Ted Hillary - Back from the Dead
 

Last week I caught the last few minutes of the Penn State-Purdue game. Of course immediately I try to identify the officials. Right away I pinpoint John Higgins, easy. The second guy I don't recognize, young, fit black guy (turns out his name is Steve McJunkins), looks great out there. The third I don't see for a few seconds but once I do I think to my self "who is that bucket of bones? He can hardly move and he looks like he's got one foot in the graaaa... ooooooh my God it's Ted Hillary!!!"

I was a huge Ted Hillary fan for his last couple years but when he was working the '09 Big Ten tourney he was basically crawling up and down the court and it was clear he had to call an end to a great career. Anyone else seen him or heard anything about why he came back?

First of all Hillary has not stopped officiating. He had a injury a few years ago and has continued since his recovery. So I am not sure what you are saying from the stand point of that he went away. He only did not finish that one season and was back. I believe he had a knee replacement and is moving a lot better than he used to. I am not going to get into why or what he should be doing, just saying he has not really gone anywhere.

Peace

I have all the respect in the world for Ted's knowledge, experience and management skills. I think he's one of the great Big Ten officials of the past decade. But I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you on this one.

You must not have seen him lately. He didn't look good out there.

McJunkins was my first clinician at my first camp back in 2010. Good guy, good advice. Glad he's moved up.

Yes I have. I live in Big Ten country and see him often. I know what he looks like and obviously know more about his situation than you just based on the surprise you have when you saw him. ;)

Peace

Somebody wants him out there, even if you don't. He's working the Big Ten and Conference USA this season and has already worked 26 games to date.

Which D-1 conferences and games are you working this season?

BCC

Big Couch Conference ;)

Steve McJunkins
 

Steve is from right here in NE Ohio. He is an excellent young man and I think we will be seeing a lot more of him in the future!

I took his OP as less surprise, and more excuse to dump on an older official. Could be just me, though.

Of course. Never took it any other way. But it was clear that he had no idea of what has or has not been going on with Hillary.

Peace

Actually Ted missed the end of 2008-09 and all of 2009-10 due to knee replacement.

Stolen! Nice!

I thought I read somewhere that it was both knees replaced. Anyone know for sure, just curious?

Found my own answer. Feb. Referee magazine page 9, Bilateral knee replacements 12/21/09.

2-3 hours rehab per day, now restricts himself to having at least 1 day between assignments.

He has worked back to back games three times this season.