Earlier this year, the NCAA approved new technology rules for college football. The ACC, SEC, and Big Ten subsequently announced partnerships with Apple to integrate iPads into their workflows.
In a post on its newsroom today, Apple details how college football teams have adopted the iPad Pro with M4 and nano-texture display.
Here's Doug Aucoin, Louisiana State University's director of video operations and the “godfather of SEC video coordinators,” on an iPad Pro:
The new iPad Pro with nano-texture display technology is incredible. If the nano-texture glass on the new iPad Pro wasn't available, it would be nearly impossible to view any of the footage on the field with the glare that comes from the sun.
From Polaroid cameras to thermal printers… and now we've evolved to the iPad with full in-game video. And you know, my dad was the first one to do that years ago. So it's kind of a proud moment for me to be able to see the evolution of all of this.”
Alex Mirabal, offensive line coach at the University of Miami, explains how he used an iPad Pro when his team made a big comeback against Cal last month:
“On the sixth play of the game, we gave up a sack. So after the series, I was able to show the offensive line, 'See, this is what let us down. When we see this look again, this is how we need to handle it.'
And later in the game, they ran that same blitz look, and boom, we picked it up. So that's really, really helpful. It's just a matter of us as coaches not being afraid to let technology continue to permeate the game.
But I don't think — I know that having iPads on the sideline has had a huge positive impact on the game. There's not a coach in America that would say that's a negative”
Miami wide receiver Isaiah Horton adds:
“Where’s the iPad? Where’s the iPad?” That’s the first thing we do when we walk off the field. That means the visuals have to be there, rather than just saying, “Hey, this is what I saw, but I don’t know what you saw because the quarterbacks are looking at one side of the field and I’m on the complete opposite side of the field.”
Check out the full post on Apple Newsroom to learn more about how iPad Pro is being used by college football teams this season. It offers a fascinating look at some of the technology, including how Apple and college football teams are working with software company DVSport and sports analytics company Catapult.
