Cam Skattebo, running back for the Arizona State Sun Devils, apologized on his Instagram story for remarks made during an appearance on the "Bring the Juice" podcast. Skattebo called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) "an excuse" when asked if it was "a real thing" and described asthma as "fake," imploring those with asthma to "just breathe air."
"I recently did an interview and had a lapse in judgment, which resulted in me making a tasteless joke about CTE and asthma. It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma," Skattebo wrote. "I sincerely apologize to anyone that was offended by my remarks, and I assure you that I’ll be more mindful and respectful going forward."
Skattebo, a senior from Santa Ana, California, rushed for 1,353 yards and 17 touchdowns in 13 games during the 2024 season, earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors.[1][2]
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts and concussions, according to the Mayo Clinic.[3] Research has identified CTE in the brains of more than 300 former football players, including over 100 former NFL players diagnosed posthumously.[4]
Sources
- ESPN. "Cam Skattebo 2024 Stats." Accessed October 2024. https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/stats/_/id/468539/cam-skattebo
- Arizona State University Athletics. "Cam Skattebo Bio." Accessed October 2024. https://thesundevils.com/sports/football/roster/cam-skattebo/25170
- Mayo Clinic. "Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)." Accessed October 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20370921
- Boston University CTE Center. "CTE Center Findings." Accessed October 2024. https://www.bu.edu/cte/about/frequently-asked-questions/
