Colorado’s DC Robert Livingston Exposes The “Dark Side” of NCAA’s “In-Helmet Communication” Rule

Almost everything has a dark side, including the NCAA’s in-helmet communication system! After the Michigan Wolverines went through the mud with the sign-stealing allegations, the request for a coach-to-player communication helmet was amplified. The NCAA Football Rules Committee proposed the rule in early March which was approved the following month. 

On April 19, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the in-helmet communication that would allow one player in the field to have direct communication with the coach. The particular player would be identified by a green dot on the special helmet. And while we applaud the NCAA on catching up with the NFL, technology-wise, there are some dark sides to consider, as laid out by Colorado’s defensive staff. 

Colorado’s DC Robert Livingston shared some insights on the in-helmet communication during his press conference speech after the Buff’s fall training camp practice. As DNVR Sports uploaded on YouTube on July 31, Livingston admitted that the in-helmet communication is a “great advantage” for the Buffs before adding that “it’s a little bit more [his] comfort zone.” But he also confessed that there is a dark side to it as he said, “I’ve probably seen the dark side of it a couple of times where guys want to take their helmet off and just rip it off because the coordinator’s yelling at them the whole time.” 

Given that Livingston talks like he raps, it’s not surprising how players can find the communication overwhelming sometimes. And that’s not just with the DC but it applies to every other coach on the mic. He also admitted that the in-helmet communication has more advantages for the offense than the defense but revealed that every player is going to get the opportunity to test it out bi-weekly. Even Coach Prime is all about finding a smart guy on defense who can rock the helmet. 

Deion Sanders gives his take on the in-helmet communication 

With the introduction of the new coach-to-player communication, Coach Prime isn’t waiting around to test it out. On June 26, Deion Sanders chimed in his interest on the Thee Pregame Show Network to find a reliable guy on the defense who can lead with the calls they receive. He said, “Now, you got to have a smart guy that he (coach) can communicate with… Because he has to communicate with the rest of the team as well as receive signals from the sidelines to commit what we want done on the field.”

The quest to find the perfect defensive guy is ongoing. Coach Prime’s primary desire is for a linebacker to take the helmet but he also revealed safeties could fit in too. With Coach Livingston revealing every player is getting a chance, the Buffs will hopefully find the right helmet wearer soon.