Making the Right Call

In September of 2017, a friend who works in Athletics asked me if I’d be interested in working as a replay technician for the football season. I was working side jobs to fund a Caribbean vacation, so without knowing much about it other than it would be a paid side gig, I said, “Sure, why not?”

What is a replay technician? Well, as I quickly found out, it’s the person who operates the equipment that the replay officials look at when “the previous play is under further review.” This can happen when a coach challenges a call, the replay official thinks the call should be reviewed further or on certain penalties such as targeting. 

(The replay booth has a great view of the football field!)

The replay process in sports is all about making sure the right call is made considering the initial call is often made by a single person who has a single point of view, while the fans get to see several angles replayed on TV or the Jumbotron. My job is to collect data points about the game (where the ball is on the field, what down it is, the result of the play, penalty information for any flags thrown, etc.) and to “capture” any replays that are shown on the television broadcast. The replay system records a number of camera feeds in real-time, but not all of them. So when you see a replay on TV, the replay technician captures that replay and communicates with the replay official that a new angle is available.

After that first football season, I decided to continue replay work for other sports as well, regularly supporting basketball games and occasionally helping out with baseball and softball. I started to realize why I like doing it so much, and it’s not really about having a prime view of my favorite team. I’m actually not allowed to be a fan at home games; I need to remain impartial, and it would be highly inappropriate to show the emotions I’m feeling during a big play. Nor is it because of the sense of celebrity I feel as my phone blows up when I’m spotted on TV. 

(Me at the replay station during a basketball game.)

The real reason is this: The work the officials do is extremely structured. There are clear guidelines for what’s reviewable and what isn’t. The rule book tries to keep subjective-type calls (like pass interference or whether contact on a basketball court is a foul or not) out of the hands of replay. When a play is available for review, there are indicators that the officials look for to support a confirmation or a reversal. 

I always thought calls from the officiating crew were judgment calls, but in the replay booth, it’s fairly black and white. I rarely disagree with a call that’s made from the booth, and even when I do, it’s usually because it’s costly to the Irish.

(A framed photo my dad won in an auction, and it’s not because he’s a big Mike Brey fan.)

Here are a few other interesting things I’ve learned that surprise most people:

• In football, the replay official reviews every single play with the hopes of confirming with IVE (indisputable video evidence) that the right call was made. Sometimes a bad call is made on the field that can’t be officially reviewed, and there’s nothing the replay official can do. 
• When the referee announces the result of the review, they’ll say the “call on the field” is either “confirmed,” “stands” or is “reversed.” “Stands” means there isn’t IVE to confirm or reverse it. That’s an uncomfortable call every time.
• When a play is being reviewed, there are at least four people discussing it. The referee on the field (standing at a monitor), the replay official and the communicator (both in the booth with me), and someone from the conference command center (ACC’s is in Charlotte).
• The officials genuinely want a fair game and are usually great about explaining to me why a call goes one way or another when it looks like it was the wrong call.

When I work as the replay tech for men’s basketball, it’s a little different in that I sit at the scorer’s table and only interact with an official if they come over to the monitor. The basics of capturing data about the game and broadcast replays are the same. I really enjoy getting to be a small part of these games and if nothing else, I get a pretty great seat to some the best NCAA sporting events.

(A couple of pictures people have sent me after spotting me on national television.)

Dave Grundy

Associate Director Marketing Technology & Ops

Marketing & Graduate Enrollment