While sports attention has long since moved on from the NBA Finals to the triumphs and tribulations of the World Cup, I cannot help reflecting back on the narratives heralding the improbable comeback of the New York Knicks in Game 4. The celebration of grit and resilience is common throughout sports and particularly compelling when […]

American football is experiencing a data analytics movement. One of the most visible signs of this movement is the National Football League’s (NFL) partnership with Amazon AWS to create “Next Gen Stats” and “Stat That.” NFL coaches are also apparently increasingly turning to “the analytics” to make game critical decisions. Announcers and fans alike endlessly […]

The Football Game Scenario The football game was early in the fourth quarter on November 15, 2020. The home team Carolina Panthers were down 32-17 to the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Bucs). Hope came alive for the Panthers after quarterback Terry Bridgewater ran up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown. With over 11 minutes to […]

Football coaches are notoriously conservative play callers, especially at the professional level. While this behavior can produce sub-optimal game strategies, the precautions are understandable given the precarious nature of the job. A coach’s audience is prone to judge decisions by outcomes instead of the situation and information available at the time of the decision. Coaches […]