Bob Knight's Latest Comments about College Officials

[Red_Killian]

Gotta agree with Knight on this one. Traveling around the country a couple of days during the week and throw in the weekends to get to 5-6 games, in addition to their normal jobs and life issues, is enough to keep anyone, no matter their physical or mental shape from performing their best every night.

[Rich]

I agree with Knight here. There are a lot of qualified guys who never get a break cause Steve Welmer works 28 days in a row.

[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!

[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

[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)

[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.

[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.

[REFVA]

I'd like to know how a 55 year old can do 6 games a week of the 2nd best basketball in the country. I do believe the officiating would be better if schedules were reduced.

In general most of these officials are in great shape. I know in some conferences they expect you to be in great physical condition. the lot of officials at that level are not ripe to be picked. Their is a great demand for officials at the D2/3 in the east coast. So it's not unlike some officials working 6 days a week. At least at the mens side the officials I know take pride in staying in good mental, physical condition.So many of these official have been doing this for many years. It's bullcrap what Knight is saying. he has to blame someone for his 5 game skid.. You don't here that from Coach Krzyzewski.

[chartrusepengui]

Originally Posted by REFVA

It's bullcrap what Knight is saying. he has to blame someone for his 5 game skid.. You don't here that from Coach Krzyzewski.

You obviously have not been reading any of the articles re: Coach K and officials/officiating the past few years!!!!

I've seen too many games over the years where the K should stand for king of whiners!

[DC_Ref12]

Originally Posted by chartrusepengui

You obviously have not been reading any of the articles re: Coach K and officials/officiating the past few years!!!!

I've seen too many games over the years where the K should stand for king of whiners!

cite, please

I realize that Coach K is one of the more vocal coaches on the court and doesn't have a great reputation for keeping his cool in the midst of a game, but he is the antithesis of Knight in the post-game press conference. I can't remember the last time he made a disparaging remark about officiating to the media. Do you care to enlighten me?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by DC_Ref12

cite, please

I realize that Coach K is one of the more vocal coaches on the court and doesn't have a great reputation for keeping his cool in the midst of a game, but he is the antithesis of Knight in the post-game press conference. I can't remember the last time he made a disparaging remark about officiating to the media. Do you care to enlighten me?

He makes disparaging remarks directly to the officials during the game instead. He's a world-class whiner, moaner, b!tcher and complainer, right up there with Jim Boheim. Knight doesn't whine as much during a game as Coach Krybaby does.

Cite? Just watch a Duke game. Any Duke game.