INFORMS Open Forum

After the conference championships they're going to have two weeks to prepare for the Super Bowl, however, that seems like a long time but there's a lot to be done. The other thing is not only do you have to develop the game plan but then you have to communicate that to the players and they also have to practice, right? Some of the plays and such to make sure everybody's on the same page. So I think just the cycle time of being able to analyze the massive amounts of data now that are out there with all the cameras, and sensors and everything, make heads or tails of it and then be able to translate that into an actionable plan that you can actually practice, and then be able to come out and execute. It's just amazing the amount of data analytics that goes into that nowadays. - Walt DeGrange, Director of Analytics Capabilities, CANA

The latest episode of Resoundingly Human features Walt DeGrange, CANA, as we take a look at the continually evolving role of analytics in football and take a look ahead to the upcoming Super Bowl. We also take a few minutes to discuss Walt's terrific new book, Field Guide to Compelling Analytics. 

Click here to listen! 

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Ashley Kilgore
Manager, Communications
INFORMS
Catonsville MD
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I enjoyed this podcast! Thank you to Walt and Ashley for unpacking football analytics.

Laura 

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Laura Albert
INFORMS President-Elect
Professor and David H. Gustafson Chair
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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A fascinating glimpse into the growing role of analytics in sports, with particular focus on football and eSports. I love how Walt shares intriguing insights on how data-driven strategies are employed by teams, citing examples such as Croatia's use of AI in the 2018 World Cup and the various ways NFL teams leverage analytics to streamline game preparation and player performance analysis. The most interesting part of the podcast was where he discusses predictive analytics for sports betting, underlining the complexities of accurately predicting game outcomes due to variables like injuries and player dynamics. His anecdote about his Eagles fandom and prediction for their Super Bowl prospects adds a personal touch, making the podcast relatable and enjoyable.

Having personal experience in Sports operation analytics here are few personal recommendations for the future Sports & analytics based podcast,

One aspect that worked particularly well in this episode was the focus on practical applications of analytics across different sports domains. The discussion on eSports was especially refreshing and timely, showcasing Walt's commitment to diversity in gaming and expanding the boundaries of analytics. This provided a fresh perspective on how data is used outside traditional sports, illustrating analytics' versatility.

However, one area for improvement would be to dive a bit deeper into the technical side of the analytics tools and methodologies used. For analytics enthusiasts, understanding more about the data models, machine learning techniques, and challenges faced in sports data collection and analysis would make the episode even more engaging.

Overall, this podcast is a compelling listen, with a great mix of technical insights and engaging real-world examples.

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Tushar Yadav
San Francisco
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