New Technology is Coming to College Football and the Gator Sideline

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In 2024 we will see coach-to-player communications through the helmet of one player on the field this season, designated with a green dot on the midline of the helmet.

Communication will be turned off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or the snap of the ball, whichever comes first. The technology has been used in the NFL for years but slow to get to the college game due to cost, liability and the helmets themselves.

    Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tighf Ends Coach Russ Callaway spoke about the new helmets at Tuesday's press conference:

“It will be interesting to see how it works. We're kind of still working through the kinks of it with camp because this is the first time that we've done it. I do think there will be some benefit with different ways that people get in the play calls.

“However, there are certain backup plans you have to have in place if something were to go wrong with the headset on game day. Sometimes it will go out for a drive, maybe get you cut off. You've got to have different ways to get the play in.

“That's one thing we've obviously very closely studied and monitored and called upon guys in the NFL and have developed a system of our own. We're going to kind of give that a trial run in camp and scrimmages and kind of see how that plays out.”

Recently Callaway clarified his role.

After one season as the Gators’ tight ends coach, he took on more responsibility within the offensive scheme. One of those expected responsibilities is having more input in the play-calling and design. 

Callaway has denied he would be taking full control of the Gators’ play-calling.

“I think really it's overall a team effort,” he said on Tuesday. “When I got here a few years ago, I worked with Coach Napier in the past, Coach (Rob) Sale in the past, and I believe, and we believe it's about getting your players in the best situation possible.

When asked how he liked the new helmet communication, Callaway responded:

“I do like it. I think it's a good deal. There are some things that are going to be a little different working through whether you're signaling or how are you going to get the play in? What are you going to say?

“I think there's a couple different ways you can go with it, and we've got to see what fits really our quarterbacks the best because at the end of the day, you've got to give them what they want to hear. Sometimes it may be too much information. Sometimes it may be not enough. I think per quarterback per team it could be a little bit different.”

Perhaps this will help in signal stealing. The big Michigan scandal comes to mind before coach Jim Harbaugh ran off to the NFL. It definitely can't hurt when it comes to communication as the college game and the pro game inch closer and closer to being the same.