03/27/2026
We are glad that the coach and medical team from University of Pennsylvania recognized Ethan Roberts’s second concussion of the season and removed him from the Ivy Madness lineup earlier this month. It is a tough decision to make during playoffs or important championship games, but it was the right call. We’d like to see it happen more often in the sporting world. They truly put Roberts’ safety before anything else, including the win. The fact is that multiple concussions in one season puts him at a higher risk for neurocognitive impairments and post-concussion syndrome (PCS), not to mention the potentially fatal second impact syndrome (SIS).
When people think of concussions, they usually think of football. However, concussions occur in many sports. Wherever there is speed and agility involved, there can be a collision. In volleyball, it could be the ball hitting the head, two players colliding, or hitting the hardwood floor. We see these injuries all the time. And with basketball, the responsiveness and speed needed for offense and defense means that there are plenty of collisions between players, such as when they try to block or steal the ball, or during rebounding on the paint. And when there is a fall, it means the head hits on the unforgiving hardwood floor. No matter the sport or activity, it is important to take concussions seriously and follow proper post-concussion protocols.
Roberts is not expected to recover in time for any potential postseason games, whether Penn reaches the NCAA Tournament or NIT.
