We noted this week that one helmet maker, Riddell, was urging football players to switch helmets after researchers at Virginia Tech gave one Riddell model a one-star rating and another Riddell model a five-star rating in a study of the effectiveness of football helmets. But another helmet maker, Xenith, has a very different view of the Virginia Tech research.
In a statement provided to PFT, Xenith called into question the methodology of the Virginia Tech researchers and suggested that the use of star ratings for helmets is silly.
“Do not believe any overly simplistic claims, any short story, and do not rely on anyone’s granting of stars,” the statement said. “Stars are for kindergartners.”
The tone of Xenith’s statement is dismissive, and the company clearly questions whether the Virginia Tech researchers were really able to replicate how well helmets protect football players’ brains. Xenith has long questioned the effectiveness of the kind of helmet research that was done by Virginia Tech.
Xenith said its feelings on the research had nothing to do with how Xenith helmets have fared in the testing done at Virginia Tech.
“Although Xenith’s X1 Football Helmet was rated quite ‘well’ (four stars) according to this concept, we’re actually opposed to this process, unmoved by this information, and feel it is most important to provide you with the truth,” the statement said.
So when Xenith doesn’t believe in the research methodology, it’s not surprise that Xenith doesn’t buy into the research results.