Nate Newton has lost almost 200 pounds.
His son, Tre, has lost his interest in playing football.
Tre, a running back at Texas, decided this week to give up football in part because of numerous concussions. The sophomore missed last week's loss to Oklahoma State after sustaining a concussion in a loss to Kansas State on November 6.
Though team doctors advised him to give up football to avoid long-term problems, Newton was also never as fully committed to the sport as his father. Can't blame Tre, as others in the sport - like SMU's Derrius Bell - are also learning that there is life after football and are making career-path decisions accordingly.
Newton, who also sustained a concussion in 2009 and one in high school, will stay on scholarship and work to finish his degree in corporate communications at UT.
At one point we all thought Newton would help lead UT to a national championship. And, of course, at one point we also thought that Todd Dodge, Riley Dodge, Newton, et al, would parlay their success at Southlake Carroll High School to trophies at the next level.
Looks like, at this point, we are all wrong.
