I've noticed the last few years college football players wearing their pants above the knees leaving the knees totally exposed/unprotected.  Some pants I've seen resemble cut-off jean shorts.  Yes, wearing knee pads to cover the knees won't stop a ligament or cartilage tear, but it could stop bruising (possibly a bone bruise), cuts, scraps or the pain of a helmet to the knee.  NFL players fully have pads covering their knees (must be a rule). I don't get it.