Quote:
Originally posted by jjb
How about this ... Mike Guman played tailback for Penn State while his father was on the officiating crew. Several games...
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Just for perspective, I am a Penn State graduate. I would imagine that is officiating even Joe Paterno did not complain about!
Anyway, I have not studied all the replies carefully, but I do agree that you have to take each situation individually.
I would probably work my alma mater's games. My father, his brother, his sister, and many of my cousins attended the high school that is an arch rival to my alma mater. I have friends that are teachers there (in fact I have more friends that teach at the rival high school than at my alma mater). Does that make me biased toward that high school? I do not believe so, I know I can be fair, and I would not refuse games involving either school.
If you want to go deeper yet, I work near a particular school. I have no other connection to that school, and I would defintely not have any problem working a game at that school, but I suppose someone could find some impropriety in that situation.
In my opinion it is a no-brainer not to work a game if one's child is playing (I do not have to worry about that, as I do not have kids), but what about a second cousin? What about one's boss's nephew? There is not a correct answer to these situations, and all officials I know would be totally fair in such games, but I do not believe any good can come from the situation.
I believe it is up to the individual to "scratch" themselves from a game, and I hope they make the correct call. Anyway, my not so humble opinions on the subject.