Talking Points: XOS PlayAction Quarterback Simulator edition

by Joel Hollingsworth on Aug 22, 2007 7:46 AM EDT in Rocky Top Talking Points

Later today, we'll be down to single digits in the countdown to kickoff. Until then:

Tennessee is once again on the cutting edge, utilizing technology in preparing its football players for Saturdays. This year, Tennessee will be the exclusive trial school to use a "Madden-based simulator" that "allows coaches to transfer X's and O's for weekly opponents into a 3D playable simulator for quarterbacks to study." The "game," called the XOS PlayAction Quarterback Simulator, allows quarterbacks to "play and replay the plays for an upcoming opponent from their dorms, rather than just on the field." Hat tip to Loser with Socks.
So far, we have 11 players for the Rocky Top Talk College Pick 'Em game. If you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for?
CFBStats examines the numbers to see if this year's new kickoff rule will in fact lead to more returns, longer returns, and more returns for touchdowns. His conclusion? Don't expect the rule to have a huge impact on the game unless "coaches [ ] so concerned about the rule [ ] implement changes in strategy and personnel on return teams starting with the first game, before the real effects are determined."
SMQ is on a roll, penning the Underlying Literary Themes in the SEC yesterday and Mid-Major Monday: The Young and Hopeless, a look at the other mid-major teams, on Monday. The latter includes a candidate for the line of the year:
These teams are like the famous heroine's rats, transformed into coachmen, escorting their improbably glamorous peer to the grand ball in a makeshift carriage of bad angles, missed blocks, dropped passes and rock bottom coordination.
SB Nation Cal blog The Band is Out on the Field finds an interesting bit buried in an SI.com column: Cal plans to pass out 50,000 mini-megaphones before the Tennessee game. Perhaps now they can make it as loud as the video game.

Time's up. Keep your eye on the Magic Google Column. Copious amounts of praise to anyone who can tell me how to make that thing go sideways instead of up and down.

Update [2007-8-22 7:48:5 by Joel]: Oh, and I see in the queue that CfaJ has the revised BlogPoll ballot ready to go, so be on the lookout for that.

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Comments

First off...

are those even legal for games? especially if the Athletic Department distributes them? If it is, then why wouldn't every team pass out mini-megaphones to amplify their crowd (could you imagine Neyland)?

Second, will it even matter? People in Berkeley don't really care about football and if the Vols get out to a big lead again, those things will be nullified.

But finally, I think it's really sad that the Cal athletic department thinks it needs to pump in artificial noise via the mini-megaphones to make their stadium intimidating, if that's what you want to call it. I think that says a lot about how much fans in the Pac-10 really don't care about football. It's more or less a social event to kill time on Saturdays. They don't live and die with their teams like SEC fans, hell even Big 10 and certain Big 12 (OU, Tex, A&M, Neb) fans are the same.

Go Vols!

Do they have Mayo in Berkeley? ...well they're about to get a taste! #7 Jerod Mayo

by Volorado on Aug 22, 2007 10:21 AM EDT reply actions

Mini-Megaphones

The're really nothing more than a 6" plastic funnel. Downsize of what you see the cheerleaders use. There's no mechanical amplification so there's no 'legal' issues with respect to the rules of the game.

I was first introduced to these at the '99 Fiesta Bowl, and we just put them up to our mouth, cocked our head back, and poured, ummm, water in them for consumption! They're totally useless to make the stands louder or anything. Sounds like just a gimmick to actually get folks in the stands. They better watch out though, I can easilly see the Vol fans turning their own 'weapons' against them.

But yeah, your # 2 and 3 paragraphs are right on!

by Aerobab on Aug 22, 2007 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Like this

As found on The Band Is Out On The Field...this is what I was trying to describe:

http://www.bancroftclothing.com/index.php?crn=272&rn=688&action=show_detail

Fearful!

by Aerobab on Aug 22, 2007 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

This really hurts

I was expecting Cottam to really contribute too http://www.thetennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070822/SPORTS0601/70822018 Check out the comment at the bottom about the heat. I am not sure the heat had a lot to do with a wrist injury. People saying the funniest things

Beat Cal! (And I really don't like Mike Conley, Jr.)

by gramsey712 on Aug 22, 2007 12:05 PM EDT reply actions

OK

That didn't really work--here's the link

http://www.thetennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070822/SPORTS0601/70822018

Beat Cal! (And I really don't like Mike Conley, Jr.)

by gramsey712 on Aug 22, 2007 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup, bad news

This will, indeed, hurt. No telling what the Dr./Drs. will allow, but he can wear a special cast/covering that he can still play with. I wouldn't be that surprised to see him in action here in a month or so.

by Aerobab on Aug 22, 2007 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions