Growing up in Midland, Texas it is highly likely that you were a die hard Dallas Cowboy fan. (And if you were not, you did not tell anyone). You loved the history, the dignity of Coach Tom Landry, the legend of how the team started (and part of the reason for the rivalry with the Washington Redskins), the colorful players, the innovations (an example is the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders), and 20 years of winning seasons. At the start of every game, you knew the players' names, numbers, and positions. You tensed up when you heard the phrase "loading up the shotgun."
During football seasons we gathered around the TV and watched America's Team (and yes they are) play. Usually we had nachos and enjoyed the game. No matter what the outcome, we watched it to the very end. On Monday, we talked about the football game.
It was rewarding to read in the Wall Street Journal about Gil Brandt's induction into the NFL Hall of Fame. If you knew Cowboy history, you know the name. If not, suffice to say Mr. Brandt was not a player for the Cowboys. No, he was the talent evaluator.
So what? Just how good could be be?
If you ask a Cowboy who knows the team history, you will find out he was integral to the team's success for over two decades. I remember my father telling me about him. Mr. Brandt introduced the concept of using computers to help determine who should be picked in the NFL draft. Consider it as big data meets football scouting. He used a tool to systematically sort vast amounts of data and offer some perspective during the evaluation process. At the time, it was a radical concept. In the article, note the sarcasm by Vince Lombardi. (if you have to ask who Mr. Lombardi is, find something else to read).
Today Mr. Brandt's concepts are considered standard. But just remember, Mr. Brandt started this 49 years ago. To offer some perspective, your smart phone has far more computing power than what Mr. Brandt started with. His computer was 2.5 to 3 feet tall.
It reminds me of using GIS in economic development. To some, GIS is simply a pretty map maker. To me and other professionals, it is a highly sophisticated decision support system that augments qualitative analysis. Like Mr. Brandt's computer, GIS can take many factors, sift through them, and offer evaluations. It is a very important component of a strong economic development program.
For any Cowboy fan, you will thoroughly enjoy the following article. You will see familiar names mentioned and highly interesting stories from Mr. Brandt and others. It is a wonderful read. But just remember, football meets big data. And the results, well the article does a far better job than I can describe here.
Finally, Mr. Brandt, congratulations for earning a very important award. You certainly deserve it.
Link to article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-man-who-devised-the-formula-to-find-nfl-stars-11564680827?shareToken=st430c907787b04fc5b5f5ba2024f42e5a
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