Football on all levels has become far more intricate, detailed, and sophisticated.

The ever-present evolution of video analyzation has led to teams being exceptionally prepared when heading into a ballgame — as well as during the game. It’s drastically changed all American sports, and has led to even more of an emphasis on utilizing it at all times.

However, this premise may be changing on the collegiate level.

It was announced Tuesday that the NCAA Football Rules Committee rescinded a proposal to allow video and electronic devices in coaching booths and locker rooms. This move was motivated in large part to leveling the relative playing field. Some wealthier programs are aptly able to fund the high costs of technological advances. Others are not so fortunate, and thus are put at a disadvantage.

NFL franchises aren’t strapped with financial constraints. It’s become routine to see players and coaches huddled together on the sidelines using iPads when reviewing the previous series.

NCAA AD Ty Halpin had this to stay about the ruling:

“Some coaches think it’s great, and maybe they’ve had more experience with it at the NFL level. Some coaches think that shouldn’t be what football is about, and once you’re at the game, it should be about making adjustments and coaching the team. Finding the right balance has been a bit of a challenge for all of us.”

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has been a proponent in the past of utilizing any and all technology as a means to gain an edge. In theory, offensive personnel would’ve been able to head to the locker room when the defense is on the field in order to review the latest set of plays from the game:

“It would be a huge, huge advantage. It’s a locker room. They just went in to use the facilities. That’s the part of the SEC I’ve come to know. You’re going to take everything that you’ve been given and kind of expand it a little bit.”

It isn’t a surprise — considering the intense and competitive nature within the SEC — that any program within this conference would opt for a revolutionary tactic.

Tennessee was poised to be transcendent in this capacity. There were plans for an 8,880 square-foot room with multiple televisions and white boards in Neyland Stadium. It would have also included a wall able to separate both the offense and defense. This renovation feasibility study had this to ultimately say on the proposal:

“Taking advantage of a pending rule change by the NCAA allowing video to be used at halftime, the Halftime Meeting Room will optimize current technology to provide Tennessee coaches a dramatic advantage over their opponents.”

In essence, there are those against the technological premise all together. Some will argue that the game was created without the advances, and that it should stay that way. Those with more money have access to advanced resources. As such, the competitive advantage may be far too great for some of the smaller programs.

SEC Officiating coordinator Steve Shaw summed up the NCAA ruling quite well:

 

“You don’t want your home team to have some incredible technology capability and the visitors not to have any. There’s a cost component to this everybody has to understand. There will be a lot of work around technology for fleshing out what really will be good for the game.”