Avant on Sports Science

Submitted by Avant's Hands on December 20th, 2012 at 12:44 AM

I was just watching NFL Live and they did a top 10 of best catches this season. Avant's grab that was giffed on here recently was #1 and they did a sports science segment on one handed catches using him as an example. Pretty cool to have another Michigan player be featured. Denard had a piece on him before I know, but was there anyone else?

I can't find the video online anywhere yet.

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Skiptoomylou22

December 20th, 2012 at 1:01 AM ^

I'll definitely have to check Mgovid in the afternoon for that segment. Can't wait till Zoltan gets one

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daviddes

December 20th, 2012 at 1:03 AM ^

LaMarr Woodley

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club_med

December 20th, 2012 at 7:19 AM ^

link to the Woodley video

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Greg McMurtry

December 20th, 2012 at 9:47 AM ^

People.

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Thorin

December 20th, 2012 at 2:35 AM ^

I'm recording NFL Live at 4:00 pm Thursday but I'm not sure if it's a replay of that or a new show.

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hackattack13

December 20th, 2012 at 5:55 AM ^

Besides Woodsons interception against MSU, Avant's catch at Northwestern was the most impressive one-handed catch I can remember from my childhood. Sports Science did a piece on Calvin Johnson's catch radius which is a 2 car garage-Avant cannot be far behind eventhough he gives up a good 6+ inches

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JeanClaudeVanD…

December 20th, 2012 at 7:09 AM ^

Now that was a pretty good catch too. I think that was also against northwestern.

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Vote_Crisler_1937

December 20th, 2012 at 8:11 AM ^

Walker made a crucial one-handed catch against Iowa. I can't recall one against NU, just Avant's.

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GVSUGoBlue

December 20th, 2012 at 9:36 AM ^

Walker's catch is one of the few memories I have of Michigan football from when I was a kid. That was truly amazing.

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GVSUGoBlue

December 20th, 2012 at 10:26 AM ^

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Vote_Crisler_1937

December 20th, 2012 at 8:14 AM ^

In the '08 Capital One Bowl Adrian (sp?) Arrington made a one-handed grab around a defender that I think was much more difficult than Avant's against NU. It may have been Manningham but Im pretty sure it was Arrington.

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GVSUGoBlue

December 20th, 2012 at 9:35 AM ^

No it was AA.

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GVSUGoBlue

December 20th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^

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andrewG

December 20th, 2012 at 10:22 AM ^

I had completely forgotten about that catch. That was unbelievable, and so confusing live. Wait... he couldn't have possibly caught that... could he have???

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UMmasotta

December 20th, 2012 at 11:58 AM ^

When that happened, my first thought was it was like a glitch in a video game where the ball goes through the defender. Ridiculous catch.

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GVSUGoBlue

December 20th, 2012 at 10:29 AM ^

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Optimism Attache

December 20th, 2012 at 6:32 AM ^

Nice Avantatar you got there.

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the monarch

December 20th, 2012 at 8:31 AM ^

See I would have gone with "Avantar" there.

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Optimism Attache

December 20th, 2012 at 9:26 AM ^

Looking at it again, I straight up agree with you. Much respect.

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Doc Brown

December 20th, 2012 at 6:54 AM ^

Good for Avant getting more press. However, as a physics teacher, I STRAIGHT UP HATE sports science. I have students bringing in clips not realizing those clips are not even close to science. They are more like sports measurements.

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bigmc6000

December 20th, 2012 at 7:50 AM ^

How is it not science? Just off the top of my head some of their episodes talk about the impact of a golf club on a golf ball and it's corresponding velocities and impact pressure, the force of a punter's foot on a football when he punts it, the force felt by a person who is being tackled at peak speed by a defender. All of those things are simple F=MA and free body diagrams so while certainly not ionic bonds or magnetic flux I'd say it still dwells firmly in the land of science and definitely practical application of Physics.

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swan flu

December 20th, 2012 at 9:03 AM ^

It's pop science. It's not science. In order for something to be science there has to be controls and experiments. Sports science is an analytical segment that uses comparisons that are not put into proper context in order to be hyperbolic. The entire segment is pretentious and tacky. It's not science.

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Tater

December 20th, 2012 at 9:18 AM ^

Are you suggesting that every show should include a multi-million dollar double-blind study? I think the shows are informative and serve a purpose. They aren't pretending to be anything other than what they are.

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swan flu

December 20th, 2012 at 9:32 AM ^

No, I'm suggesting that Sports Science misrepresents itself and propagates the same pop science that is used to convince people that climate change isn't happening, or that broccoli can cure cancer. I'm not suggesting the show should be cancelled, I'm just saying it sucks. And that it should be called Sports Anecdotes... No SportsScience.

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Doc Brown

December 20th, 2012 at 10:42 AM ^

Double blind studies has nothing to do with the issues with the sports science clips. I am teaching students that a quality scientific study includes controls and experimental variables and samples, along with a testable hypothesis and stated conclusion based upon data and observations. All sports science is a showcase for amazing athletic abilities. Taking a velocity, force, or torque measurement is not science. It is just a measurement. When students watch these clips being showcased under the guise of "science," they are being misled this is how science is done. I am having to hear from students that the scientific studies we perform in class is long and meticulous and not splashy like "Sports Science." Science is long and meticulous. It is meant to be a careful process.

I do like seeing Wayne State University faculty members getting press as well on ESPN. Perhaps it will get students interested in kinesolgy and to attend Wayne State. One of my good hockey buds is a medical physics professor at Wayne State.

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YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

December 20th, 2012 at 8:29 AM ^

Agree that some clips are basic measurement tests, but they frequently provide diagnostics and occasionally use controls. Some of the episodes would form the basis of a decent 8th grade science fair project. The purpose of the show is a little analytics of the sports world. At least kids think about quantifying or proving the significance of observed events, yes?

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Doc Brown

December 20th, 2012 at 10:46 AM ^

You are right they do get students thinking about analytics. I just wish it would get students thinking about the scientific process as well. If ESPN doesn't want to mislead people, then call it "Sports Analytics."

I am probably kidding myself as this is the same network that knowingly overhypes bench players like Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin.

I would love to see a sports science clip actually perform a well designed experiment. In the past five years, I have yet to see one actually use control variables or state a hypothesis. If anyone could find it, I would post bang you a million points. Right now I am using a series of clips (The Science of Speed) produced by the National Science Foundation and NASCAR to showcase actual sports science.

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