[ChuckElias]

DJ, at the D1 and professional levels, it's very hard to get there. But it's harder to stay there. Assignors at these levels (and I only know a few personally) are not particularly tactful. If you screw up one of "their" games, they don't take it very well, and they will let you know in no uncertain terms.

I never said he'd get "ripped" by the assignor; I said he's get an earful. They may not "rip" the official -- as in make personal comments -- but they do not sugar-coat what you messed up.

Dan can probably confirm this story about a D1 assignor. The assignor went to a league game to observe his three officials. One of the officials did not have a very neat appearance. Among other things, his shirt was noticibly old. After the game, the assignor went in to the officials' locker room. He took the shirt out of that official's bag and threw it in the trash. His only comment to the official was "Now go buy a new [bleepin] shirt." The official was not invited back to the conference the following season.

The point is that if you do something stupid in a D1 game, the assignor will find out and call you on it. And the experience is not likely to be pleasant.