In light of the Michigan football sign stealing scandal, many have taken to social media to wonder why college football doesn’t utilize on-field radio communication between coaches and players the way the NFL does.
For the uninitiated, the NCAA has opened an investigation into the Wolverines’ program, which is reportedly focused on an elaborate sign-stealing scheme. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the investigation centers on a Michigan staffer named Connor Stalions, who is a retired captain in the United States Marine Corps. While Stalions officially works in the Wolverines’ recruiting department, according to sources, “it was known in the building that he spent much of his time deciphering opponents’ signals, often watching television copies of opponents’ games.”
While stealing signs isn’t officially banned in the sport, scouting future opponents in person has been outlawed in college football since 1994. A source told Thamel that the Michigan scandal “is worse than both the Astros and the Patriots” cheating scandals, as “it’s both use of technology for a competitive advantage and there’s allegations that they are filming prior games, not just in-game.”
Presumably, a team that scouts a future opponent in person could spend time capturing the team’s sideline signals and then match them with the plays that are then run.
So why hasn’t college football just moved to one-way radio communications instead of sideline signals to avoid such issues from arising? It’s likely a matter of both logistics and cost. But while Chris Vanini of The Athletic reported on a company, CoachComm, that is looking to bridge that gap in 2022, such a system has yet to be put in place.
As news of the Michigan scandal has engulfed the college football world, many have taken to social media to wonder why the sport has yet to to modernize the on-field communication between coaches and players.
The Michigan sign-stealing accusations bring up two major issues. One of those is very complex and will take a while to solve.
The other can be solved by next season. PUT THE RADIO IN THE HELMET.https://t.co/qE87d8CkUi pic.twitter.com/d52IFY4QUK
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) October 19, 2023
Re: The Spygate U situation … What possible reason is there anymore for players at the major college level not to get playcalls over helmet radio communication? I assume at one point it was cost, but it can't be that anymore.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 20, 2023
Sign stealing is a thing coaches and staffs shouldn’t have to spend hours scheming to either perpetrate or protect from.
College football is awash with TV money and it’s time to just nut up and put the helmet radio system the NFL uses. The money is there and it’s just time.
— Ben Koo (@bkoo) October 20, 2023
Huge idea for the brainiacs running college football at the NCAA:
Why not have radio helmets like the NFL does for the QB and linebacker calling defensive schemes?
Signals or signs are then obsolete and unnecessary.
— HUGE (@Hugeshow) October 20, 2023
But seriously folks, let's get a little radio in college football QB's helmets to call the plays in.
The NFL started doing this 29 years ago.
— Maize & Blue Nation
(@MaizeBlueNation) October 20, 2023
Helmet radio headsets are past due for college football. Don’t bring up the cost. Teams will spend more on medical tape or gloves than they would on radios. https://t.co/Iffb9d9rsV
— Welcome to UAB (@WelcomeToUAB) October 20, 2023
One would imagine that considering the prominence of the Michigan scandal, calls for radios in helmets in college football will only continue. It will be interesting to see whether the sport adjusts accordingly in the near future.
[ESPN]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.