Oregon Public Broadcasting

The McMinnville High School football team started practice for the fall season this afternoon. The team's numbers were reduced after more than a dozen players ended up in the hospital last week. They'd attended what appears to have been a particularly grueling training camp. OPB's Kristian Foden-Vencil traveled to McMinnville today for a press conference given by school officials.

Beth Hyams: Before we get any deeper into the story. Can you just give us an idea of what happened with these kids?

Kristian Foden-Vencil:  Well players attended a one-day so-called 'immersion-camp' August 15th -- this was the Sunday before yesterday.

It was run by the High School's new coach Jeff Kearin.  And students were put through their paces -- particularly their upper bodies and arms.

They did a series of push-ups and "chair dips" indoors, where there was no air-conditioning. Temperatures outside were in the 90s.

Players have said they weren't allowed to drink until they completed their excercises. They say it was pretty tough as they pushed one another to impress the new coach.

Beth Hyams: I never played football in High School. But isn't this kind of thing par for the course?

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Well, yes and no. There are a few factors hear that seem to have sent things over the edge.

First, the players weren't as well conditioned as usual -- they've been on summer vacation for the last couple of months.

Second, it's a new coach. The players were anxious to prove themselves to him. And in turn, the coach probably wanted to send a message to them -- you know, this is going to be tough.

Third, I've talked to a few people who've been through this kind of fitness regiment and it does seem a little unusual for a coach to withold water -- especially in such hot conditions.

And finally, according to Charles Webb, the doctor of Portland State University's football team, there can be an over use of protein bars and nutrition shakes nowadays.

Charles Webb: "A lot of these nutritional drinks, supplements, typically have a stimulant of some sort in them. Most commonly used stimulant is caffine, which we know has some dehydrating properties as well. When you get dehydrated you don't have the same amount of volume to push the toxins out of the system, as well as the movement of the blood to carry oxygen and nutrients to the muscles themselves. So all of those things have a tendency to make you predisposed to dehydration, renal problem, liver problems, muscular fatigue. They do carry a significant amount of risk."

Kristian Foden-Vencil: He called it a perfect storm of issues.

Craig Winkler, the doctor of McMinnville High School's football team, has asked for blood tests on the players. He's going to check for the presents of creatine that could explain what happened. Those results will be available later this week.

Beth Hyams: Well how serious is this. Are these kids facing long-term problems or is this something they can get over pretty quickly?

Kristian Foden-Vencil: Well, you know what's interesting is that they all left practice as usual. On Monday they felt sore, but it wasn't until Tuesday that real problems in the form of serious pain started to surface.Apparently that's what happens for rhabdomyolysis (Rab-doe-my-olly-sis) -- which is essentially the break down of muscle.

It's painful and toxins from that break down build up in the blood stream and can cause kidney problems.Three of the players have undergone emergency surgery on their arms -- so that's serious. There's also talk of another muscle disorder -- 'compartment syndrome' -- which is more serious.

But PSU Football team's doctor, Charls Webb, says most players shouldn't suffer long-term problems.