Coach v. Physician

Summary

Campus Files: Episode Summary - "Coach v. Physician"

Introduction

In the July 23, 2025 episode of Campus Files, titled "Coach v. Physician," host Margo Gray delves into a compelling and timely story that unravels the complex and often contentious relationship between medical professionals and athletic coaching staff within American college sports. This episode spotlights Dr. Scott Lynch, an orthopedic surgeon at Penn State University, whose unwavering commitment to athlete safety brought him into direct conflict with the football program's head coach, James Franklin. The narrative explores themes of integrity, whistleblowing, and the systemic challenges in prioritizing student-athlete well-being over institutional success.

Background on Dr. Scott Lynch

Dr. Scott Lynch's journey to becoming a football team physician is rooted in his personal and professional experiences. A former wrestler inspired by his father, a high school coach, Lynch pursued electrical engineering before a significant injury redirected his path to medicine. After recovering from an ACL tear, he was motivated by the compassionate care he received, leading him to specialize in orthopedic surgery with a focus on sports medicine.

Notable Quote:

Dr. Scott Lynch (04:42): "Just the care for me as a person was really important. That's what I got from all those people that treated me. They understood my goals but still wanted to protect me. That's really why I went to med school."

The Role at Penn State Football

In June 1998, Lynch returned to Penn State as the orthopedic surgeon at Hershey Medical Center. His expertise and dedication earned him the position of head orthopedic consultant for the football team and director of sports medicine in 2013. Balancing his responsibilities between the medical center and the football program, Lynch was tasked with ensuring player health while navigating the high-stakes environment of college football.

Notable Quote:

Dr. Scott Lynch (05:31): "My practice is a subspecialty in sports medicine, so in my career, I think pretty sure I've done over 1,000 ACL reconstructions..."

Conflicts with Coach James Franklin

The arrival of James Franklin as Penn State's head football coach in 2014 marked the beginning of escalating tensions. Franklin's focus on athletic success often clashed with Lynch's medical ethics, particularly concerning player safety.

Initial Warning Signs:

• Nike Contract Incident (08:38 - 09:23): Franklin pressured the medical staff to stop "spatting" players' Nike cleats to preserve the brand's visibility, prioritizing contractual obligations over player ankle support.

  Dr. Scott Lynch (09:23): "Essentially, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the money is more important than the player's health."

• Interference in Medical Decisions (13:19 - 13:59): Franklin directly intervened in medical consultations, demanding Lynch downplay the severity of injuries to prevent players from missing practice.

  Dr. Scott Lynch (13:34): "I'm not going to lie to my patient... I said, well, maybe not to you, but that's lying to me. I'm not going to do that."

Key Incidents Leading to the Lawsuit

Lynch's refusal to succumb to Franklin's pressures culminated in a series of confrontations:

1. Ankle Injury of Star Running Back (15:17 - 16:43): Lynch made an executive decision to sideline an injured player, prompting Franklin to convene a meeting aimed at undermining Lynch's authority by involving multiple coaches to pressure him into changing his medical judgment.

   Dr. Scott Lynch (16:14): "If they can get the medical staff to allow them to play, then they can come back and say, well, it wasn't my decision. This is a medical decision."

2. Wrongful Termination (17:08 - 20:09): In February 2019, Lynch was dismissed from his position under the pretense of inadequate presence with the team, a claim he contested as retaliation for his steadfastness in prioritizing player health.

   Dr. Scott Lynch (20:09): "I was never going to settle if they tried to make me shut up. The important thing for me was not getting money. The important thing was to get the information out and try to get something out there to affect change."

The Lawsuit and Trial

In August 2019, six months post-termination, Lynch filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation. The legal battle was arduous, characterized by Penn State's attempts to dismiss the case and control the narrative.

Key Trial Highlights:

• Systematic Intimidation: Testimonies revealed Franklin's continuous efforts to prioritize contractual obligations and team success over medical ethics, including coercing medical staff and coaching personnel.

  Dr. Scott Lynch (25:03): "Each time they brought a witness on, I think the jury thought, here's another person not telling the truth."

• Integrity Officer Betrayal: Initially a confidant, the integrity officer failed Lynch by invoking attorney-client privilege, hindering the use of crucial internal reports.

  Dr. Scott Lynch (21:46): "I mean, that's pretty sick that they're using that position in the totally opposite way of what it was meant to be."

Verdict and Aftermath

After a seven-day trial, the jury delivered a landmark verdict on May 29, 2024—Dr. Scott Lynch was awarded $5.25 million in damages for wrongful termination. This verdict underscored the significance of medical professionals maintaining independence from athletic authorities to safeguard player health.

Notable Verdict Quote:

Dr. Scott Lynch (25:40): "Dauphin county court ruling in favor of..."

Broader Implications

Despite the substantial verdict, the episode highlights a pervasive issue within college sports:

• Lack of Institutional Change: Coach Franklin remains under a lucrative contract, and the NCAA has shown indifference to addressing the systemic issues Lynch exposed.

  Dr. Scott Lynch (26:55): "And they'll come out with some lame statement about nothing's more important to us than the health and welfare of our student athletes."

• Player Safety at Risk: The tragic death of Calvin Dicke at Bucknell exemplifies the fatal consequences of neglecting athlete well-being for competitive advantage.

• Need for Collective Action: Lynch advocates for structural changes, such as the College Football Players Association's push for collective bargaining, to empower athletes collectively in safeguarding their health.

  Dr. Scott Lynch (29:23): "The only way to get Penn State and the rest of the world to pay attention was to take the school to court."

Conclusion

"Coach v. Physician" serves as a poignant exposé on the ethical dilemmas faced by medical professionals in collegiate athletics. Through Dr. Scott Lynch's courageous stand against systemic corruption and his unwavering commitment to student-athlete safety, the episode underscores the urgent need for reform in how medical decisions are made within sports institutions. It calls into question the broader culture of prioritizing wins and revenue over the very individuals these programs aim to protect and nurture.

Final Quote:

Dr. Scott Lynch (28:38): "That's their way to escape from all that and not have to think about the real world for a while. And the sad thing is that this is the real world."

Key Takeaways:

• The intersection of athletics and medical ethics can lead to significant conflicts of interest.
• Systemic reforms are essential to protect student-athletes from undue pressure and ensure their well-being.
• Whistleblowers like Dr. Scott Lynch play a crucial role in highlighting and combating institutional misconduct.

---

This summary is based on the transcript provided and aims to capture the essence and critical elements discussed in the "Coach v. Physician" episode of Campus Files.

Transcript

[Margo Gray]

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[Margo Gray]

It's no secret that college sports are riddled with scandal.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Top college basketball coaches took bribes to steer their players.

[Margo Gray]

Coaches at Auburn, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Southern California.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

NCAA is investigating the Michigan football program. It's not legal for coaches to scout. This isn't high school.

[Margo Gray]

On Friday, every season brings headlines about pay for play schemes, illegal recruiting and gambling conspiracies.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

There's cheating that goes on. They pay players. They skirt the rules.

[Margo Gray]

They operate in a gray area. Bribes, corruption, a lot of shady dealings.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

When you come in and you got a scholarship at the Ohio State University, you don't want to start any problems. I didn't do nothing. Probably because I was scared.

[Margo Gray]

But there's another kind of scandal unfolding behind closed doors. It doesn't make ESPN highlights or spark NCAA investig investigations. It's the ongoing failure to protect the safety of student athletes. Dr. Scott lynch knows that reality all too well. As the orthopedic surgeon for Penn State football, he found himself caught between his medical oath and the relentless pressure from coaches to get injured players back on the field.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

My job as a physician is to take care of my patient. It's not to help Penn State win football games. And that's really bottom line.

[Margo Gray]

I'm Margo Gray. This week On Campus Files, Dr. Scott lynch breaks his silence and lands at the center of a growing national debate. Who gets to make medical decisions for college athletes, the doctors or the coaches? And what happens when player safety undermines the pursuit of WINS and Revenue Dr. Scott Lynch's relationship with athletics goes way back, long before he ever treated an athlete's injury. He was a competitive athlete himself, a wrestler.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I don't ever remember not wrestling because my dad was the high school coach. So when I was little, I would go in, just mess around, and the high school kids, who seemed very old at that time, would mess around with me and let me do moves on them.

[Margo Gray]

By second grade, he was competing in tournaments and he never looked back. In high school, he made it to the state finals his sophomore and junior years and won the championship as a senior. Then at Penn State, he walked onto the wrestling team. But wrestling wasn't the end goal at the time. His sights were set on electrical engineering.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I was designing microwave communication amplifiers. I worked on some communications for the B1 bomber. So I really had no aspirations of going to medical school.

[Margo Gray]

But his plans changed during his senior year when he suffered a major injury.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

My knee started swelling up on me every day, essentially, and I don't really know when I did it, but I tore my acl.

[Margo Gray]

Scott's ACL tear couldn't have come at a worse time. It looked like he'd be sidelined for the rest of the season, his final chance to compete. But remarkably, after surgery and exceptional care from his doctors, he made a rapid recovery. With just two weeks left to qualify for the state championships, he was cleared to compete. The experience left a lasting impression. Not just the comeback, but the doctors who made it possible.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Just the care for me as a person was really important. That's what I got from all those people that treated me. They understood my goals but still wanted to protect me. That's really why I went to med school.

[Margo Gray]

In medical school, Scott focused on orthopedic surgery, hoping to treat the kinds of injuries he'd once suffered himself. And in June 1998, he came full circle, returning to Penn State not as a wrestler, but as an orthopedic surgeon at Hershey Medical Center.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

My practice is a subspecialty in sports medicine, so in my career, I think pretty sure I've done over 1,000 ACL reconstructions, and that's anyone from the recreational athlete to just regular workers.

[Margo Gray]

In 2013, Scott got the opportunity to care for top tier athletes. Penn State offered him the role of head orthopedic consultant for the football team and director of sports medicine. It was a major honor, a recognition of his skill and reputation. His family was especially thrilled, not just because of what the role meant professionally, but because they were lifelong Penn State football fans.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I remember Listening to Penn State football on the radio. Every Saturday it'll be second down and.

[Ben Stiller]

Five for the Nittany Lions.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

We'd be out in the garage, my dad be doing work and listening to the football game.

[Margo Gray]

Scott eagerly accepted. From then on, he split his time between his work at Hershey Medical center and his new role with the football team.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I would go up into the training room Wednesday or Thursday, depending on time of year, and then come in on a game weekend, come in on Friday, have another training room, go to the game Saturday, have an injury check on Sunday, and then back to my regular routine.

[Margo Gray]

Scott's plate was full, and game days brought no relief. While the crowd watched for big plays, he watched for something else. Signs of injury. As the team doctor, it was his job to monitor every hit, every limp, every player slow to get up. And the decisions were his when to pull someone and when to let them keep playing. He still remembers the first time a player had to be carted off the field.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I was at the Meadowlands in New Jersey. We played Syracuse. One of the players tore his acl. Someone comes in with an ACL tear, it's not hard to figure out what's going on. The harder part is where do the treatments fit into this patient's life?

[Margo Gray]

In other words, even when an injury is easy to diagnose, treatment isn't always straightforward. When it comes to athletes, it's not just about long term health. There's also the relentless pressure to get players back on the field. Scott knows that calculation firsthand from his experience as a wrestler.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I left the hospital one time and wrestled that night. God was hanging out the front of my knee. My job is to make sure the player understands the risk benefit ratio. And in situations that are similar, some people are going to make different decisions. That's okay, but it has to be a decision by the individual, meaning the.

[Margo Gray]

Decision should rest with the player, guided by medical advice. It's not a call for the coach or anyone on the coaching staff to make. And for Scott's first year with the football team, that boundary was respected. The head coach stayed out of medical decisions. But in 2014, everything changed. Penn State hired a new football coach, James Franklin. He was coming off a highly successful run at Vanderbilt and was signed to a six year, $25.5 million contract.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Franklin had unprecedented success in three seasons with the Black and Gold, winning 24 games and leading a program that had reached the postseason just four times in its history to three consecutive bowl games.

[Margo Gray]

There was a lot of buzz around Franklin's arrival on campus, but Scott was more wary from the start. There were some concerning warning signs. The first had to do with the Nike contract. Penn State had a multi million dollar deal with Nike that required players to wear Nike cleats. But to protect players ankles, the medical staff often taped over the shoes, a practice known as spatting. Nike didn't like that spatting covered their logo and neither did Coach Franklin. Because he was personally profiting from the.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Deal, he would put pressure on Tim Brahm and the Athletic Sports Medicine team to not spat players so he could keep his money. Essentially, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the money is more important than the player's health.

[Margo Gray]

Franklin had made his priorities clear, but Scott was about to learn just how far he'd go and how willing he was to risk player safety. You know that feeling when the weather finally warms up and nothing in your closet feels right? Personally, I was there last month and I didn't want to splurge on pieces I'd only wear once. So I decided to give Quint a try and it was a game changer. Their clothing is high quality and made to last at a way better price than comparable brands. I added their 100% European linen dress to my closet. It's already a go to and I know it's not just going to be my staple for this summer, but for next summer too. Quint's makes luxury affordable by working directly with top artisans and cutting out the middlemen. Everything is ethically made, responsibly sourced and beautifully crafted. So give your summer wardrobe a serious upgrade with quints. Go to quints.com campus for free shipping and 365 day returns. That's Quincus for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com campus hey what's up Flies?

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

This is David Spade. Dana Carvey. Look at I know we never actually left, but I'll just say it. We are back with another season of Fly on the Wall. Every episode, including ones with guests, will now be on video. Every Thursday you'll hear us and see us chatting with big name celebrities. And every Monday you're stuck with just me and Dana. We're react to news. What's trending viral clips follow and listen to Fly on the Wall everywhere you get your podcasts.

[Margo Gray]

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[Dr. Scott Lynch]

One of the players had knee injury and unexamined yet signs that he could have a meniscal tear on the outside of his knee. So I told the player he possibly had a lateral meniscal tear, but it's okay, we can keep treating it and see how things go. If it gets worse or you're not making progress, then we change course and get an MRI and go from there.

[Margo Gray]

Scott was just doing his job, talking a player through his injury and treatment options. It was routine, something that had never caused problems before. But that night his phone rang and Coach Franklin was on the line.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Essentially what happened is Coach yelled at me for telling him you might have a lateral meniscal tear. He didn't want me to say those words because his player got nervous and refused to do his lifting practice. So he wanted me to hide it from the kid and I said, well, I'm not going to lie to my patient. And he insisted it wasn't lying. But I said, well, maybe not to you, but that's lying to me. I'm not going to do that.

[Margo Gray]

Suddenly, the call cut off. Coach Franklin had hung up when Scott called back. He was told the coach was unavailable. Scott says it wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last that Coach Franklin was angry about a player's injury.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I had one player who Was. I didn't know this, but he told me when he was injured, Franklin would come in the training room and just stand at the end of the table and stare at him while he's getting treatment. Wouldn't say a word, but he told me the implication was clear, that he was taking too long to get better.

[Margo Gray]

Scott feared that players were staying quiet about their injuries, afraid to disappoint their coach. So he made it his mission to drill into them, that their safety was paramount.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

That was one thing I emphasized whenever I talked to players about their treatment. If anybody's coming to you to try to pressure you into making a decision that's not good for you, any of the coaches or anything, make sure you come and tell us. When someone else is trying to influence them becomes a lot more difficult. Is the player really making this choice for themselves, or is the player getting pressure from Franklin or anybody else to do this for the benefit of Franklin and not for the benefit of the player?

[Margo Gray]

Scott says the more time he spent with the team, the more it felt like he was guarding the henhouse from the wolves. And nothing made that clearer than when the star running back suffered an ankle injury. Scott asked the head trainer to monitor him during practice, and the report wasn't good. The player wasn't moving well. On game day, Scott assessed the injury himself. The player was clearly limping, so he made the executive decision he'd stay on the sidelines. Not long after, coach Franklin summoned Scott, the trainer and the team's primary doctor into his office.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

It's a big, long table. He sits at the head in a power position. He's a psychology major, and he tries to use those things to put him in a situation, to be the person in power. He also brought in a bunch of the other coaches trying to stack the deck in terms of how many people were on his side to put pressure on us.

[Margo Gray]

Scott says this tactic has become more common in recent years, especially in the wake of the concussion scandals. Coaches now know better than to pressure players directly. Instead, they target the medical staff.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

If they can get the medical staff to allow them to play, then they can come back and say, well, it wasn't my decision. This is a medical decision. Even though they're the ones trying to pressure the medical staff in changing the decision, it's to give them cover.

[Margo Gray]

But Scott wasn't one to kowtow to pressure, not on this occasion or on the many occasions that followed.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I was not doing what they wanted, not putting players in who weren't ready, not giving in to them. Trying to change medical decisions. I felt that they wanted to get rid of me for several years and told my boss that many times they're going to try to get rid of me.

[Margo Gray]

Scott's instincts were right. In February 2019, he was called into his boss's office and was told he was being let go. He had about a month before his replacement would take over. The official reason for his dismissal was his boss claimed it was because he lived out of state and wasn't spending enough time with the football team, something that had never been raised as an issue before. But Scott didn't buy it. He knew the real reason. This was retaliation for refusing to cave to coach Franklin, and Scott wasn't about to let it slide. Bombas makes the most comfortable socks, underwear and t shirts. Warning. Bombas are so absurdly comfortable, you may.

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[Margo Gray]

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[Margo Gray]

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[Dr. Scott Lynch]

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[Dr. Scott Lynch]

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[Ben Stiller]

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[Margo Gray]

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[Ben Stiller]

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[Margo Gray]

Scott was out of his job with Penn state football. The job loss stung, but that wasn't what kept him up at night. It was the players.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Because now I was no longer in a position to protect my patients, and they were essentially just throwing the patients to the wolves. So I gave my boss, a couple of days later a list of recommendations to put measures in place to mitigate this. At no point did I actually ask to be put back in. It was more to put policies in place to have oversight of the medical care, and he would not go along with it.

[Margo Gray]

Scott's recommendations weren't exactly controversial. They focused on making medical care more independent from coaches and improving how injured athletes are treated overall. But the response he got was disappointing.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Initially, they offered to put me on a committee, essentially with all the people who did the wrong thing. So there would be about five of them and one of me. How could I make any progress in that situation? It was just to shut me up, essentially try to pretend I had some kind of input or voice. And at that point, I realized they weren't interested in making the situation better. They were just interested in making it go away.

[Margo Gray]

Scott's repeated efforts to implement new policies or even get the school to listen went nowhere. So eventually, he made up his mind. The only way to get Penn State and the rest of the world to pay attention was to take the school to court. And that's just what he did. In August 2019, six months after his removal, Scott filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and whistleblower retaliation. Here's how coach Franklin responded.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

You know, I think you guys all know yesterday. Yesterday, Penn State health issued a statement rejecting Dr. Lynch's claims. We'll continue to vigorously defend our program and all its participants in this manner. As always, the health and well being of our student athletes is utmost importance to us. But after that, we'll have no further comment.

[Margo Gray]

From the outset of the lawsuit, it was clear Penn State had little interest in hearing what Scott had to say or in uncovering what had really happened. For Scott, the deepest betrayal came from someone he trusted implicitly, the integrity officer. For months, Scott had confided in this person, sharing concerns about coach Franklin and speaking openly about the pressure he was under. But once depositions began, that trust unraveled. The Integrity officer claimed that he'd shared Scott's reports with the university's leadership legal team. As a result, those conversations were now shielded by attorney client privilege, meaning none of the integrity Officer's findings could be used in court.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

That position was supposed to protect these kids from these types of things from happening, and for them to use that to try to hide things, it's just. I don't even know how to describe it.

[Margo Gray]

Scott says. What makes it even more disturbing is the history behind the role. The integrity officer position was created in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Sandusky was a longtime assistant football coach at Penn State who was convicted of child sexual abuse. The role of integrity officer was supposed to guarantee that when someone raised concerns about misconduct, the university would listen and act.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I mean, that's pretty sick that they're using that position in the totally opposite way of what it was meant to be.

[Margo Gray]

The integrity Officer's betrayal wasn't the only challenge Scott faced from Penn State. The university repeatedly tried to have his case dismissed before it ever reached A courtroom. Many sports reporters and legal analysts predicted it wouldn't make it to trial and that Scott would settle quietly and walk away.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I was never going to settle if they tried to make me shut up. The important thing for me was not getting money. The important thing was to get the information out and try to get something out there to affect change.

[Margo Gray]

In the end, dragged out by delays and legal maneuvering, it took five years for Scott's case to go to trial. Finally, the court date was set for May 20, 2024 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

My wife is nervous, but even if I lost, I still won because I got to get my information out. That was what was important to me.

[Margo Gray]

Scott may have been calm in the lead up to the trial, but his wife had good reason to be nervous. The jury was made up almost entirely of Penn State football fans. Plus Penn State had assembled a powerhouse legal team.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I think they had 10 legal people on their side. Just the number of attorneys that they had was just incredible. So a lot of funny ways it was the David and Goliath story because, you know, it's me who has not a lot of power against this gigantic institution. And then just visually I think it helped me as well. I'm five, six, My attorney's about my size as well. So it's two little guys fighting against.

[Margo Gray]

The big establishment and David and Goliath. It was. Over the course of the seven day trial, Scott's legal team presented a damning case. What emerged wasn't just a story of a coach who had crossed the line, but a portrait of systematic intimidation. Jurors heard, as we did earlier in the episode, that coach Franklin had ordered Scott to stop taping players cleats, not for medical reasons, but because the tape covered Nike's logo. They learned the coach had forbidden Scott from explaining injuries to players and had pressured him to rush athletes back onto the field. One witness testified that Franklin had even proposed to hanging a sign in the training room that read, the unmotivated player, the out of shape player, the hurt player and the bad player all look alike. Against this mountain of testimony, the defense had no good answers.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Each time they brought a witness on, I think the jury thought, here's another person not telling the truth. None of their stories matched with the facts of the case or the physical evidence, the emails and all the other things. It was clear that what they were saying was not true.

[Margo Gray]

The trial lasted seven days. On May 29, 2024, which happened to be Scott's 63rd birthday, the jury returned its verdict. They awarded a staggering $5.25 million in damages for wrongful termination. A multimillion dollar verdict handed down in.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Dauphin county court ruling in favor of.

[Margo Gray]

Of a full surgeon. Dr. Scott lynch was awarded over $5 million. I think there's no way to read that verdict. But a loss for James Franklin. The verdict far exceeded the expectations of many pundits and even of Scott's own lawyers. Scott believes the $5.25 million award sent a clear medical professionals must be free to prioritize patient health over wins and records. But there's little evidence that message is being heard at Penn State. Coach Franklin is still under a 10 year, $85 million contract. And across college football more broadly, nothing is changing either. Football players still live with a brutal calculus. Sit out too long and you might lose your starting position or worse, your scholarship. Technically, major conference schools aren't allowed to to refer revoke scholarships due to injury. But in practice, coaches often find creative workarounds. Meanwhile, the ncaa, the organization with the power to address the issue, has shown no interest in doing so. Despite repeated outreach from Scott and his attorney. They haven't even acknowledged his lawsuit.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

You know the NCAA not wanting to investigate, that's the story. The money is more important than protecting kids. It's obvious. And they'll come out with some lame statement about nothing's more important to us than the health and welfare of our student athletes. That's their comment every time. Well, show it. Actions speak a lot more than words do something. It's been a year, over a year since my verdict. Nobody yet has done anything to change something to protect these players. It's very sad.

[Margo Gray]

Protecting players the way Scott did takes real courage. And in today's system, there's little incentive for doctors to stick their neck out like that.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

I don't like disparaging my own colleagues, but a lot of the medical people give in because they get an ego trip. Being on the sidelines, you get marketing ability out of being a doc for the high profile team and the pressure is there to give in. You have to be pretty strong willed individual to maintain your beliefs and not get swayed by the power and, and the money that comes with it. And the power and the money keeps getting more and more and more.

[Margo Gray]

Scott thinks the media plays a role too. Since most sports reporters have little incentive to cover stories like this.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

It's a pretty good job, right? You get to go fly to the games and talk to the players. Many of the publications like Penn Live, they have two or three reporters that all they do is Penn State football. They don't want to get involved either, because it messes up their job.

[Margo Gray]

Scott says. It's not like fans are going to push for change either. Most just want to enjoy the game.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

They just don't want to think about it because sports is their escape from reality. It's their time to not have to think about their job if they're having a tough time at work or at home, if they're having a tough time at home. So it's their way to escape from all that and not have to think about the real world for a while. And the sad thing is that this is the real world. They don't want to think about kids getting taken advantage of and hurt because then it messes up their ability to escape from reality.

[Margo Gray]

As a result, Scott is convinced of one real change has to come from the players themselves. That's why he joined the College Football Players association, which is pushing to give athletes the power to collectively bargain with schools and conferences.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

The NFL, they have a players association, so they have collective bargaining, so they have more protections. They all have agents that can help them. Now the NFL is not perfect either, but it's much, much better than college situation. Especially some kid from a poor neighborhood without family support. He's got no one looking out for them unless the medical staff sticks up for them. If the medical staff is giving in to the coaches, which happens not that infrequently, that kid has nobody to protect him.

[Margo Gray]

The stakes are nothing short of life and death. Just last summer, during Bucknell's first practice, football player Calvin Dicke collapsed. He'd been showing visible signs of distress during drills, and the coaching staff was aware of a critical detail. Dickey carried sickle cell treat, a condition that dramatically increases the risk of complications during intense physical activity. But Dickey was forced to keep exercising until he collapsed. He ended up in the hospital, and on July 12, two days after his first practice at Bucknell, Calvin Dicke died at 18 years old. Campus Files is an Odyssey Original Podcast this episode was written and reported by Margo Gray. Campus Files is produced by Ian Mont Eliot Adler and me, Margo Gray. Our executive producer and story editors are Maddie Sprunkheiser and Lloyd Lockridge. Campus Files is edited, mixed and mastered by Chris Basel and Andy Jaskowitz. Special thanks to Jenna Weiss Berman, J.D. crowley, Leah Reese, Dennis Maura Curran, Josephina Francis, Kurt Courtney, Hilary Schuff, Sean Cherry, Laura Berman and Hannah Hilary Van Ornam. Original theme music by James Waterman and Davey Sumner. If you have tips or story ideas, write to [e-mail].

[Ben Stiller]

Hey, I'm Ben Stiller.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

And I'm Adam Scott.

[Ben Stiller]

And we host a podcast called the Severance Podcast, where we used to break down every episode of the TV show Severance.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

Severance isn't back just yet, but the podcast is.

[Ben Stiller]

Each week, we'll discuss the movies, TV shows and ideas that influence the making of Severance.

[Dr. Scott Lynch]

We're going to talk to the incredible artists who inspire us to do what we do.

[Ben Stiller]

The Severance podcast returns Thursday, June, 26. Follow and listen everywhere you get your podcasts.