Far too often, Erich Grau stood at the open window of the classroom and hoped that it would pass.

That this terrible headache would finally go away.

“I set myself a limit of ten aspirins a day,” says the former high school teacher.

“But I had partially reached this limit at 11 o'clock.

Then I could hardly speak, because the lips and tongue were all furry from the tablets. ”He made mistakes on the board, lost concentration and later lost his bearings.

Students brought him to the classroom.

“It was pathetic and degrading,” says Grau.

It still bothered him today.

Formerly a very fit competitive athlete, first quarterback of the American football team, founding member of the Bundesliga and the Ansbach Grizzlies.

Then he couldn't find the classroom.

It's been ten years since he had to give up his job at 55.

The severe headache is gone, but it marked the beginning of something that he couldn't place for a long time.

Meanwhile, Grau knows: His football passion of yore, the repeated blows to the head, have led to severe brain damage.

Most likely he has chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

“Fortunately, it can't be proven yet,” he says.

And laughs.

"Then I would be dead."