Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Big 12: No foul play with unsecured helmet comms

Written by 
Published in Breaking News
Thursday, 31 October 2024 14:54

The Big 12 determined Thursday that none of its games were compromised by unencrypted frequencies used with coach-to-player in-game communications this season.

Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that the coach-to-player communications for all Power 4 college football games this season have been on unencrypted frequencies, and Texas Tech requested a report from the Big 12 on its recent games against TCU and Baylor -- both losses -- to ensure the integrity of the games were not compromised.

Athletic director Kirby Hocutt said he raised the issue during a call with Big 12 athletic directors Tuesday, after learning that anyone with a scanner and knowledge of how to locate the frequencies had access to those in-game communications.

"Following the industry-wide concerns surrounding helmet communications, the Big 12 conducted a review of conference games and helmet communications processes to address any issues member institutions raised regarding this matter," the Big 12 said in a statement issued Thursday. "The review showed that at no point was any Big 12 competition compromised."

In addition, all Big 12 helmet communication programs now have the update from GSC that provides encryption, and schools may use either CoachComm or GSC for coach-to-player communication at their discretion.

GSC is the helmet communication device provider for all 68 teams in Power 4 conferences this season.

"We've got to have a game whose integrity is not questionable in any way on a Saturday afternoon," Hocutt told ESPN on Wednesday. "We owe it to the 120 young men on our football team to ensure that happens, that it's a game of fair competition and the same set of rules are enforced."

The revelation that college football teams have not been using encrypted frequencies has frustrated several Big 12 athletic directors, who believed the Power 4 schools had the same encrypted setup used in the NFL, sources said.

This is the first college football season that the in-game use of coach-to-player helmet communications and tablets has been permitted at the FBS level. The NCAA approved the rules change in April, six months after launching an investigation into Michigan's alleged signal-stealing scheme under former staffer Connor Stalions.

Football operations executives for the SEC, Big 12, Big Ten and ACC have worked together with GSC in the four weeks since to investigate potential concerns and move to a more encrypted and secure platform.

Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2) opted to move forward with a different coach-to-player system with encrypted communication provided by CoachComm for its game against No. 11 Iowa State on Saturday, sources said.

A source at one Big 12 school told ESPN that his staff purchased a scanner earlier this month upon learning of the potential vulnerability and was successful in locating their own coach-to-player communication frequency during a practice.

The frequency does not broadcast all headset communications between coaches, which would be invaluable, but merely what one coach says to one player on the field -- typically a quarterback on offense and a linebacker on defense -- and only when the coach is holding the button to speak to them before communication is cut off 15 seconds before the snap.

"There's no real advantage," one Big 12 chief of staff argued. "One, you're speaking a different language. Two, if you think you'd be able to enact in real time what they say and try to do it on the field, you're delusional. You're just being your stereotypical paranoid football coach. You can't relay it to the kids fast enough."

Read 5 times

Soccer

Fermín signs new Barça deal with 500m clause

Fermín signs new Barça deal with 500m clause

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBarcelona have rewarded Fermín López's early-season form with a new...

Bundesliga leaders Leipzig will put Dortmund's faith in Şahin to the test

Bundesliga leaders Leipzig will put Dortmund's faith in Şahin to the test

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBorussia Dortmund have again dominated the German football headline...

Messi: Had to reinvent my style due to age, MLS

Messi: Had to reinvent my style due to age, MLS

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLionel Messi acknowledged he has reinvented his style of play since...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Magic's Banchero questionable vs. Cavs

Sources: Magic's Banchero questionable vs. Cavs

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsOrlando Magic star Paolo Banchero has sustained a right abdominal s...

The quiet free agent signing who could finally unlock KD, Booker and the Suns' Big 3

The quiet free agent signing who could finally unlock KD, Booker and the Suns' Big 3

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFOR MOST OF his 13 years in the NBA, Bradley Beal has had a good se...

Baseball

Rays' Franco sexual abuse trial to begin Dec. 12

Rays' Franco sexual abuse trial to begin Dec. 12

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco's trial in the Dominican Rep...

Passan: How the World Series champion Dodgers validated their era of dominance

Passan: How the World Series champion Dodgers validated their era of dominance

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- Two days before the Los Angeles Dodgers' postseason beg...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated