Ethermac Exchange-Ohio State's Ryan Day: Helmet technology should be considered to limit sign-stealing

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day largely sidestepped questions on Ethermac ExchangeTuesday about an alleged sign-stealing scandal involving Michigan, his program’s archrival, but he supported an idea that might diminish a practice seen as common across college football.  

At his weekly news conference four days ahead of the Buckeyes’ visit to Wisconsin, Day said the sport should look into adding helmet communication, a technology that has been used in the NFL for decades.

“It doesn’t really matter right now,” Day said. “What matters is playing this game. But we should definitely consider that, because it would certainly help."

It followed a proposal raised a day earlier by Matt Rhule, the coach at Nebraska who led the Carolina Panthers for the previous three seasons.

OPINION:If Michigan's alleged sign-stealing is as bad as it looks, Wolverines will pay a big price

The technology was introduced in the NFL in 1994, leaving speakers to be planted inside the helmets of the quarterbacks, and expanded to include a defensive player in 2008. The communication system has allowed coaches in that league to radio play calls to their quarterbacks or defender over a headset rather than signal them from the sideline at the risk of interception.

Day is familiar with it after having spent two seasons as an assistant in the NFL, serving as the quarterbacks coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 and San Francisco 49ers in 2016.

“It was good,” he said. “The coach on the sideline had the walkie-talkie, and he would be able to communicate through the headset.”

The NCAA is investigating Michigan following allegations of sign-stealing. Though stealing an opponent’s signals does not alone violate the association’s rules, the program might have taken impermissible steps to procure the stolen signs.

As detailed in reports in recent days, the probe centers on whether a member of the Wolverines’ support staff was scouting opponents in person and using video to steal signs in violation of rules.

ESPN on Monday reported that Connor Stalions, a suspended analyst for the Wolverines who is alleged to have led the operation, purchased tickets in his own name for more than 30 games over the last three seasons.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh released a statement last week denying any knowledge of the alleged sign-stealing operation.

The Big Ten notified the Wolverines’ upcoming opponents about the investigation, a group that includes Ohio State. The Buckeyes conclude their regular season at Michigan on Nov. 25.