Helmet technology is coming to college football. Just not quite yet for Memphis.
The Tigers kicked off spring practices on Tuesday, but coach Ryan Silverfield said the American Athletic Conference hasn’t yet signed off allowing helmet microphones during practices. The NCAA is expected to formally approve a proposal that will allow the technology to be used this season, and that’ll obviously mean significant changes to the way teams call and relay plays to the field.
Silverfield said he’s looking to clarify a few rules about how the technology will be used. He also said he’ll draw on his experience in the NFL (with the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions), where helmet technology has been used for years.
“As we clarify those rules, it’s something we’ll certainly take advantage of,” Silverfield said. “I’ve called around to some of these NFL teams to say, ‘Hey, is there anything unique or different you’re doing?’ We’ll be advantageous with it. But we’re also not going to really change what we do dramatically.”
The OK from the conference could come as soon as this week, Silverfield said, and he and the rest of the coaching staff are ready to start using it as soon as possible. Only one player on each side of the ball can wear the helmet with the technology in it, and that means it’ll likely be the quarterback (Seth Henigan) on offense and a linebacker (likely Chandler Martin for Memphis) on defense. The communication would then cut off with 15 seconds left on the play clock.
“I’m excited,” Silverfield said. “It’ll be like a new toy out there. Seth, and if it’s Chandler, will be tired of me talking in their ear. They’re waiting for that 15 second cutoff.”
The move to helmet technology is expected to help quell a problem that got significant national attention in college football last season: Sign stealing. An alleged…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/memphis-football-coach-ryan-silverfield-030430767.html
Author : The Commercial Appeal
Publish date : 2024-03-20 03:04:30
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