The Daily Nebraskan: Nebraska running backs embracing technology

By: Michael Dixon

A beep is a universal indicator of attention; it’ll tell you when your TV dinner is finished in the microwave, when it’s time to get up or when you’ve missed one-too-many iPhone notifications.

In the trenches of a Nebraska football field, it tells a running back when they’re doing things correctly.

It’s called the ‘HIGHandTIGHT,’ and it’s a football designed to beep at a player when they’re holding the ball in a way that’ll keep defenders from knocking it loose.

And after Nebraska’s well-explained turnover issues over the last few years, offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf and a few other coaches figured they ought to give technology a shot.

“This guy just developed this ball, that if you hold it properly, it’ll make a noise,” Langsdorf chuckled. “It’s a great idea. So we bought a couple of them in the offseason, and they make sure the backs are holding the ball high and tight.”

The technology is complex, but the idea’s simple; Carry the football the correct way, and the football gives off a shrill beep. But the let football just a hair loose, and it goes silent.