Post by boblucy on Nov 6, 2005 15:15:26 GMT -6
This is a post from another site. This is pretty good...I read this back in february. Read it and tell me what you think.....
02-05-2005 by Din Rao
Hello, I am new here...I am an applied mathematician and an alumnus of the University of Michigan, where I was a graduate assistant (offense) with the Varsity Football Program (1985-1991). I am currently with a telecommunications company in suburban D.C.. I want your expert opinion on the following regarding the use of applied mathematics.
Football is the only sport that DOES NOT take advantage statistical analysis to formulate strategy. Baseball does so, albeit in limited areas, mainly sabermetrics, and a few teams in the NBA practice it, again not to its full potential. Coach Bill Belichik of New England employs the Bellman equation to decide whether to go for it on 4th downs as described by this ny times article:
www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12SABER.html?ex=1107147600&en=7850ec344de647c6&ei=5070
Currently, NFL and NCAA teams calculate simple tendencies based on formation, down, etc. However, they DO NOT measure causality, probabilities, correlation, variances, distributions and other sophisticated techniques that WILL give them a tremendous advantage in game planning and strategy formulation.
Data Mining is the automated extraction of hidden predictive information from statistics and allows users to analyze data to solve business decision problems. Coupled with mathematical modeling, it becomes a powerful tool that presents limitless advantages.
Because of computing technology today, crunching NUMBERS is easier than ever, computing and technology cost is negligible. I am sure you already know this.
Uses of Statistical Techniques like these WILL DEFINITELY cut down hours and hours of valuable practice and film study time, subsequently, teams can practice and study the more important and relevant aspects of the opponent.
There many issues pertaining to strategies that can be exposed and/or discovered through sophisticated mathematical/statistical analysis and DATA MINING. I will illustrate one example soon. But for now, I just want to know if you guys ever come across before.
02-05-2005 by Din Rao
Hello, I am new here...I am an applied mathematician and an alumnus of the University of Michigan, where I was a graduate assistant (offense) with the Varsity Football Program (1985-1991). I am currently with a telecommunications company in suburban D.C.. I want your expert opinion on the following regarding the use of applied mathematics.
Football is the only sport that DOES NOT take advantage statistical analysis to formulate strategy. Baseball does so, albeit in limited areas, mainly sabermetrics, and a few teams in the NBA practice it, again not to its full potential. Coach Bill Belichik of New England employs the Bellman equation to decide whether to go for it on 4th downs as described by this ny times article:
www.nytimes.com/2004/12/12/magazine/12SABER.html?ex=1107147600&en=7850ec344de647c6&ei=5070
Currently, NFL and NCAA teams calculate simple tendencies based on formation, down, etc. However, they DO NOT measure causality, probabilities, correlation, variances, distributions and other sophisticated techniques that WILL give them a tremendous advantage in game planning and strategy formulation.
Data Mining is the automated extraction of hidden predictive information from statistics and allows users to analyze data to solve business decision problems. Coupled with mathematical modeling, it becomes a powerful tool that presents limitless advantages.
Because of computing technology today, crunching NUMBERS is easier than ever, computing and technology cost is negligible. I am sure you already know this.
Uses of Statistical Techniques like these WILL DEFINITELY cut down hours and hours of valuable practice and film study time, subsequently, teams can practice and study the more important and relevant aspects of the opponent.
There many issues pertaining to strategies that can be exposed and/or discovered through sophisticated mathematical/statistical analysis and DATA MINING. I will illustrate one example soon. But for now, I just want to know if you guys ever come across before.
Jon Gruden says in his book that in 1992, when Mike Holmgren came to Green Bay, there was no computer system set up.
