I agree. I met Howard last season when he was a guest speaker at one of our association meetings. I found him to be a man of integrity and impeccable knowledge of the rules. I understand that he has been on the NF board in the recent past and has been instrumental in rules changes and what not. I still am not entirely certain if the OSAA would have concurred as to what his ruling was. First of all, the information is second hand. How do we know that that coach even talked to Howard on the phone? I think I would have to speak to him in person before I accepted the coaches take on the phone call. Next, Howard's(if indeed it was Howard)decision was made on only half the information. Did the official get to tell his/her side of the story? Next, was it Howard's decision to make? I thought it was the OSAA that made these decisions.

This being said, I disagree with the approach that the official that ejected the coach took. I don't think that official had the authority to say that the coach couldn't participate in the varsity game. First of all it wasn't his/her game but the official's that were assigned to do the game. Second, the OSAA probably hadn't gotten the ejection report,if indeed you have to fill one out on a coach sitting in the stands. I think it would have to be the OSAA's decision on whether he can coach the varsity or not.

My understanding, from the newspaper, and from gossiping all day about the sitch, is that Howard's ruling was that the official didn't have the authority to exclude the coach, and that the rules didn't allow a "fan" to be kept from coaching.

I'm sure the phone call was made, since I know that Brad Smith (the coach/fan involved) has a reputation for high integrity, and the paper quoted Howard as referring to the call. Also, note that Howard did not say anything against the ejection itself, although I'm not sure the ref should have done it. So Howard didn't need to get the official's side, at that point (I have no doubt that this conversation will happen at some point!)

What I'm waiting to hear is what Howard has to say about it at our next meeting, or at the banquet! His dry, understated sense of humor should make this a pretty entertaining event! (Possibly not so entertaining to the referee who did it!)