Those mean, mean officials!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

I guess Mr. Parrish, the MVC Commish, the coach, and the others didn't see the latest memo from John Adams...


TO: NCAA Divisions I, II and III Coordinators of Men’s Basketball Officials.

FROM: John W. Adams, National Coordinator of Men’s Basketball Officiating.

SUBJECT: Bulletin No. 1 and December 8, 2009, Teleconference Follow-Up.

1. So far this season, there seems to be an unwillingness to address shameful sideline behavior by coaches. I observed unacceptable behavior over Thanksgiving weekend that went unpunished, time after time. I attribute it to how some of the early season tournaments are assigned and also the unwillingness of some officials to ever address egregious sideline antics. Please remind the officials you assign, no matter what the venue, that you expect them to be fair and enforce all the rules evenly
throughout the game. Members of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee, NCAA staff, the regional advisors and I are constantly monitoring games and noting the names of officials who refuse
to address or penalize unacceptable side line behavior. Quite honestly, I thought this issue was behind us. Please stress to the officials you coordinate that their job is not to be “nice guys” but rather
to create and manage a fair environment from 30 minutes before the game starts until the conclusion of the game. Please support those officials that handle things the “right way.”

Adams can pontificate all he wants, but reality is something entirely other.

I'm being squeezed out of a conference (it seems) because I took care of some egregious behavior. I called a late game technical last season when a coach refused to give me a substitute after a disqualifying foul, even after we had a second horn. While I can't be certain this is why I'm getting the squeeze, it's the only possible thing I can point to from last season.

So people have a choice to make. They can work their 120 game regular season schedules (like Steve Welmer) or they can sit home during non-conference stuff and potentially even conference stuff (since the commissioners may not use you anymore if you TCB and the coach whines enough).

If the NCAA took over the assigning, then Adams could talk as though he has some actual authority or control over the regular season. Till then, he can only withhold tournament assignments.