Alabama adds unparalleled film-study security due to…

| December 28, 2023 | Other Clubs | No Comments

Alabama adds unparalleled film-study security due to “what Michigan is known for.”

The fallout from the Michigan sign-stealing controversy was a national narrative during the 2023 college football season, and its impact is still being felt in the run-up to the 2024 Rose Bowl.

Multiple Alabama football players revealed that the team changed the way it views film in preparation for the Jan. 1 Rose Bowl semifinal against the No. 1 Wolverines.

Players stated that they are not permitted to watch game film on their individual iPads prior to a game, which is a departure from the typical routine. Their explanation for the shift was noteworthy.

The implication is, well, explosive.

“You know, what Michigan is known for,” Alabama running back Jase McClellan said. “What they have out there. Just the play-call stealing.”
Alabama’s Catapult game and practice film storage system, according to receiver Isaiah Bond, is at the heart of the problem.

“And they were like, I guess, like looking at other people’s play calls like their hands signals,” Bond went on to say. “It was probably the first eight games or something.” We were permitted to watch film with the team, but not personally because, I don’t know, for some reason with Michigan stealing signs. But I’m not sure about all of it.”

JC Latham, an offensive lineman, initially framed the adjustment as an opportunity to strengthen team togetherness. When asked about his teammates’ remarks, the starting right tackle agreed.

“We didn’t want to take any chances,” Latham explained. “This is a huge game. “I think we have a really great film crew and guys who make sure our film is pretty secure, but we’re just taking another precaution to make sure we’re all good,” says the director.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the remaining three games of the regular season after media sources disclosed claims of a systematic scheme to study and understand opposition team signals on Oct. 19. Then-staffer Connor Stallions was accused of being the instigator of a scheme to send personnel to future opponents’ games to video sideline play signals from the sideline to the field.

 There are still questions about how deep the problem goes, but there have been no public charges of film hacking linked to Michigan.
Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees declined to comment on the subject specifically.
“I don’t want to get into the whole Michigan thing with whatever’s going on over there.” That isn’t a decision I’m making or anything. Our focus has been on how to best prepare our players to play this game. Focus on what we can achieve rather than what they can do.”

Several Alabama players indicated the increased security hasn’t affected how much time they’ve spent studying Michigan.

“If anything, it just brought us closer together,” Latham explained. “I mean, practice guys wanted to go downtown for food last night, but we all made sure we watched another game before we left.” We’re all in this together. We all view movies in our own unique ways. We’re all watching it simultaneously. We’re going over there and saying, “Hey, I see this guy doing this.” ‘Hey, do this and then come here.’ We’re all on the same wavelength. If anything, it has brought us closer together.”

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