Helmet Comms for non-CFP Bowl Games Approved
That's the big headline. The very relevant part comes in the body of the article.
The Big Ten proposed the addition of helmet communications prior to this season, which the NCAA rules committee did not approve for the regular season.
However, it is going to allow them on a trial basis during non-CFP bowl games in order to determine the possible effects of helmet communications. If only one conference had access to them in-season, it could create an unfair playing field.
I wonder if the CFP has to give the OK for them to be used in their games, but I find it very interesting that the B1G actually pushed for this.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:14 PM ^
Possible effects?????
Like what??? Nacho cheese oozing out of players' heads????
There's only one effect. No chance at sign stealing!!!
Except for the team who hires Signals Stalions Sign Stealers Inc...
November 8th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^
mmmm nachos!
November 8th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
Maybe Silver Shamrock makes them??
November 8th, 2023 at 1:50 PM ^
Well some Sonner Ctalions might crack the encryption (I presume there's encryption) but it'll probably be legal because apparently the B1G and NCAA aren't caught up to the effin' Industrial Revolution on these matters.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:19 PM ^
ya. not like there's decades of evidence from the nfl that they can analyze
November 8th, 2023 at 3:56 PM ^
There should be no impact on the players. I do have concerns about the impact on tinfoil hat wearing coaches.
November 8th, 2023 at 4:34 PM ^
Possible effect? Well, for one, we won't need sign-stealers so Connor Stallions will be out of a job...oh, wait...
November 8th, 2023 at 4:39 PM ^
Hello, is this Signals Stalions Sign Stealers Inc.?
Yes I would like to buy a used vacuum and perhaps clean up after myself at your Air BnB.
It’s hard to hear you because you are in a car. Did you just say I could meet Blake Corum at your NIL event in Wyoming?
November 8th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
NCAA needs to validate that the technology the NFL has been successfully using for 29 years still works I guess.
One of the best suggestions I've heard regarding this entire nonsensical affair was that the B1G should simply fine Michigan whatever the cost of implementing helmet communication league-wide will cost and call it a day.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:20 PM ^
That actually seems perfect. Someone thinking outside the box.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:33 PM ^
Prolly a suggestion from Dan Wetzel - amirite?
November 8th, 2023 at 1:23 PM ^
How long before the tin foil hat wearing folks in Columbus and East Lansing start complaining that Michigan ordered the helmet communications so we know the frequency that's used and can still listen in?
November 8th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
I'm worried about the health of UM students and staff. How long until some Spatry goon starts demanding that Kenneth tell him the frequency?
November 8th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
You just HAD to drop a R.E.M reference, didn't ya? lol
Now I have that song in my head
November 8th, 2023 at 2:07 PM ^
It's really a Dan Rather reference, which R.E.M. later referenced in their song.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:26 PM ^
+3 for Dan Rather reference. Many probably scurrying to wikipedia, "Who is Dan Rather?"
November 8th, 2023 at 2:00 PM ^
+1 for great R.E.M. song reference.
November 8th, 2023 at 11:41 PM ^
I never understood the frequency, uh-huh
November 8th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
Personally I think that Ohio booster who hired the PI firm should pay for the transition.
Freaking drama queen that one... 🙄
November 8th, 2023 at 1:26 PM ^
That the NCAA is already doing this supports my contention that regardless of what happens to Michigan or Harbaugh, the NCAA will within a year or two quietly rescind the 1994 rule against in-person scouting.
Just two years ago the NCAA itself actively considered rescinding the rule, as it concluded that in-person scouting conferred "minimal competitive advantage" relative to the cost of trying to enforce it.
Given that the rule was initially put into place not because of some high-minded moral or ethical imperative about the sanctity of college football but as a cost-saving rule for those programs that didn't want to spend the money on hiring professional video people, it doesn't make any sense for the rule to last much longer now that the NCAA is beginning to approve helmet communications that make sign-stealing largely irrelevant.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:30 PM ^
Wanted to ask if you have reference to NCAA finding 2 years ago... Would appreciate it..
November 8th, 2023 at 1:34 PM ^
Here you go—it's in Brian's post on October 23—scroll down a bit to "The NCAA acknowledges this is not a major advantage."
November 8th, 2023 at 1:27 PM ^
YOU get a radio and YOU get a radio and YOU get....
I'm down with that if it makes this whole thing calm down.
But next month, I'm still leakin' some shit about Ohio.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
NCAA needs to validate that the technology the NFL has been successfully using for 29 years still works I guess.
No, the NCAA needs to first figure out how to profit from the technology
November 8th, 2023 at 1:58 PM ^
That suggestion would have been good three weeks ago. Now it's silly considering the material damage done to Michigan's (and Harbaugh's) brand and legal costs.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:01 PM ^
Yes. Do this and then don't let Michigan use them the first year.
Give everyone back the huge disadvantage they have been living with.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:32 PM ^
What disadvantage? Everyone is decoding signs and apparently other teams are colluding with each other to share M's signs.
November 8th, 2023 at 3:38 PM ^
You are going to regret not using the /s tag.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:08 PM ^
I like it but what does OSU get fined for sharing stolen signs with Purdue and worse an out of conference foe?
November 8th, 2023 at 3:30 PM ^
They can split the tab along with Purdue Michigan and Rutger.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:20 PM ^
time to reinvest in that radio shack stock
November 8th, 2023 at 3:24 PM ^
I think we should share the cost with OSU, Rutger, and Purdue, just for starters...
November 8th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
I'm halfway surprised that it didn't include in the article that Michigan wouldn't be eligible to use it.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:22 PM ^
More plausible, Michigan's opponents would be allowed to use them.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:38 PM ^
It did, it clearly said CFP teams will not be eligible to use it.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:53 PM ^
oooooh, that's a good comeback. <3 u
November 8th, 2023 at 1:16 PM ^
So there is a solution?
I was wondering how coaches were going to communicate with players now that signaling from the sidelines is detrimental and obsolete. I was going to suggest carrier pigeons but helmet radio communication does seem easier.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:40 PM ^
But would we void the warranties on the carrier pidgeons? Asking for a friend in State College.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:45 PM ^
Warranties aside, I’m sure opposing B1G coaches would claim an unfair advantage when Harbaugh starts using hawks instead of pigeons.
Everyone would cry fowl either way.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
Anything is hackable. I guess it’s better but won’t change that much. Tells and even straight up cracking the (assumed) encryption?.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:21 PM ^
1. The NFL has been using this technology since 1994
2. There is a metric shit-ton more money involved in the NFL than any random college game so if these communications were easily hackable my guess is somebody would've successfully done it in the past 29 years.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
Bill Belichek! Not you again!
November 8th, 2023 at 1:32 PM ^
Agreed, but if it is being done successfully enough, we might not even know it.
November 8th, 2023 at 1:55 PM ^
Vegas would know. Vegas always knows…
November 8th, 2023 at 1:35 PM ^
I upvoted this in part because of your use of “metric shit-ton” (which I reckon is equal to roughly 1.1023 imperial shit-tons).
November 8th, 2023 at 1:19 PM ^
The Big Ten ladies and gentlemen! Unwind a pointless and valueless rule, but be sure to skewer Michigan with it once before we toss the rule aside.
November 8th, 2023 at 2:24 PM ^
that's the ncaa. ask rich rod and mitch mcgary
November 8th, 2023 at 1:19 PM ^
It's good to highlight this amidst the torrent of "news", as I'm not sure people were aware the Big Ten proposed this, but this helmet com in bowls has been in stories for a couple weeks now.
Just highlights that if sign stealing was actually a "player safety" issue and act of perversion SO profound and disgusting that decorum prohibits listing them here, it could be fixed in a few weeks.