AUBURN — Heading into a week one matchup against Alabama A&M, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze and his team will have some adjusting to do as the new helmet-to-helmet communication system makes its way onto the field for the 2024 season.
The NCAA approved the new communication system in April, allowing coaches to communicate with players on the field with up to 15 seconds on the play clock. Only four players from each side of the ball will have access to communication with coaches. No two players from the same side of the ball can be on the field at the same time - which will most likely result in a lot of helmet switching between substitutions.
Along with the new communication system, teams will be allowed access to up to 18 tablets, which will be distributed among the sidelines and coaches' booths. These tablets will allow for instant feedback from the previous plays on the field.
Freeze and his staff have had all of fall camp to get used to the new technology being implemented this season. Most are adapting fairly well, but for others, it's taking some getting used to.
"The players seem to be handling it pretty easy," Freeze said. "It's probably me more than (them). I think I'm talking into it, and I'm not because I'm not hitting the right button."
"I feel like I'm wearing one of the police belts, you know. There's just stuff everywhere and you've got to hit the right button. So it's taken me some adjusting for sure," he added.
With everyone getting used to the new system, hiccups along the way are expected, and Freeze and his staff ran into some during their scrimmage in the stadium on Saturday.
"I will say, we unfortunately had a little issue with ours in the stadium Saturday. And I sure hope that's not going to be the case, you know, Saturday night," said Freeze who reiterated that they quickly got it fixed after just two plays.
Freeze stated that some coaches, such as defensive coordinator DJ Durkin,, are adapting to it just fine as they are taking a slightly different approach than he is.
"DJ handles it better than I do, because he just uses a walkie talkie," said Freeze. "But my hands are so full that I'm trying to use all the buttons. And maybe that's a mistake, I don't know. But, I do think there's some benefits to it. "
Freeze and his staff will have just five more days to work out the kinks before live game action as they play host to the Alabama A&M Bulldogs on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+/SECN+.
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