Bob Knight's Latest Comments about College Officials

[SMEngmann]

My opinion is that Knight has a point, but the way he expresses it is outrageous. Also, his idea that the Big XII should exclusively hire its own officials is not feasible, nor is it really sensible.

Essentially, what Knight wants is a full time staff of officials, similar to what the NBA has, for the Big XII. For each conference to have its own set of full time officials exclusive to the conference is a horrendous idea. It's hard enough the way it currently is where there are multiple supervisors with their own ways of doing things, imagine how differently games could be called if there was no overlap from conference to conference. There is considerable money involved, but the only way that I think it would be possible to employ full time officials is if it were done on a nationwide basis throughout the entire D1 level. Additionally, the salaries that would have to be paid would, on a per game basis, have to be substantially higher.

In terms of whether officials can travel across the country and work 6-7 games a week, that depends on the individual. I think it can be done, but not necessarily at the highest possible level. I don't see how an official can work that many games and still put in the amount of time necessary to prepare to referee and to review tapes and fine tune their performance in order to get it to the peak level. At some level, there definitely has to be a dropoff, particularly if the official also has a day job.

[blindzebra]

He's absolutely right about the same guys working way too much.

There are several officials working triple digit games a season in multiple conferences from coast to coast.

I know an official here in Phoenix that left Phoenix on Sunday afternoon, worked in Washington state on Monday, Kansas on Tuesday, Texas on Wed, Florida on Thursday, flew to Oregon on Friday for a game on Sat, then worked a game in Southern Cal on Sunday. He did 113 games that season.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by blindzebra

He's absolutely right about the same guys working way too much.

There are several officials working triple digit games a season in multiple conferences from coast to coast.

I know an official here in Phoenix that left Phoenix on Sunday afternoon, worked in Washington state on Monday, Kansas on Tuesday, Texas on Wed, Florida on Thursday, flew to Oregon on Friday for a game on Sat, then worked a game in Southern Cal on Sunday. He did 113 games that season.

I'm sorry, but I don't see the problem. He worked four three man games in four days, had a day off, then worked another game.

What else did he do? Did he work at another job?

I'm in my mid 50's. I teach school during the day and work games six days a week. At least three of those days involve double headers.

I don't find three man games excessively physically or mentally taxing. Granted NCAA D-1 is played at a different level, but if this guy is in shape, didn't work during the day and then worked five 2 to 2 1/2 hour games in six days, I don't see a problem.

If the argument is that he's holding other qualified officials back, that's another issue, but I don't buy into Knight's argument that 50 year olds can't handle five 2 1/2 hour games a week.

[Johnny Ringo]

I agree with Knight and the reason is the travel. Doing high school games that are all within a close drive 4-6 times per week is not a big deal. But, to fly and drive around the country - way too much!

[blindzebra]

Originally Posted by GarthB

I'm sorry, but I don't see the problem. He worked four three man games in four days, had a day off, then worked another game.

What else did he do? Did he work at another job?

I'm in my mid 50's. I teach school during the day and work games six days a week. At least three of those days involve double headers.

I don't find three man games excessively physically or mentally taxing. Granted NCAA D-1 is played at a different level, but if this guy is in shape, didn't work during the day and then worked five 2 to 2 1/2 hour games in six days, I don't see a problem.

If the argument is that he's holding other qualified officials back, that's another issue, but I don't buy into Knight's argument that 50 year olds can't handle five 2 1/2 hour games a week.

Hmmm, do you travel 100- 1500 miles to get to your games? Do you do them with D-1 players in front of 15,000 fans, with national TV coverage?

Didn't think so.

Re-look at what I wrote:

This official traveled 1000 miles, did a Pac-10 game, traveled 1500 miles, did a big 12 game, traveled 500 miles and did another game, traveled another 1000 miles and did a Big South game, then went 2500 miles to do another Pac 10 game...that's 6 games and 6,500 miles of travel...piece of cake.

[Kostja]

I think that I am in pretty good shape and I am only 28. Still, when I work two games on a weekend (professional ball with a couple of thousand people in the stands) I feel really exhausted after the weekend. When you travel a couple of hundred or even thousands of miles to your games that is very hard. Often you don't get enough sleep (games end at 10, you leave the gym at 11, go get something for dinner, maybe have a beer with your partners, back in the hotel at 1, have to get up at 8 to have breakfast and catch the next plane/train/whatever)), especially considering that you are full of adrenaline after a game with a lot of pressure.

Another point is, that you don't really have time to go back to your games, analyse them properly and work on your mistakes. Yes, you can watch video on the plane, but you can't change your habbits from one day to another. It takes more time in my opinion. From my point of view a game every other day is definitely enough on that level. Put in a couple of back to back games a season, that would be ok. But not 6 games a week on a regular basis, regardless of mechanics or stuff. You can run 100 miles a week if you are properly conditioned (so 2 or 3 men doesn't make a difference), but you cannot referee 6 nights a week on your highest level!!! I once read an article where another coach complained about referees who worked that many games and after only two weeks couldn't even remember a serious incident in a game at the same gym. In my opinion that should never happen. It tells me that the referee didn't have time to analyze the incident, review the tape, discuss it with partners/supervisors ... (oh, and yes, I do believe coaches have a right to have an oppinion about referees and voice their concerns)

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

I agree with Knight and the reason is the travel. Doing high school games that are all within a close drive 4-6 times per week is not a big deal. But, to fly and drive around the country - way too much!

I think the driving takes more toll on your body than taking a flight (at least for me). At least with the flight you can sleep and relax to some extent. If you drive, you have to be alert before and after your games which might less time to sleep or relax. I know I do not work 6 days a week on purpose myself. I am in my mid-30s and when I work 4 games a week that can be tiresome, especially when I have other responsibilities to be concerned with during those days. I can only imagine this being something that anyone would not be a little exhausted from along with the travel.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I think the driving takes more toll on your body than taking a flight (at least for me). At least with the flight you can sleep and relax to some extent. If you drive, you have to be alert before and after your games which might less time to sleep or relax. I know I do not work 6 days a week on purpose myself. I am in my mid-30s and when I work 4 games a week that can be tiresome, especially when I have other responsibilities to be concerned with during those days. I can only imagine this being something that anyone would not be a little exhausted from along with the travel.

Peace

I fly 150K to 200K miles a year in my regular job. Flying takes a LOT out of you. It's not just the dry air and the change in pressure, it's dealing with the logistics, security, tight schedules, luggage, etc. Driving 8 hours would be worse, I agree, but flying regularly is no picnic, either.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

I fly 150K to 200K miles a year in my regular job. Flying takes a LOT out of you. It's not just the dry air and the change in pressure, it's dealing with the logistics, security, tight schedules, luggage, etc. Driving 8 hours would be worse, I agree, but flying regularly is no picnic, either.

This is right. Additionally, basketball is played during the winter and that brings other issues with flight cancellations and such.

For those of you who mentioned newer officials making mistakes, I have two reasons why that isn't an issue.
1. Officiating is as competitive as it has ever been and officials prepare for games like never before.
2. You are kidding yourself if you think all officials working D1 are that good. Many officials are hired, hid on a good crew and gain experience to be good enough over several years. Also, many officials who work many D1 games aren't necessarily good-great officials, or communicators. They are people who can take a bunch of crap, not penalize it and keep on keeping on - safe officials. It has turned into somewhat of a situation where doing the right thing for the game will make your stay at the D1 level short.

Don't take me the wrong way, there are some very good officials who make it to the D1 level and are already there. I just think that to say someone is good because they make it to the D1 level would be wishful thinking.

Something that always makes me laugh: the NCAA video is made during the NCAA tournament. Isn't this when the best officials are supposed to be working?

[boiseball]

I see so many good officials these days and I just have a hard time believing that these same few guys have to be flown all over the country. I would support a system that allowed more guys to get those opportunities. I think officiating is a challenge, but this is no rocket science. There are lots of capable guys who, once given a chance, would thrive in D-1 basketball.

[Ignats75]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

I'm not looking for opinions about the General himself, just opinions on the comments he made, such as, is that many games too many in a week? How many is NOT too many, especially for the guys that travel around a lot in D1.

What about for HS? How many games is too many in a day, week, or weekend?

Bob Knight is alot of things. I think, on this issue, he might be right but just has no capability of delivering the message with any class.

As for high school, I usually do 4 or 5 high school games a week. One a day and two on Saturday (1:00 and 6:00) didn't seem to affect me. One Saturday, I did do a 9:30 Freshman Boys game, jumped in my car to do a 1:30 Girls JV after driving about 35 miles through the middle of town and then jumped in my car to travel another 15 miles to do a freshman/JV girls doubleheader. I wasn't physically tired as much as I was mentally drained at the end of the day. That was too much. But when an assignor needs a favor, and then another does too, I always say yes.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

I fly 150K to 200K miles a year in my regular job. Flying takes a LOT out of you. It's not just the dry air and the change in pressure, it's dealing with the logistics, security, tight schedules, luggage, etc. Driving 8 hours would be worse, I agree, but flying regularly is no picnic, either.

I agree with you. I am not saying that flying or any travel is not a pain in the ***, because it clearly is. I fly as well sometimes and it can be a complete hassle. I would rather fly any day than drive any day if you ask me. I flew a 3 times this past year just for recreation and that was a pain on many levels. I went to Miami and St. Pete, Florida on two different occasions. I also went to LA at the end of the year on a plane. I took all flights out of Chicago and those were longer flight than most college officials in a region might normally take. Most officials at that level mainly work in the area they live (there are some very notable exceptions to this as well). So for example someone working for the Big Ten is likely living somewhere in the Midwest or in neighboring states. I know some officials that work in the Big Ten where I live and they are just flying for the most part a state over. In some cases they are an hour or two drive away. It is not at all easy, but if you work in some other conferences in the surrounding areas, you are not taking 2 and 3 hour flights. You might be taking flights that last an hour at the most if that at all. Then again, that does not factor your job and other commitments. I do not think Welmer has another job currently. So he can work 100+ games and not go back home every night.

Peace

[bob jenkins]

Would Knight rather have Welmer after 28 straight days or one of the esteemed members of this forum working only our second game of the week?

The coaches and assigners in general have shown by their actions that they prefer the former.

Knight wants to have it all -- he wants the best officials working only enough to keep them at their best, and the rest of the schools be damned.

[Terrapins Fan]

Personally, I like to work 5 or 6 days a week. I also like to work a few doubles say 2 or 3 a week. So for me, I'd like to do about 6 to 8 games a week. I don't like to do 3 games a day, but once in a while I will. I am 51 years old and in good shape ( round is a good shape right? , Just kidding I am 6'2" and 236 )

If I work 3 games a week, I don't feel as good going into each game.

It's not about the money for me, I love to referee. ( I do 2 or 3 church league games on Saturdays ) I do JV games and I got about 25 Varsity games this year.

BTW, even some of our local high school games will draw 2,000 fans. I did a JV games that had over 1,500 people watching.

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by stmaryrams

There will always be an issue with getting additional officials who are actually qualified to work at a D1 level.

Just how do you get officials who are "actually qualified to work at a D1 level" if they start coming up through the ranks and never have a chance to work any D1 games due to the politics? Who should determine who is actually qualified? Everyone has an agenda! If some of the guys working 6 games a week jetting around the country cut back to 4 or even 5 games - it is going to open some slots for others that might already be "qualified".

They need to mentor in some new people using the members of the "qualified" crews. It should work that way from MS to Frosh to JV to Varsity to JUCO to D3 to D2 to D1 for the people who do the work and show the inititive and drive to become D1 officials - BUT we all know it doesn't work that way in all areas and politics play a huge role. It would help to get new guys and rest old legs and bodies.

But Knight does have a point - whether you like him or not. He may be an a$$ but he has been around and sure as he!! knows the game better than most! I am not a Knight fan per say - but I do respect his basketball knowledge and opinions - not always his practices.