South Carolina vs Vanderbilt
 

I noticed multiple officials wearing some sort of headset during the game tonight. The white hat had an earpiece only. Can someone shed some light on this? Are they able to communicate their penalties to the referee from long range now?

They are trying out a system where the officials will communicate to the Referee what penalty has been called without having to go directly to the Referee to tell them the foul and the number. The NFL is trying this out too and I believe the Big Ten will use this system this year. Not sure it will stick but the Referee only needs to hear what the official have to help speed up the games.

Peace

Thanks Jeff. It won't eliminate all huddles, I would think, since there are multiple penalty situations and stuff where the officials need to huddle. Maybe give the white hat a microphone and he can talk to the crew as well so they can figure it out.

But, like you said, they're trying it out.

This system was used in all state championship games in our state last year as a "beta" test. Both the SEC and NFL had observers on-site to evaluate and help tweak the system.

I know the Big Ten tried the system out in spring practices and some spring games this year (I know a few of the guys that were beta testing officials)... My understanding is that they weren't going to use it this season.

I know there have been a few concerns about it, but nothing that can't be worked around with a bit of thinking and a couple of technological tweaks.

My guess is that it'll be implemented at the D1 level within 5 years, and filter down to DII and DIII within 10.

It wouldn't completely eliminate huddles as in many multiple flag situations or complicated applications there would need to be a conversation with multiple fouls to apply the rules properly. I think it will speed up the false start, encroachment or even one flag situations like a DPI that might be obvious to others what we will do on the penalty.

Peace

The play in question:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yOFFFTIpKmQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I saw that when it happened. The B was looking right at it, with the same angle as the EZ camera, right between the players. It was quick, but not that quick. No doubt he's kicking himself today.

That is kind of a bad miss and the B would be the only one I could see making this call. Then again he had one shot and we have slow motion.

Peace

When the wide receivers take the 'stick-um' off their gloves, then they can complain about pass interference.

This statement makes absolutely no sense to me...especially in the context of a WR having his arm pulled before the arrival of the ball.

APG, please don't feed the trolls.