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Tim Nelson

Former Gopher among players suing NCAA over football concussions

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A former Minnesota Gopher linebacker is one of three college football veterans that have filed suit against the NCAA because of injuries they suffered on the field.

Joseph Balthazor was a linebacker with the Gophers from 2009 to last year. A lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis claims he suffered traumatic head injuries playing defense for the team. The complaint cites a game against Miami of Ohio in which he was blind sided during a kick return and couldn't remember the rest of the game. The lawsuit says he still suffers dizziness and irritability and will need long-term medical monitoring.

The suit also includes former Vanderbilt running backs Paul Morgan and Cliff Deese. They are seeking class action status for their lawsuit, and say the NCAA breached its duty to protect players or tell them about what they call "life altering risks" of college football.

The suit seeks medical monitoring and testing for former players who are suffering from head injuries related to their playing days. The suit seeks class-action status, but is limited to players who did not play in the NFL.

The NCAA hasn't formally responded to the suit yet, which was filed yesterday.