In the small northeast Ohio town of Massillon, a few miles from the National Football Hall of Fame, some 20,000 fans pack into a high school stadium, drowning out the roar of a real tiger mascot on the sidelines.

Football is akin to religion in Massillon and, like a religion, it can be resistant to change. For decades jolts to the head were written off as “getting your bell rung” and considered part of the game. Now, concerns about serious brain injuries have penetrated American football culture and high schools are taking action.

After an off-season with suicides by two former National Football League players, publicity over a lawsuit against the league by NFL players and new studies adding to the growing body of research, nearly every state entered the fall season with some type of legislation protecting young athletes.

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