From Head To Toe And More | Chongqing Winch Co.,Ltd

Football August 08, 2023 Joel Coleman, Senior Writer

STARKVILLE – By now, you've likely noticed the pictures and videos coming out of Mississippi State football camp that feature some Bulldog players wearing a white covering on the outside of their helmets. The protective layer, known as a Guardian Cap, is just one of a few less-talked-about additions benefitting the Bulldogs this preseason.

Along with a new camera system that makes capturing practice film safer and more efficient as well as a pair of resurfaced practice fields, the Guardian Cap is perhaps the most noticeable enhancement out at State's training camp.

MSU's offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers, tight ends and running backs all now wear Guardian Caps at practice. It's a move that mimics the NFL, which mandates Guardian Caps be worn by players at the aforementioned position groups during all preseason, regular season, and postseason practices that include contact.

"Based off of NFL research, the Guardian Cap mitigates the risk of concussion and reduces the impacts that the players take," MSU assistant athletic director for sports medicine and head athletic trainer for football Thomas Callans said.

Per NFL.com, if one player is wearing a Guardian Cap at the time of a helmet hit, the cap will absorb 11 to 12 percent of the force. If two players are wearing the cap and have a helmet-to-helmet hit, the force of the impact is reduced by around 20 percent.

Thus, the Bulldogs are better protected and given the same care as those at the next level.

"When these guys move on to the NFL, they'll have to wear [the Guardian Cap] there, and we want to go ahead and treat them as professionals here," Callans said.

Speaking of protection, those who record MSU's practices are now safer as well.

Gone are the scissor lifts that would hoist cameras and personnel high above to capture valuable video that coaches and players used to study and get better. Now, State has turned to four mastRcams – a versatile product that delivers broadcast-quality video that is not only safer, but efficient.

"All of the film can be edited and cut right at the platform," State associate athletic director of football operations David Wilczewski said.

The unit is highly mobile and can be positioned wherever needed. MSU is mostly using the mastRcam to provide footage from each end zone at the practice fields. The mast can be raised up to 55 feet in the air and the cameras deliver both wide and close-up views. The mast is connected to a hub on the ground where State's video crew can quickly get to work cutting what's captured as needed.

None of this is to even mention the product is extremely durable.

"The original ones that started to be installed in the NFL 10 or 12 years ago, some of those are still the exact same equipment, the exact same cameras and all those kinds of things," Wilczewski explained. "There's a long life span on it."

Of the NFL's 32 teams, 31 of them use mastRcams. More than 30 Division I college football programs rely on them.

State's mastRcams are often overlooking the two other enhancements at State preseason camp – the two resurfaced grass fields. A refresh will allow for better drainage and better playability on those surfaces as the Bulldogs continue preparations for their September 2 opener.

"Now we'll have no excuses for slipping and falling [on those fields]," head coach Zach Arnett quipped.

Seems the Bulldogs have truly taken care of everything this camp, from head (and above) to toe.

08.30.23

08.29.23