by youngterrier on Thu Oct 05, 2017 7:23 am
"analytics can't predict Wofford football" is the mindset that has us reaching 40 points twice in the last 5 years. Analytics/statistics simply asserts there are common variables that help us predict the future. It's applicable in most things in life
I know absolutely nothing about how other teams prepare for us, or for us to other teams, but it doesn't take much to deduce trends and tendencies and analytics helps us.
A committed undergrad could sit, watch film and derive a probabilistic formula for our playcalling (heck, I've done this this year without film...on third and 5 we pass to RJ on a quick hitch/out) and even individual player tendencies when running the option. Admittedly, it's difficult if not impossible to integrate that on the player level because people doing intuitively understand statistics (telling your players "70% of the time he'll pitch it" will have them cover the pitch man 100% of the time) but on a coaching level it helps with play-calling and strategy.
If you think programs around the country aren't beginning to use this method, be careful. Samford has started a sports analytics program, so the hypothetical "undergrad watches film on us" above is not outside of the realm of possibility or even likelihood
Study hard, Work Hard, Party Hard, Go Terriers!