[tomegun]

I have lived on the west coast, then east coast, then the south and now the west coast. The officials on the west coast are not on the same level as the officials on the east coast period dot. IMO, there are many reasons why this is the case and it is something that is talked about openly on the east coast. Part of it has already been mentioned - there are more games to work on the east coast. By the time someone is working a regular schedule in the ACC, SEC, Big East, etc. they have worked smaller D1 conferences (this is the norm). On the west coast, an official can be one good summer away from working in the PAC-12. Depending on who vouches for them, they could survive until they are known by coaches and accepted. It is almost like camping and politics can put you in the PAC-12 on the west coast and the Big South on the east coast. I am skipping right over any potential discussion as to whether politics play a part in this - I think that is a given.