Helmet comms is a start, but critics say more steps needed to stop sign-stealing in college football

This whole sign-stealing mess could be solved in, well, a snap.

Part of the answer lies in a small two-room office in Rochester, Minn. It is there that GoRout, a firm well-known in football circles, makes its headquarters. The company has staff in 23 states. Its products are in all 50 states and three countries. GoRout now supplies 45 Division I programs with communication devices that, for the first time in FBS, will be more than a talking point.

They’ll be the foundation for the future. That is, if you really want to get rid of the Connor Stalions of the world.

“That was our pitch to the [NCAA Football Rules] committee,” said Mike Rolih, GoRout founder and CEO. “That was our pitch to every conference. What you guys are talking about doing is not going to solve your ultimate problem.”

That problem is the gray area that Stalions — Michigan’s infamous rogue sign-stealer — blew past in the case the NCAA said recently reflected “a pattern of non-compliance” by Michigan. Coincidentally, the NCAA in the offseason adopted coach-to-player helmet communications (referred to hereon as “helmet comms”) that, in theory, should cut down on that sign-stealing. The NFL has been using the technology since 1994.

Coaches for all 134 FBS teams will now be able to call in plays into the helmet of one player on each side of the ball. Like the NFL, the technology will switch off with 15 seconds left on the play clock.

The average fan probably won’t even notice. But as the 2024 season opens, it may prove to be the biggest rule change in recent years, in part because it can’t cure sign-stealing. At least not altogether. That’s where Rolih and GoRout come in. The company is arguably the industry leader in what are called “wearables” — electronic devices worn…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/helmet-comms-is-a-start-but-critics-say-more-steps-needed-to-stop-sign-stealing-in-college-football/

Author : Dennis Dodd

Publish date : 2024-08-13 15:53:06

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