For all the pads naysayers: Before pads and helmets were introduced, people were dying quite regularly in the game:
Direct fatality averages
Number/year Period
18.6 1931-1970
9.5 1971–1990
4.2 1991-2007
Apparently 40,000 concussions are suffered every year high high school players 😯
The modern helmet was introduced in the 50s. Before that they were little more than skullcaps.
I’ll probably watch the first half and then the highlights tomorrow eve (8pm)