NCC Football uses GameStrat for In-Game Video in Championship Season

The North Central College Football have established themselves as a powerhouse in NCAA Division III football. Located in Naperville, Illinois, and competing in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW), the Cardinals have dominated the national stage under Head Coach Brad Spencer. Since taking over in 2022, Coach Spencer has led the Cardinals to an incredible 44-1 record, securing two national championships and a national runner-up finish in his first three seasons. 

With such a winning culture, North Central is always looking for ways to stay ahead of the competition. In 2024, in-game video replay was allowed for the first time in Division III football, and the Cardinals were tasked with finding the right system to enhance their in-game adjustments. After thorough research, they chose GameStrat.

We did a lot of research into who we would partner with for our sideline film for coaches. I’m glad that our review led us to GameStrat. It did not disappoint. We had reliable film every week, at home and on the road.

-Brad Spencer, Head Football Coach at North Central

To get an inside look at how GameStrat impacted the Cardinals’ championship season, we sat down with Colin Wood, Special Teams Coordinator & Cornerbacks Coach, who was responsible for setting up the GameStrat system.

With GameStrat’s instant replay, North Central’s coaching staff could make real-time adjustments without second-guessing what happened on the field.

Making adjustments was night & day. With GameStrat, you have a clear picture of what happened, so there’s no questioning or guesswork being done. If you can see it, you can correct it.

-Colin Wood, Special Teams Coordinator at North Central

Coach Wood explained how right from the first game, GameStrat played a crucial role in bridging the communication gap between the press box, sideline, and players.

Using GameStrat was a big advantage for us. Just the way we were communicating using the iPads from the field up to the press box and getting that feedback to our players is something we took a huge advantage of throughout the year.

With in-game video replay being a new addition to Division III football, learning and integrating a new technology could have been a challenge. However, with GameStrat’s plug-and-play setup and ongoing support, North Central was able to seamlessly integrate in-game replay into their workflow.

The videos you guys provided, as well as the constant communication we had from your support staff, was phenomenal. We never felt like we were on our own, and I can’t stress that enough.

In a season that ended with another national championship, every edge mattered. For the Cardinals, GameStrat was a key part of their success.

We were able to get the truth immediately, which was huge. And most importantly, it wasn’t a headache at all. It was easy to set up, and it worked every game, so it became a really great tool for us.

For teams still debating whether to invest in in-game video replay, Coach Wood made it clear that not having GameStrat is a disadvantage.

If you don’t have in-game replay at this point, you’re definitely falling behind. It allows you to adjust much more efficiently, and if you haven’t already, I would advise anyone to invest in GameStrat.

GameStrat is proud to have played a role in North Central’s championship-winning season, and we look forward to helping them dominate for years to come.

Interested in learning more? Book a free demo below & see how GameStrat can impact your program!