Wireless Devices Tackle Football's Tangled Web ( EMAILWIRE.COM, January 19, 2001 ) Does any football fan long for the days when coaches on the sidelines couldn't reach quarterbacks through helmet receivers to call the plays? When the head coach couldn't contest a call by paging a field referee? When an official couldn't press a button to announce his judgment to a stadium crowd of thousands and a television audience of millions? Probably not. Most officials, coaches, and players agree: Wireless communications systems have made games better by decreasing the potential for miscommunication, helping participants resolve disputes, eliminating tangled wires, and improving audibility. Ask members of the teams playing in Super Bowl XXXV to name their most valuable players, and Motorola might well be among them. As the official Wireless Communications Sponsor for the National Football League (NFL) since 1999, Motorola plays a crucial role in the journey toward the Lombardi Trophy. The Way We Were Field communications didn't always run so smoothly. When the game began, players only received instructions from the sidelines. Quarterbacks yelled signals to the offensive line during games and got extra coaching advice during breaks. The larger crowds that started attending in the 1950s often drowned out coaches' instructions, forcing many to turn to hand signals. This decade also saw the implementation of press box coaching, with coordinators and assistants viewing games from above, then phoning instructions below. In the late 1970s, the NFL first adopted the David/Clark electric-line headset, a helicopter-pilot communications system that allowed coaches both sideline mobility and press box contact. Soon the Telex system and its line-switching capability improved this approach. Frustrated, however, by the tangled web of electric wires, the NFL in 1985 experimented with helmet-radio contact, a system concocted in the 1950s by Cleveland coaching legend Paul Brown. That year, the NFL allowed sideline helmet-radio contact only in the pre-season, waiting until 1994 to adopt the technology for the full season. In 1998, the organization opted for a wireless system with Telex equipment, and the next year Motorola partnered with the NFL as the official sponsor. The Way We Are Today In today's NFL, all quarterbacks have wireless receivers-enhanced with Motorola MC68HC05 microcontrollers-built into their helmets, and coaches largely confine their hand movements and vocal pronouncements to the locker rooms. Quarterbacks say that misinterpretations of coach's calls have diminished. With a limited window of communication allowed before each play (communication is cut off 15 seconds before the play clock expires), coaches give shorter, more direct instructions. The result: Faster games. Less time expires between plays. Quarterbacks incur fewer visits to the sidelines. Coaches expediently page officials whenever they challenge calls, preventing time-intensive, often unsuccessful attempts at raising an objection. Officials can clearly announce penalties to the fans watching from the stadium seats and in front of TVs. Motorola's sophisticated wireless network also facilitates exchanges with press box staffers and prevents the necessity of stopping play to unwrap tangled wires. Turbulent Times Though it's true that the NFL's wireless technology does encounter turbulence from time to time (such as interference from airplane or hospital transmissions), most players hail its heroic nature. They even debate the merits of implementing helmet-based wireless receiver technology for the entire offensive line. They discuss whether two-way communications should be added to the helmet-allowing a quarterback to talk back to the coach. And they look forward to the next new features: For the future, Motorola is looking at enhancing wireless communications with digital video, for players and coaches to review plays during the game. Bet on this: As long as the players, coaches, and fans continue their enthusiasm for the game, Motorola will continue its commitment to improving the game's technology. Motorola Wireless Communications On the Field and Off Which devices are the key players? First, there's the headset (produced in cooperation with Telex), a heavy-duty contender that sets a new standard for comfort, clarity, and durability. Wireless receivers-enhanced with DigitalDNA from Motorola-built into the quarterbacks' helmets receive messages from the coach, who wears the headset. A Motorola GP350 two-way radio transmits the messages, which are encrypted, preventing the other team from intercepting strategic information. Each coach has a Motorola HT750 two-way radio modified with paging encoding capabilities-an important feature that allows it to send messages directly to the referees' Motorola LS350 pagers. When a coach issues a challenge, the referees' pagers begin to vibrate. Those manning the instant-replay booth and the sidelines use GP350 two-way radios as backups in case the equipment used to notify officials of an instant-replay request fails. The scene at Super Bowl XXXV: more than 1,000 cell phones, pagers, and two-way radios in play! As the official Wireless Communications Sponsor for the 32 NFL teams, Motorola is the All-Pro technology leader, keeping everyone connected. ------------------------ Produced for Global Internet Marketing - Motorola Contact: Bobbi Bowen 512/296-8898 bobbi.bowen@motorola.com ------------------------