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CHAMPAIGN — As soon as Luke Altmeyer walked off the field at Starkville High School in Mississippi and onto the sideline, he had an iPad in his hands.
Being able to quickly review game footage between series was an advantage.
That advantage will be coming to Memorial Stadium this fall, as the NCAA has approved both tablets on the sidelines and in-helmet communication between coaches and players. Welcome to college football 2024.
“I remember every single series just watching every play, watching every facial expression and thinking about what we could do,” Altmaier said of using a tablet on the sideline during his high school days.
“It's definitely an advantage for us to be able to see our formation and how it matches up with each defense. It definitely helps our coaching staff to be able to make adjustments during the game.”
“It's going to help me too. Last year, there were times I'd come off the field and be like, 'Oh man, I don't know what I saw there. I didn't see it clearly.' But in a split second, I'll be able to clear it up and move on, which is great.”
Illinois coach Bret Bielema said having video available on the sideline is a “game changer.”
What previously had to wait until after the game will now be available to players and coaches as soon as the match begins.
That's the sentiment of Illinois State offensive coordinator Barry Ranney Jr. ahead of the team's season opener against Eastern Illinois on Thursday at 8 p.m. The school tested the tablets several times during training camp in two scrimmages and a mock game. Ranney said the implementation isn't as simple as in-helmet communication, but he sees the benefits of having the capability.
“How it's used and how it's implemented will probably be more subjective depending on the team's interpretation,” Lunney said. “It'll be interesting to play games with it. I know our players are really drawn to it. They love that immediate feedback.”
“For us as coaches, it gives us clearer feedback on what's going on and what we're seeing. But at the end of the day, corrections have to be made verbally. Visually, it's a good supplement for us and definitely a tool we try to use to our advantage.”
Lunney's colleagues on the Illinois defense aren't as keen on tablets on the sideline. Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry understands the value of the technology but doesn't want to see it used as a go-to.
“I like tablets, but in some ways, they can get in the way in some ways,” Henry said. “Guys go out on the sideline and they just want to see it, not what could have happened. They want to see sacks, big hits and stuff. It's like, 'Hey, we're not doing it for that. We're doing it to fix certain things.'”
Illinois outside linebacker Seth Coleman said Coach Henry still stressed the importance of meeting as a position group during a series and talking about what happened on the field — why certain calls or coverages worked; what could have happened if they hadn't. But the tablets offer a different level of insight and immediacy that's useful.
“As far as the pass rush goes, if there's something in (the offensive lineman's) hands or posture, we can see it,” Coleman said. “We'll look at it on film, but on Saturday or Friday night, it might be another key that we haven't seen before.”
