Some of the discussions below about the turnover in the ND roster, and the challenge that ND faces in assessing talent, player development, etc. made me wonder how much the sports technology advances play a role in making those decisions. Focusing just on evaluating the development of folks in the program already, I wondered whether (or how) they track a player's on-field actions using motion sensors like pedometers, GPS, and accelerometers/gyroscopes, on top of the physiological sensors like heart rate monitors, etc. for level of effort, or fitness.
I assume, like the sabermetrics in Moneyball, the motion sensors can be useful data to cut through to whether the player got to the right spot, and did so on time, and with his body in position to make the play. I also assume it will map out the results after contact is made (e.g., was he spun off the play, pushed back, etc.) To use ACross's favorite phrase, is that even a thing? Is it used to identify areas of improvement, and the progress or lack of learning curve (or just effort) on areas of weakness?
decisions that some poster find so fundamentally objectionable, I am less concerned about the practice of cutting some players loose, given the relaxed rules re transfers (and NIL, too, I suppose).
There's no doubt still a ton of subjectivity in that process. But, at least there is some objective data showing the lack of progress. Maybe it's lack of effort (a least as measured by the bio-sensors). Or it's a failure to fix physical flaws in technique, despite reasonable efforts made to rectify them (by coaches and players alike, who both want the player to succeed).
And there are always underlying reasons why the effort or results are lacking. But at least there is some data showing that a specific shortfall exists (and it's not just a coach being arbitrary about performance). So, like an academic scholarship that requires one to keep a "B" average, for example, the implicit understanding to keeping in good standing on the field is that you put forth the effort, and are capable of achieving an acceptable level of proficiency when you are out on the field making plays.
We'd need at least 7 figures of NIL money, though.
