The Apple of college football's eye

SAN FRANCISCO — Their use differs, but most top-flight football programs share a religious use of Apple products.

IPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro are mainstays on college campuses — both in locker rooms and in lecture halls.

College football experts consider Apple the tech solution, with Google and Samsung Electronics distant contenders.

Pac-12 Networks commentator Rick Neuheisel estimates a vast majority of college programs use iPads as playbooks because of their popularity among college students and their book-like form factor.

While iPads have become de facto playbooks, and iPhones are still the smartphones of choice for students, the MacBook Pro computer has become indispensable in the use of video study.

The University of Georgia has more than 50 Macintoshes and 143 iPads for players, coaches and staff. Coaches and staff use 15 iPhones.

"IPad was a game changer," says Brett Greene, Georgia's video coordinator.

"We're stoked about the iPad; the old playbook (with 1,000 pages of diagrams) was out of control," says Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray, who graduated and now spends his time poring over the digital playbook. "It's easier to prepare and more fun" with iPad.

But it is Coach's Eye, a video-analysis app that has helped Murray refine his footwork and arm motion, that is likely to help make him a first-round choice in the NFL draft next year.