Aidan Chiles believes helmet communication is ‘easier’
Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles is the new kid on the block in East Lansing, joining the Spartans this offseason through the transfer portal alongside new head coach Jonathan Smith from Oregon State.
But along with adjusting to a new program, Chiles also has to adapt to one of the new big changes across the entire college football landscape. The use of coach-to-player helmet communication.
Teams have been using the new technology for the first time during spring practices this year, and following Michigan State’s spring game, Chiles spoke on how the adjustment has been.
“It’s a love-hate relationship between that man,” Chiles admitted. “I’m used to signals. See the signal, if you get the signal wrong, that’s on you. It is what it is. Sometimes you don’t get the full call but we’re working with it. It’s easier not having a coach on the field being able to give you signals and everything, but also that he can’t hear me.”
This upcoming college football season will be the first ever where speakers will be used in the helmets of players for coaches to communicate play calls. With one player on offense and defense sporting a green dot helmet sticker similar to the NFL and serving as the middleman between the playcaller and the rest of the team.
For years NFL quarterbacks have been tasked with this responsibility, which will now be passed down to college quarterbacks like Chiles. Whose favorite feature is surprisingly that the communication is only one-way.
“It’s kind of funny that he can’t hear me because I can talk, say what I want a little bit when we have some disagreements,” Chiles smiled and said. “But it is what it is, it’s football, you’re going to have those disagreements. But you talk about it when you come off the field. It’s different just being able to hear from the sideline with your helmet but overall it’s helpful.”
On April 23 the NCAA’s playing rules oversight committee approved the use of coach-to-player helmet communications ahead of the upcoming season. Coming in the aftermath of Michigan‘s sign-stealing scandal that surfaced last year amid their national championship run.
The oversight committee also approved of using tablets to view in-game video footage on the sidelines, in the locker room, and for coaches in the booth. Yet again following suit of the NFL. Which should also help Chiles and others as they enter a college football season loaded with various different changes.