Bruce Feldman’s piece about how Stanford is using virtual reality technology to train its quarterbacks is fascinating. Read the sucker.
Do I think it has a widespread future in college football? Well, let’s put it this way… Stanford’s head coach David Shaw went from being a skeptic about how this kind of technology might help (“I made it about two plays before I felt seasick…”) to seeing a real big benefit.
“‘I was like, ‘Wow, if we could actually put quarterbacks in a virtual world so we’re not using extra practice reps, we’re not extending practice at all — we’re not messing with the 20-hour work week, we’re just creating a library of things for a QB to learn something, that’d help your backup QB who’s never gonna get as many reps as a starter and helps your starter get three reps on a play that he screwed up on and he can just watch the same thing over and over again and see everybody and feel like he’s there.’ When Derek started explaining it to me, I got really excited.” [Emphasis added.]
Leverage, peeps. Don’t leave practice without it.
Yeah, with that kind of angle, I’d say this has legs.
I know in Racquetball it helps anticipation and muscle memory a lot. That said, doing it at speed with all the coordinated movement in a live environment is a whole different dimension.
But it does help.
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A bit of a long read at work this morning, but I think I get the gist of it. I think this could catch on and be another tool in the arms race. Gives QB’s quality looks at the right place on the field.
Until I can afford this, I’ll keep using this video recorder and wait for the advent of time travel technology. Its right around the corner…
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lolriot.com%2Fnapoleon-dynamite-gif-collection%2Fnapoleon-dynamite-gif-uncle-rico-praciticing-football%2F&ei=up0BVb1jiZ6CBPaTgvAL&bvm=bv.87920726,d.eXY&psig=AFQjCNErHOJL2HrrN1vlqW-aBMuJcWRsEQ&ust=1426255705905305
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Sorry here it is

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Dang.
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VR’s problem is now no longer tech, its money and time figuring out how to do it correctly. So anything to gets money flowing to real applications is fantastic to an enthusiast like myself. That said, I am skeptical that it will really be all that useful for at least the 3 years.
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As soon as the porn industry gets interested, it will be mainstream in a matter of weeks.
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Dang…If Aaron Murray had had this system maybe he woulda won the big one. Can we get one for Faton?
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Sounds promising. Maybe this was GT’s secret weapon last year. If anyone jumps on this I’d imagine it’d be them.
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No idea how this will help quarterbacks, but this kind of technology has been in use in tactical military and police training and has yielded good results.
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I think what STRIVR has put together is greater by a big leap than any VR. This is not only exciting, but I want us to push for one at UGA ASAP because the purse strings are looser and get it before they snug tight with ignorance. The Stanford stats alone are worth the buy. What an incredible addition for QBs and if others get it before us (and you better bet they are on the way waving money all the way) we will regret the hesitancy.
I’m interested at my old age in seeing them go public. Guarantee this is big shit. If you didn’t read it closely all the way, you should. There is gold in them thar hills, you just have to look closely. Can someone put B-M and McG on this right away? Too late for Spring, dammit, but we could use it before Fall. Takes them a couple months to put together customized versions so we should move quickly.
This ain’t a VR rerun for cfb!
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I tried it once and it turned me into another Dan Marino. Now if they can just make one for golf and turn me into another Jack Nicklaus. 🙂
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