Did Iowa State Develop the Football Knee Brace?
- Thread starter StClone
- Start date
Pretty sure nobody else is taking credit so we might as well. Ya not like someone will call us out on it
A Google search finds a Dr. McDavid from ISU that invented the first knee brace in 1967. ISU being Indiana State University
Frank Randall (ISU athletic trainer) was instrumental in the implementation of the bilateral knee brace in the early 1980s. ISU and Iowa were the only teams wearing them the first few years.
The ole “claiming an NCAA football championship from an irrelevant year’s past move” - well played.
Here is some info on Frank from when he was inducted into the ISU hall of fame.
http://cyclones.com/sports/2015/3/2/GEN_20140101104.aspx
http://cyclones.com/sports/2015/3/2/GEN_20140101104.aspx
I had a class with Randall. He was a little crusty even almost 30 years ago, but it was clear that he knew his stuff and he could definitely teach it. I didn't go into coaching or athletic training but I still pick my memory banks of things he taught us when I encounter an injury.
Our local high school back in the day was fortunate to be a part of the ISU student trainer program. One of the benefits other than having student trainers on the sidelines on Friday nights was that we were able to obtain those braces for use. I think we as players leased them. What I remember from those days back in the mid 80s is that they worked great until the athletic tape holding them on began to fail. Then they slid down and became useless. They may have not slowed down big college linemen, but they seemed to a bit on scrawny high school kids...but no worse than all the helmets and pads which were way heavier than what they wear today.
Frank Randall taught me how to tape ankles and knees!
Maybe frank Randall training center would be more fitting?
While those braces probably saved knees they absolutely sucked to wear. As a previous poster mentioned the tape would get sweaty and the brace would slide down and you'd have to have it re-taped. Also if the trainer didn't put it on properly the plastic piece would dig into your shin and that sucked. They were also very clunky and slowed you down a lot.
