Lane Kiffin thinks helmet communications in college football is 'longtime overdue'
The process of getting play calls to the 11 players on the field has taken center stage within college football in light of the Michigan sign-stealing scandal. Ole Miss is currently not embroiled in it but it did not stop Lane Kiffin from getting asked this week.
During the SEC Coaches Teleconference on Wednesday the Rebels head coach was asked about the top of helmet communications being adopted by the NCAA and college football catching up to the NFL.
The NCAA Rules Committee is giving teams the option of using coach-to-player helmet communications during the upcoming 2023-24 bowl season. As of this past Saturday No. 12 Ole Miss will be part of that group after earning its sixth win of the season.
Installing internal communications into helmets is something that has been favored within the college football coaching ranks but yet to become officially adopted by the NCAA.
“I haven’t given much thought on that,” Kiffin said when asked. “That’s come up for a lot of years and seems to get shot down every time. So, I haven’t really given much thought to it. We basically do everything that the NFL does first then we eventually catch up. So, probably is longtime overdue.”
The tide could be turning on helmet communications becoming the norm within college football after the latest NCAA scandal that involves now suspended Michigan assistant coach Connor Stalion who accused of allegedly placing associates of his in college stadiums across the country to scout and decipher play signals.
The Rebels have not been named as one of the over 30 games that Stalions allegedly bought tickets to games of over the last three years. But there is one connection that includes former Ole Miss defensive coordinator and current Michigan assistant coach Chris Partridge.
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Partridge is reportedly close friends with Stalions, according to recent text messages unearthed.
Moving to have helmet communications is not something Ole Miss’ Kiffin is opposed of nor many of his SEC peers.
With this latest scandal firmly entrenched in coaches play-calling and the methods in which the signals are given, it seems inevitable the NCAA Rules Committee will move to make it a permanent thing in college football.
“I think initially there were concerns about playing, conference couldn’t make the rule because you play non-conference games and there was financially concerns about smaller schools,” Kiffin added. “That was a long time ago. I sound old now. Been around league meetings a long time.
“Everybody’s usually been in favor of it at meetings, or SEC meetings with coaches. I don’t know that answer why it hasn’t gone through. I’m sure there’s a glaring story out there about something, now they’ll react and do it.”
Radio communications between a coach and player on the field is already enacted. Prior to the 2018 season SEC allowed its baseball teams to use radio communication from the dugout to the catcher on the field during conference games.
