CLEVELAND -- A state appeals court in Cleveland has ruled that the widow of a former Notre Dame football player can proceed with claims in a lawsuit that said her husband was disabled by and ultimately died from concussion-related head injuries suffered during his college career in the 1970s.Steve Schmitz was alive but suffering from dementia and early onset Alzheimers disease when he and his wife, Yvette, sued the NCAA and the university in Cuyahoga County in October 2014. The lawsuit alleged both institutions had shown reckless disregard for the safety of college football players and for their failure to educate and protect players from concussions.The lawsuit said the link between repeated blows to the head and brain-related injuries and illnesses had been known for decades, but it wasnt until 2010 that the NCAA required colleges to formulate concussion protocols to remove an athlete from a game or practice and be evaluated by doctors if there were signs of a concussion.Records show Schmitz, a standout at St. Edward High School in the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, was a kick returner, running back and wide receiver for Notre Dame from 1974 to 1977.The lawsuit said Schmitz was diagnosed by the Cleveland Clinic in 2012 with a latent brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and suffered from severe memory loss, dementia and Alzheimers. Schmitz died in February 2015 at a hospice. He was 59.David Langfitt, one of Yvette Schmitzs attorneys, told The Associated Press on Tuesday theres no way to know many concussions Schmitz suffered at Notre Dame, but said it undoubtedly was many.We do know that CTE has only one cause and thats repetitive head impacts of any kind, Langfitt said.A Cuyahoga County judge dismissed all the lawsuits claims in September 2015. The 8th District Court of Appeals ruled last week that the judge erred in dismissing claims of negligence, fraud and loss of consortium against the NCAA and Notre Dame and a second fraud claim against Notre Dame.An attorney representing Notre Dame declined to comment when asked if an appeal was planned.Concussions and their effect on the brain have received considerable attention in recent years as researchers concluded there is a link between CTE and Lou Gehrigs disease, Parkinsons, Alzheimers and dementia. The NFL announced Monday that it would begin paying former players in the next few months from the leagues $1 billion settlement of a class-action lawsuit after the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed two pending challenges.A number of class-action lawsuits have been filed this year against the NCAA and universities by former players over the handling of concussions by schools during their collegiate careers.Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. Discount MLB Jerseys . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. https://www.mlbjerseyschina.us/ . Manuel was offered a position the day he was fired. He accepted earlier this week and the team made the announcement Friday. Cheap MLB Jerseys From China . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. MLB Jerseys Outlet . DAmigo scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner as the Toronto Marlies edged the San Antonio Rampage 5-4 in American Hockey League action.Force India owner Vijay Mallya has confirmed Sergio Perez will remain at the team alongside Nico Hulkenberg next year, although the Mexican says he is still considering his options.Perez and Hulkenberg were paired together by Force India in 2014 and have helped the teams resurgence in the V6 turbo era, which included a best-ever fifth place in the constructors championship last year. Perez has scored four podiums in two years, including two this year in Monaco and Baku.Perezs impressive performances this season saw him linked with a switch to Ferrari, although Kimi Raikkonen was confirmed for another year at Maranello on Friday morning ahead of the British Grand Prix. In the hours after that news had been announced Mallya confirmed his own team would remain unchanged for another season.We are very happy with Nico and Checo, he said. Both are signed for 2017 and really I havent thought about it beyond that.We are very early, much earlier than normal, because usually we wait until the winter before announcing our drivers. This time we signed both for 2017 well in advance and of course todays announcement from Ferrari put to resst a lot of speculation that has been taking place in the last few weeks.ddddddddddddHowever, when Perez was asked to confirm the news, he said he was still keeping his options open until after the summer break.First of all, lets see, Perez said. I havent made up my decision on where my future will be. I want to take some time off and reflect on things over the summer break. Right now it is so intense that I dont want to waste any energy, I want to give it all to my team because we are in a very important part of the calendar with three races in the next four weeks.Thats the main target for me, to give it my all, and come away from these three races with a lot of points. Then I will sit down with my people and see what is the best for my future.Asked whether Mallya had reported the news incorrectly, Perez said: Im not saying that, Im just saying I will make up my decision on what I will do for the future. Im not saying that what Vijay said is wrong. But I havent made any decision on my future yet. ' ' '