Miami Hurricanes Are Now Using Drones During Practice

Could the Miami Hurricanes three-game win streak be in part due to some futuristic help? Al Golden and his team have joined a small but growing trend of college football teams who are relying on drones during practice in order to perfect plays...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

November 4, 2014

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Could the Miami Hurricanes three-game win streak be in part due to some futuristic help?

Al Golden and his team have joined a small but growing trend of college football teams who are relying on drones during practice in order to perfect plays.

The idea apparently came to offensive coordinator James Coley while he was on vacation in the British Virgin Islands over the summer and spotted a toy drone, so he decided to go out and get his own for $500 and bring it to practice. The drone was used in particular to monitor and improve the play of quarterback Brad Kaaya.

"We've always been behind in sports when it comes to technology," Coley told the Associated Press. "Coaches don't like change. Nobody does this, not the way we do this."

Kaaya adds that the drove gives coaches a view of the field closer to his own rather than what they're used to seeing on the sidelines, which helps both sides understand each others intentions better.

UCLA, Tennessee, and Louisville also use drones during their practices.

For now the team is relying on Coley's toy model, but plans to invest in multiple drones with more features in the future. The team even hopes to use the technology as part of its recruiting pitch.

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