NCAA Football Rules Committee pitches in-helmet communication - ESPN

Technology in college football is finally starting to catch up to the NFL, as the NCAA Football Rules Committee on Friday proposed rules that would allow schools to use coach-to-player communications through the helmet to one player on the field.

That player would be identified by having a green dot on the back midline of his helmet, and the communication would be turned off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped — whichever comes first.

The rule, which for now is limited to FBS teams, could go into effect for this season if the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approves it April 18.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart, the rules committee co-chair, said he doesn't think there should be a «knee-jerk reaction» to the proposed technology rules changes because of the allegations of widespread sign stealing at Michigan this past season.

«That's not what the sole intent was,» he said. «I've been on the rules committee now three to four years, and coach-to-player communication has come up every single year. It's been talked about. We've been evolving, trying to get closer to it. A lot of coaches debate, talk about how this is not going to stop people from signaling, or having the big cardboard signs on the sideline.

»A lot of people have said it would take 11 headsets to take that way, or three or four headsets to take that away," he said. «That's not the intent. The intent is to get a little closer to what the NFL has done to allow communication. We don't know where it's going to take us, so we're going to onboard one step at a time. It allows communication between mostly your quarterback and somebody on defense, and we'll find out where it takes us.»

Smart said a lot of coaches have already tested the