| 03 April 2010
The 2009 SEC Football season was full of controversial calls on the field. While the games did include replay, several key calls were still blown in the booth. The confusion caused many fans to honestly believe a conspiracy was afoot by the league office to ensure a match-up of top ranked teams in the SEC Championship Game. I never subscribed to the smoking gun conspiracy theories ... still do not, but the amount of calls that were being missed on a weekly basis was simply wrong.
The root cause the league office pointed to in 2009 was the fact that the replay booth did not have all of the angles that the fans could see on television. This was an inexcusable lapse of judgement by the entire league and a national black eye. Enter the SEC's digital partner, XOS Digital.
XOS Digital Press Release:
ORLANDO, Fla. – March 16, 2010 – XOS Digital, Inc., the leading provider of digital technologies for sports teams nationwide, today announced that the Southeastern Conference (SEC) will implement the company’s next generation HD instant replay system for this upcoming football season. The announcement was made today by Mark Hudgins, president, XOS Integrated Solutions Group.
“The SEC has the highest standards for quality both on and off the playing field,” Hudgins said. “Therefore, it is continuing on an assertive path to pioneer new technologies that will enhance its programs. The SEC is the first conference to establish itself with advanced HD instant replay capabilities, and we’re pleased to provide it with clear officiating advantages through XOS HD Replay.”
According to Hudgins, XOS conducted “extensive” market research to create an HD instant replay system that provides a superior video quality made possible by uncompressed video recording and playback. Uncompressed HD video provides officials with a clearer view of the play in question than what fans see at home.
The XOS HD Replay system will provide the SEC with a variety of distinct capabilities aimed at making the officiating workflow more efficient. For example, the Conference can export video and game data to its media delivery platforms, including XOS Studio, for further analysis by conference officials.
“XOS is committed to providing the Southeastern Conference with the most advanced HD instant replay solution, along with the highest level of service and support,” said Chris McCleary, CEO, XOS Digital. “The Southeastern Conference is a valued partner of ours and we’re proud to enhance their officiating technology with XOS HD Replay.”
Nearly 125 sports teams within football, basketball and hockey use XOS Replay. XOS currently provides standard definition football instant replay systems to Conference USA and the Pac 10, Big 12, Sun Belt and Mid-American conferences. For basketball, it provides standard definition instant replay systems to the Sun Belt and Western Athletic conferences. For hockey, it provides standard definition instant replay systems to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and numerous other hockey organizations.
“The highly critical nature of officiating warrants the priority we’ve given to our instant replay technology,” said Mike Slive, SEC Commissioner. “Our football programs are worthy of the best resources available, and that is why we’ve chosen to incorporate HD instant replay technology for the 2010 season, and are pleased to be working with XOS in this endeavor.”
For more information about XOS HD Replay, visit www.xosdigital.com.
Many pundits, this writer included, lambasted the conference and Mike Slive throughout much of last season. While I am not apologizing for that action, it was warranted, I am pleased to see the conference take a stand on an issue that was divisive. Many SEC fans were beginning to shout that the SEC was becoming NASCAR ... getting the favorites to the front for a good finish. The new HD Replay will fix this problem to a point.
While the system will be the best available, humans will still be analyzing what they see on the monitor. At least the league is attempting to fix a known issue. In last season's LSU - Alabama match-up, a nullified interception changed the outcome of the game ... that is a fact ... the replay booth did not have all of the angles that the televison crowd did. If HD Replay had been available I am confident the interception would have stood and the overall outcome of the game might have been different.
SECRivals recently contacted XOS Digital's Director of Public Relations, Anna Neri regarding the new system:
SECRivals: Anna, thank you so much for taking the time for us. What are the fans looking at with the new replay system ... will HD Replay be available for every SEC home game?
Anna Neri: SEC Home Games will use HD Replay.
SECRivals: What happens when the SEC steps outside of the conference? How will those games be handled for replay?
Anna Neri: Home teams assign officials and replay systems, so if the SEC plays outside of the conference, they are subject to using the home team’s system.
SECRivals: Will the television provider make a difference to the overall feed capability?
Anna Neri: Regardless of broadcaster (ESPN, CBS), the XOS HD Replay system can secure a clean feed straight from the truck.
Looking forward, the league is trying. Fortunately for the SEC, the Old Guard is no longer in charge. While I personally do not agree with all of Mike Slive's choices in the past, the man is trying and SEC fans need to give him a chance. You have no idea how difficult that was to admit, but the truth is the truth. Once again, the conference is proving to be the top flight conference that we all know it is.
