UNI FB On Discovery Channel's "MythBusters"!!!

[Cap'n Cat]

Don't know if anyone else caught it, but on the latest episode, the guys were looking to verify or debunk the myth that helium in a football would make it travel farther. It IS a myth, by the way, and, actually, helium slows down the football as it has less mass than an air-filled ball and thus, is more susceptible to drag during flight.


ANYWAY,

Near the end of the program, they showed a college team lining up for a field goal. They had white shirts and purple pants along with purple helmets, so naturally, Cap'n Cat got a little aroused. I looked closely and noticed that they were playing at Missouri State's Plaster Field! Sure enough, it was UNI kicking a successful field goal. Don't know if it was video of last seasons game because I did see a "SMS" sign in the northwest corner of Plaster. And, I could see that the helmet did not have the WIU leatherhead logo, so it wasn't them klownies.

They showed the same kick twice. Looking through the very rapidly scrolling credits, they did note Missouri State's Ath Dept for the footage.

Interesting!

[jegbomb52]

Wow, it is so awesome that someone else actually watches that show, I watched the first half of that yesterday but left for a jog and didn't see the end. I will have to search and see if that episode is on again?

If anyone else see's it you might be able to tell when it was seeing if the kicker was left or right footed, being the sign that said SMS, it had to be from two years ago or 4. Right footed it is two years ago due to it being Brian Wingert, if the kicker is left-footed it was 4 years ago referring to Mac Hoambrecker.

[Newsbreaker]

I love mythbusters, very cool UNI showed up like that.

[SteinPizza]

Jeg, Cap'n - Not to get off topic, but Mythbusters is an awesome show and must get high ratings for Discovery given all the promos and commercials being aired. Did you see the "Jaws" episode?

Glad to hear they're giving the Panthers some luv.

[JayJ79]

unfortunately, according to the discovery channel website, the Helium football episode won't be airing again in the near future. doh!

I don't suppose anyone Tivo'd it ;op

[PantherChic]

My dear husband will be so sorry he missed that episode! Mythbusters is on in our house quite frequently.

[Cap'n Cat]

Bomber,
I'm trying to picture it in my mind and I believe the kicker was left-footed. It will be aired again sometime.

[jegbomb52]

Jeg, Cap'n - Not to get off topic, but Mythbusters is an awesome show and must get high ratings for Discovery given all the promos and commercials being aired. Did you see the "Jaws" episode?

Glad to hear they're giving the Panthers some luv.

Where they tryed to blow up the oxygen tank at the end? That was freaking awesome!

[AmesPanther]

I thought they kind of got it wrong. They went for nothing but distance. What about actual hang time, as in time in the air.

[jegbomb52]

I thought they kind of got it wrong. They went for nothing but distance. What about actual hang time, as in time in the air.

Its all relative Ames, if the helium restricts the ball from going a distance horizontally the same effect will be made on its effect for going vertically. The football might descend at a slower rate however its peak height will not be as high so your end result (hang time) is the same.

[Cap'n Cat]

I think they addressed hang time and concluded that it was irrelevant because, as stated above, the lighter mass of the helium ball created so much drag that they were already on an accelerated downward path. They spend a huge amount of time on this myth.

Also, they tried to get after hangtime using multiple kicks form the College of San Francisco punter, but concluded that not every kick was the same - there is always statistically intolerable data to be derived from using humans in gross motor movement tasks. The performance declines on a defined curve, mostly due to fatigue.

[jegbomb52]

I wonder why they didn't come up with some contraption to make a mechanical leg swing to impact the football much like the maching they use to test golf equipment. No two kicks are the same, never. You can trust me on this one.

[Cap'n Cat]

I wonder why they didn't come up with some contraption to make a mechanical leg swing to impact the football much like the maching they use to test golf equipment. No two kicks are the same, never. You can trust me on this one.

They did. They rigged up a sledge hammer to a scaffolding type thing, swung it pendulum-like and had it kick footballs at the same place every time. The balls were all regulation, 13lbs psi. The data was not statistically relevant, air balls versus helium balls.

[jegbomb52]

So your telling me the Myth... Busted!

[Cap'n Cat]

So your telling me the Myth... Busted!

You got it, big boy.