[Old School]

This was good reading. I always like when we cut thru the chase and get to the point which is what these articles do. I am a bit perplex with these assigners. I think they are the problem. Nobody will ever make me believe that the officials that work DI or the only officials that can work DI. There is no shortage of officials that would like to make $1200 - $2400 per game.

You would think that with these guys working crazy schedules like this, that there is a shortage of good officials. There simply isn't! In another thread I drew a very valid comparison between career minded AAU officials (aka weekend warriors) and DI officials who chase these big games. There is no difference in the way these people view officiating. One group just makes way more money then the other and this is where the hypocrisy starts. If you're making a lot of money doing it, then it's okay. No doubt we turn our heads to the DI warrior working everyday of the week. But even at the AAU level it's a problem, we don't want to see an official working his 8th game of the day, working our game.

No doubt there needs to be limits set and I think it's up to the assigners to do it. The article states:
"The problem is that these guys are working multiple leagues, so no one is monitoring how often they work. And coordinators such as Clougherty and Hyland understand they would lose the elite officials to other conferences if they went to them and said they couldn't work elsewhere. "If I'm not going to use him today, someone else is," Clougherty added. "So I'd rather benefit than have him go to the SEC or another league."

Bullsh!t, I say. This is pure BS and I think where the problem lies. I do not think that officiating is rocket science work where only certain people in the country can do it. Until we get over this, there will always be issues. However, I will say this. I have no problem with these guys making the money that they are making, supporting their families and such, even though they are not able to see them in the winter. Not a bad job if you can get it. I just wish we would stop with the deception that only these guys can do it.

I got the answer though. It's actually quite simple and already stated. You can't work more than one major DI conference, period. That's what needs to happen. Until there is a shortage of officials, then why have guys work multiple conferences? Supply and demand. The assigners could do this without having to get an act of congress to pull off. The assigners just need to have some balls and stand up to these elite officials and coaches. Unfortunately, because of the amount of money involved (the root of all evil) it will never change, imho.