Inside N.C.A.A. Fight Paying For College Players Injuries

    COLUMBUS, OH, March 31, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Archie Griffin, kicked off crowdfunding for former college QB, Rod Gerald, by donating $1,000, via TeamRod on A KickIn Crowd (http://akickincrowd.com/projects/rod-geralds-team-rod), and challenging others to donate to it too.

Rod Gerald played as only the second Black quarterback in The Ohio State University Buckeyes (OSU) history, under the watchful eye of legendary coach Woody Hayes. While the current quarterbacks must battle one another for a spot on this years highly competitive roster, this former OSU quarterback is having to battle to pay his medical expenses.

The N.C.A.A. has been in a battle regarding payment of players and their medical expenses. Players like Gerald end up paying for their own medical expenses years after playing for storied programs like OSU.

According to a N.Y Times article, "It's the most important thing," said Ramogi Huma, the president of the National College Players Association. "We're talking about taking care of the players." (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/sports/a-fight-to-keep-college-athletes-from-the-pain-of-injury-costs.html?_r=0)

Playing at the Division1 college level extracts a toll on the body, which can often be felt years later. And without the NFL earnings, former college players often struggle to pay these bills themselves.

Today Gerald is battling a back and spinal condition. His doctor recently took CT Scans of his cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions.

"Friends have asked how the surgery was?. I haven't had the surgery," Gerald stated on a recent Facebook post about his current situation. "I'm taking x rays for a new doctor, who I met he was horrified at the x ray pictures and ordered another test."

OSU fan, Paige King, decided to get involved about two months ago when she spoke with Gerald and he confided his health issue to her. King said, "I told him he needed help and he did not want it. I became determined to help him!"

According to the New York Times article, "The N.C.A.A. previously placed limits on medical benefits, but it removed remaining restrictions on medical care last summer to give universities more freedom to provide care for athletes. Universities are required to certify that players have a primary health insurance policy, though the universities do not have to pay for it. The N.C.A.A. also has a catastrophic injury program that kicks in when expenses exceed $90,000." (http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/25/sports/a-fight-to-keep-college-athletes-from-the-pain-of-injury-costs.html?_r=0)

King setup a fundraising effort with A KickIn Crowd that including both online and offline efforts. She has been so successful, former two-time Heisman Trophy winner, Archie Griffin, made the first donation of $1,000 and called out his OSU Buckeye brothers to do the same!

"I love to pay it forward and I was just driven to make this work," King said.

More information and donations can be made at: http://akickincrowd.com/projects/rod-geralds-team-rod

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