Columbia Footballers: Coach Forced Us To Play Through Concussions

According to the Columbia Spectator, 25 members of the Columbia football team have sent a letter to the university president calling for the dismissal of their head coach, Pete Mangurian. Among other things, the letter accuses Mangurian of forcing concussed players to continue practicing and playing.

From the Columbia Spectator:

"Pete Mangurian has consistently denied the diagnoses of concussions," the letter stated. "There are several players who will speak to the fact that Mangurian told them to return to practice, that they are faking their concussions, and that they are being soft if they sit out for their concussion injury."

The letter, which has since reportedly been withdrawn, also accuses Mangurain of being physically abusive and once telling his players that the world would be better off without them:

In addition to blaming him for creating age-based rifts within the team and mishandling concussions, the letter accuses Mangurian of being physically abusive, alienating injured players, imposing drastic and unrealistic weight regimens, and delivering a particularly scathing speech after the team's 42-7 loss at Albany.

"You are terrible [expletive] people," Mangurian allegedly told his players after that game—the expletive had been edited out in the copy sent to Spectator by Jake Novak, 'CC 92 and editor of the blog CULions. "The world would be a better place without you."

Columbia finished 0-10 this year, and the team's starting quarterback quit just five weeks into the season. Sounds like a fun football program!

[ Spectator]

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