever rides a bike.
“He is a lot more in trouble riding that bicycle than he is ever playing football,” MacIntyre said. “It’s a proven fact.”
Well, not exactly.
MacIntyre’s argument likely stems from the coverage of studies in recent years that show bicycling is more dangerous than football. The American Association of Neurological Surgeons study tracked national emergency room visits for traumatic brain injuries in 2009.