Penn State's undefeated run continued on Saturday night at Ohio State, thanks to a fourth-quarter, come-from-behind rally by its quarterback...Pat Devlin.

Pat Devlin? Where was Penn State's star quarterback Daryll Clark?

While the backup Devlin was sneaking in the game's lone touchdown in what would be a 13-6 win, Clark was standing on the sidelines with an irate look on his face. It was later learned that Clark had suffered a concussion during the game and was being held out by the Penn State coaches and doctors, which is why Devlin had the opportunity for the late game heroics.

Penn State's decision was responsible, prudent and an example for others. Clark's coaches showed remarkable restraint by sidelining the star and they should be commended for their efforts to put his safety above an undefeated season.

You would think holding student-athletes out of physical contact activities would be a no-brainer in situations like these, but that's not always the case. You frequently see student-athletes enter the game with serious injuries that could be career or life-threatening if something were to go wrong.

And that's a scary thought.

Student-athlete safety is a critical issue in college sports, and the responsibility ultimately falls on some combination of the coaches, team doctors, and student-athletes themselves.

If you need further proof about how dangerous situations like these can be, read about the story of Ryne Dougherty, a 16-year-old high school football player who died a few weeks ago after suffering a brain hemorrhage during a game. Dougherty had a concussion several weeks before, and was cleared to play by doctors despite complaining about post-concussion symptoms to a teammate.

Dougherty's situation is extremely sad and unfortunate, and should be viewed as a lesson for all student-athletes. Communication is the key, and at all times, student-athletes need to honestly convey how they are feeling to their coaches and doctors.

Technology is beginning to aid these communication efforts between coaches and student-athletes. Some high school football teams have began using helmets with special sensor technology, which records every physical impact to the head. The information is transmitted to a nearby computer, and can help prevent head injuries by pulling players off the field who are showing concussion-like symptoms.

Until these types of helmets and other sensor devices are widely implemented at the college level, safety will be the jurisdiction of coaches and student-athletes.

Everybody needs to remember that the well-being of student-athletes is exponentially more important than the result on the field. It only takes one Ryne Dougherty to remind us.

What do you think can be done to protect student-athletes?