Miami football was ahead of SEC in virtual team meetings

The Miami football program as stated earlier this week by cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph has been conducting daily meetings virtually via the meetings program zoom. The SEC sent out a memo on Friday permitting their member schools to do the same.

In an interview with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald this week, cornerbacks coach Mike Rumph stated the Miami football team has been using the program zoom to keep in virtual contact with their players and hold meetings online. After initially not allowing their programs to do the same the SEC reversed course Friday.

Bud Elliott of 247Sports.Com uncovered the extensive memo sent by the SEC to their 14 member schools allowing the football programs to hold meetings with their players virtually in these times of constant change. The  SEC initially banned the use of programs like zoom to mass communicate with their players.

With the current dead period for recruiting, SEC schools, nor anyone else, is permitted to include recruits in the meetings. Elliott reported that the SEC schools may not observe their players working out or practicing live. According to Elliott schools are reviewing workout videos that players are posting to social media.

Rumph has virtual meetings every morning at 9 AM with his players and has raved about Zoom being the future of collegiate sports. The Miami football players are also keeping in contact with strength and conditioning coach David Feeley to stay up to date on their workout regimen. Rumph elaborated about Zoom to Jackson.

"“Every morning at 9, I get them all on Zoom to see their faces. We might…get into what they have going on, talking about what online classes they’re taking, make sure they’re eating well, checking on their health, their family. The thing I’ve seen with Zoom is it brings back familiarity with what we’re used to.We’re normally with our players and staff more than our family. When you put Zoom on and see 20, 30 members of the staff. We joke around a little to get away from stuff we’re hearing [about the world]. We’re blessed. Who else gets to do this stuff?It’s been very surreal, but [meetings through Zoom] might be something new going into the future of sports. Being able to do everything from home, communicate from home [is helpful]. We’re all trying our best to take advantage of the situation. It’s innovative. Every day is something new.”"

Elliott stated that each conference has its own rules set up in relation to virtual meetings which could lead the NCAA to create more uniform standards. The amendments to the ban by the SEC were published by Elliott in his article. The three most relevant parts are below.

"2. Required virtual film review, chalk talk, etc. that does not include physical activity shall be permissible. Any required activity of this nature shall be limited to two (2) hours of activity per week in all sports, shall be scheduled in accordance with the institution’s established Time Management Policy, and shall not interfere with required class time for online instruction.These activities may not include a review by or live monitoring of film/video of a student-athlete engaging in workouts or physical activity occurring after March 13, 2020.Institutions may not suggest or require a student-athlete to make film/video of his/her workouts or physical activity available by other means (such as social media).6. These modifications shall be effective as of 12:00 pm Central/1:00 pm Eastern on Monday, March 30.7. Further assessment of off-season and/or summer activities will occur in the coming weeks."

The last section of part two is complex. It will be nearly impossible for the SEC to enforce. If a player’s post the video on his own how is the SEC then going to enforce football staff full of dozens of people for being able to watch their players working out? The ACC and Miami football staff were out in front of this before the SEC.