photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas offensive lineman Jordan Shelley-Smith (79) winces on the bench during the fourth quarter of the Jayhawks' 38-13 loss to Iowa State on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa.

Not so long ago, the harder the hit on a football field, the more euphorically the announcers celebrated it.

“He … lit … him … up!”

As long as no bones were broken and all the body parts still moved, players often would get a chuckle out of the staggering victim of a big hit.

“I think everyone has their concussion color, what color the stands start looking,” Kansas defensive coordinator Clint Bowen said. “Mine was like a puke green-yellow. Other dudes would talk about, ‘Everything’s so red. Why is everything so red?’ And you’d be like, ‘Man, that dude got hit!’ We would talk about your color: ‘What color are you seeing right now?’ It was crazy.”

Bowen, 44, remembers it not being very difficult to attain the passing grade on a test required to get back on the field.

“I tell guys all the time it used to be if you were in Boulder, Colorado, and they came over and asked you where you were and you said at a football game you were good to go back in. They held up four fingers and you got around three or five, you could go back. But it’s not that way anymore and rightfully so.”

That’s why it was with a mixture of sadness and relief that teammates and coaches greeted fifth-year senior offensive tackle Jordan Shelley-Smith’s decision to retire from football, because of multiple concussions.

They’re sad he won’t play for them again, but happy that he won’t put his health at risk anymore.

Junior quarterback Montell Cozart said he never has suffered from a concussion, but has been involved in discussions with teammates who have had them.

“I remember last year De’Andre Mann, and I think the year before Tony Pierson, both of them kind of went through that and both of them had kids involved so they were both contemplating was it worth it,” Cozart said. “I can definitely understand and I definitely feel where (Shelley-Smith) is coming from.”

Cozart follows the topic in the news.

“Events that have happened with Seau and Rodney Harrison, it’s worrisome a little bit, but it’s what we signed up for and it’s the nature of the game,” Cozart said.

Seau, a Hall of Fame linebacker, took his own life with a gunshot to the chest. Post-mortem examinations concluded that he had suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head. Harrison, Seau’s former teammate with the San Diego Chargers, has been outspoken about the lack of concussion oversight during his career and estimated he suffered from at least 20 concussions.

Cozart appreciates the way his coaches at Kansas, Charlie Weis and David Beaty, stressed the need for players to be truthful about injuries.

“We’re all competitors,” Cozart said. “We all want to stay in the game, but looking out for the best interest of the team you just tell the truth and when you tell the truth, hopefully you can recover faster.”

Tight end Ben Johnson said watching the movie “Concussion,” gave him a different perspective on head injuries, but he also spoke of how the line separating playing from staying on the sideline can be a hazy one.

“If you’re a football player and you want to play then you’re going to play,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of your decision. At the same time, the levels of the concussion vary as far as how bad they are, so I think there is some ability of the player to choose or make that decision on his own.”

Beaty leads with caution regarding concussions.

“We have to be so smart, because these are these individuals’ one life that we are talking about,” Beaty said. “And you know what, this is a big industry. Football is a big industry. You know, there’s a lot of things going on that would make you want to have a player out there regardless.

“But the truth of the matter is, not one of them’s worth it. It’s not worth it. That’s somebody’s family treasure. That’s not worth it. Think about it being yours. Not worth it.”

Shelley-Smith announced his decision to the team last week. He posted the following statement on his Instagram account Tuesday: “Over my time here at KU I have been very blessed to be apart of a Family like none other and play a lot of football. This past week I have had to make some very difficult decisions in terms of my future. With talks with my fiancé and coaches we came to the decision that for my future health it be best to end my time as a football player. Although a difficult decision, I know in time it will be the right one. I am thankful coach Beaty has allowed me to stay a part of this program to finish off my senior season. I look forward to the new adventures ahead and what life will bring with it. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!”

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