Sherrone Moore explains Michigan not letting players watch film on iPads

Plenty of attention was paid to the fact that both Alabama and Michigan have restrained from allowing players to view film on personal iPads during late portions of the 2023 season. But as both teams reveal as such during media appearances prior to a College Football Playoff matchup, Wolverines offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore demurred as to why.

Recent reporting by USA Today and other outlets has revealed that Catapult, a company that handles and warehouse film and other analytical data for college football teams, had some sort of breach, resulting in teams to take new measures in film study. Moore said Michigan’s move away from iPad film access for players wasn’t related.

“No, it’s something we decided from our own perspective that people heard some things and we wanted to make sure that we were safe on our end,” Moore said.

Moore also clarified the timeframe, that it “started in November sometime” after coaches became aware there might be an issue.

As Moore explained it, the Michigan staff “caught wind” of something going on.

“Yeah, just caught wind of things that could be going on, and just told our kids, I think it was early November, hey, we’re not watching stuff on the iPads anymore. Watch it in-house and handle it that way,” Moore said.

Both teams altered their process prior to the Rose Bowl matchup

Alabama players haven’t been watching film on their tablets as they get ready to face the Wolverines in a College Football Playoff semifinal game after being instructed not to by the team’s coaching staff, according to receiver Isaiah Bond. Instead, film study is only taking place as a group.

“The app we record film off… I guess they were looking at other peoples’ play calls, hand signals, stuff like that,” Isaiah Bond said, according to Tony Garcia of the Detroit Free Press.

Of course, the quote made its rounds, as Michigan has been linked with some shady business over the last couple of months. However, it turns out the Wolverines are following the same procedure, ironically enough.

Michigan wide receiver Roman Wilson relayed to the media, “(Michigan) is no longer using iPads to watch film. … Turned them off yesterday he said. Shut the iPads down. They’re watching film with the coaches and the team,” Nick Kelly of the Tuscaloosa News reported.

“It’s just a precaution thing,” Wilson said, per Kelly. “Coach Harbaugh turned our iPads off too. It’s just a feeling. Coach is trying to protect our players and things like that.

“When you first see it, you kind of laugh a little bit. It’s kind of outrageous that things like that are going on. But you can’t really blame them with the things going on in college football these days.”