Helmets measure the hard hits
Posted Oct 14, 2005
When UNC football player Melik Brown smacked head-first into a Utah player last season, he rocked his brain with the same force as a car hitting a brick wall at 25 mph. He got a headache. He started seeing double. And six dime-size sensors in his helmet measured the exact force of the blow. In years past, athletic trainers could depend only on physical tests to determine whether a player had a concussion and how long he should sit out. But because the Tar Heels are part of a five-year study using those sensors, the doctors' job was easier. They made Brown sit out two more games.
(Raleigh News & Observer)
Related: Football, Football Recruiting
UNC Football's Top Position Groups Entering Training CampWith the start of training camp approaching, North Carolina is preparing for a pivotal 2026-27 college football season. Based on the reinforcements the Tar Heels...
Mon Jul 13, 2026UNC Football Schedule Lookahead: East Tennessee State
UNC Football's Sept. 12 game against East Tennessee State at Kenan Stadium is the Tar Heels’ only clear-cut favorite on a demanding schedule. The Buccaneers...
Fri Jul 10, 2026
Previewing UNC football's upcoming roster
After a disappointing 4-8 finish in head coach Bill Belichick’s first season, North Carolina football looked to make some changes heading into the 2026 season...
Thu Jul 9, 2026
North Carolina Football’s Five Greatest Quarterbacks
Since 2011, four Tar Heels quarterbacks have been taken in the NFL draft, two among the top 10 picks. Over that same stretch, UNC has...
Thu Jul 9, 2026