UNC football head coach isn't sure football causes CTE

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The head coach of the UNC Tar Heels football team is under fire after some controversial comments he made in Charlotte.

He questioned one of the most serious medical problems plaguing players.

9 investigates possible groundbreaking treatment for concussions

Coach Larry Fedora was in Charlotte to kick off the ACC.

He doubted the validity of studies on CTE, a degenerative brain disease.

He said he's not convinced there's been a proven link between CTE and football.

"I blame a groundswell of data that is tweaked one way or the other, because I can take the data and make it look one way, you could take the data and make it look another way,” Fedora said. “And whoever is presenting it, gets the say so."

Former Panther speaks about CTE-head trauma link

Much of that data comes from UNC-Chapel Hill, which is home to a leading researcher and nationally recognized expert on sport-related concussions.

Last year, researchers studied the brains of deceased NFL players and found CTE in 99 percent of them.

CTE causes symptoms like memory loss, impaired judgment, aggression and issues with impulse control.

Channel 9 has followed research on CTE since 2016.

There is a new treatment for concussions that involves no medications.

Charlotte is one of eight cities with the treatment, which reads brain activity then sends a new pattern for the brain to imitate.

ACC commissioner John Swofford said, "we have to respect the science" when it comes to the connection between football and the degenerative brain disease CTE.

Swofford was asked about CTE after Fedora caused the stir Wednesday by saying he doesn't believe football causes CTE and believes the sport is "under attack."

In an interview with The Associated Press, Swofford said "football's not alone" in concerns over concussions in sports. But he said, "football by its very nature is going to be looked at first."

Swofford said it's important to be willing to consider adjustments to improve player safety, whether it deals with rules, practice or equipment. He said, "If we're not looking at it that way, I think we've got our heads in the sand."

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