When Opportunity Knocks

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by DLH17

Couldn't agree more. We work in a profession that can be a difficult one to advance within. Every opportunity to do so, should be taken. Why not? We don't work as hard as we do to let big time opportunities come and go without action. I praise the replacement officials. And, I think they have done a great job, thus far. Good for them.

So you want an opportunity just to say, "I worked a single game in the......." even if it ruins the rest of your career?

Well if that is the case, then I will give back a varsity game between two teams at the lowest ranking in an area or state for the varsity game at the highest ranking. After all it is an opportunity right?

And if the replacement officials screwed up like they have in high school games, we would be questioning their ability at that level or if they work high school playoff games. If this happen in the NBA where a basic rule was totally missed or misapplied, we would be on here ripping them up and down.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by DLH17

Couldn't agree more. We work in a profession that can be a difficult one to advance within. Every opportunity to do so, should be taken. Why not? We don't work as hard as we do to let big time opportunities come and go without action. I praise the replacement officials. And, I think they have done a great job, thus far. Good for them.

There's a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice that NFL officials make to get to that level. No NFL official is going to be hired until he works quite a while in Division I. No officials get to Division I without putting in time at smaller college levels. No officials get there without putting time in at HS and lower levels.

The replacements have taken the ultimate shortcut. Why should that be praised?

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Rich

There's a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice that NFL officials make to get to that level. No NFL official is going to be hired until he works quite a while in Division I. No officials get to Division I without putting in time at smaller college levels. No officials get there without putting time in at HS and lower levels.

The replacements have taken the ultimate shortcut. Why should that be praised?

Ultimate shortcut? I doubt it. I suspect most of them have been working just as long and just as hard as the one's they're replacing. They just didn't have the right connections at the right times to get the job or just missed the cut.

[REFANDUMP]

If you are a person whom has no realistic shot to move up the ladder to work D1 or higher, I understand why you would consider doing this. What a thrill it must be for these new officials. What do you have to lose.

If you have a realistic ambition to advance, this is the kiss of death.

I couldn't do it, as I have too much respect for my fellow officials. I accept where I'm at on the totem pole, and do the best I can with the games I've got.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Ultimate shortcut? I doubt it. I suspect most of them have been working just as long and just as hard as the one's they're replacing. They just didn't have the right connections at the right times to get the job or just missed the cut.

I've worked HS and small college basketball, baseball, and football for over 25 years. Doesn't mean I'm good enough or belong there.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Ultimate shortcut? I doubt it. I suspect most of them have been working just as long and just as hard as the one's they're replacing. They just didn't have the right connections at the right times to get the job or just missed the cut.

There are no D1 NCAA officials working as replacements, so it is not guys "who just missed the cut". And by the age of a lot of the replacements I've seen, there are not a lot of up-and-comers either.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but by-and-large it seems to be guys who have plateaued at the D2/D3 level.

[BballRookie]

I think there is a lot of grandstanding about how "they haven't earned it" or "put in the time" when we all know it takes are rare blend of special things happening to officiate at the highest level. Guys that we all know and respect have had great careers but haven't moved up and gone to the NFL/NBA/whatever. I'm not saying this because I'm buried and bitter, I've barely started my little "career".

I think that in many circumstances officials will hold the short end of the stick with pay to the schools, tournaments, etc. In that circumstance rally the troops and demand better wages. With the NFL guys the story is different. They have tons of money, a pension? , and other benefits they get and now more? They are asking for somebody to at least try to take their job. The NBA had to settle with the officials since the replacements blew it, but with the NFL has the difference really been that big of a deal? Nobody is going to put an asterisk by this season. Only the 24 hour news cycle keeps the talk going.

Locally, I wouldn't cross the line. At the professional level if it was going be my only shot, sure. Guys I respect have told me they would never cross the line. But, at some point in time you really don't have anything to lose.

[BigBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Ultimate shortcut? I doubt it. I suspect most of them have been working just as long and just as hard as the one's they're replacing. They just didn't have the right connections at the right times to get the job or just missed the cut.

Or maybe they just weren't good enough until the real NFL officials got locked out and all the good D1 officials didn't want to screw their brothers.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by BigBaldGuy

Or maybe they just weren't good enough until the real NFL officials got locked out and all the good D1 officials didn't want to screw their brothers.

Or maybe some of them were previously thrown under the bus or was stepped on by one of those NFL officials in the past and they have no reason to have any loyalty to them.

Everyone wants to act like there is a sweet brotherhood among officials. All you have to do is open your eyes to know that is hardly true. There are certainly great people out there and I'd be loyal to them without hesitation but there are as many snakes in the grass as there are good guys. I can't count the number of times I've witnessed disgusting backstabbing and two-faced deceit form officials. I have direct knowledge of some cases of outright shameful behavior form people that have fooled many into thinking they're a saint....they just hide it well but I've caught them in their lies.

I'm just not going to be blindly loyal to an entire group of officials when there will be as many of them that would as soon step all over you.

[IUgrad92]

All of this handwringing and talk about 'not crossing the line' is ridiculous. Last I thought, we lived in a capitalist country. To me that means that anyone is expendable, and anyone is replaceable when it comes to a free market position. At the same time, there will always be someone there to fill any and all vacancies. And those that do are not doing anything illegal or immoral. Does anyone really think that this doesn't hold true for the officials in the NFL?

They are not the risk takers in this business/league and therefore they do not carry enough weight to push their demands. It is not that simple? Now maybe if the attendance around the league declines immensely and is deemed in direct correlation to the replacement officals, then maybe they have more weight. However, that is not going to happen.......

They are not being asked to take huge paycuts. One change and objection is moving to a 401k plan verses a pension plan. Really???? Do not the majority of us live with a 401k plan?

Are these guys officiating for the love of the game or something else? Are we being asked to think that the league is truly attempting to 'railroad' them? The games WILL go on with or without them, that has already been proven. The officials working the games will only get better. It now boils down to whether the Big Boys want to continue to be a part of it or not.

[DLH17]

Originally Posted by Rich

There's a lot of time, effort, and sacrifice that NFL officials make to get to that level. No NFL official is going to be hired until he works quite a while in Division I. No officials get to Division I without putting in time at smaller college levels. No officials get there without putting time in at HS and lower levels.

The replacements have taken the ultimate shortcut. Why should that be praised?

I understand and respect that perspective.

While I don't personally know any of the replacement officials, it's probably not a stretch to say most of them are excellent officials at whatever level they were working previous to the NFL. What a great opportunity for them to learn, at the highest level, and take back with them an awesome experience when they eventually settle into their previous roles as college, etc, officials.

Maybe, just maybe, a few catch the eye of a decision-maker and thereby creates an opportunity to move up to the NFL ranks down the road.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by DLH17

I understand and respect that perspective.

While I don't personally know any of the replacement officials, it's probably not a stretch to say most of them are excellent officials at whatever level they were working previous to the NFL. What a great opportunity for them to learn, at the highest level, and take back with them an awesome experience when they eventually settle into their previous roles as college, etc, officials.

Maybe, just maybe, a few catch the eye of a decision-maker and thereby creates an opportunity to move up to the NFL ranks down the road.

I just don't see it. I see a bigger chance for those officials to be ostracized by the groups they go back to in some cases, especially if those groups have D-1 officials or NFL officials as part of their ranks.

We'll see.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by Rich

I just don't see it. I see a bigger chance for those officials to be ostracized by the groups they go back to in some cases, especially if those groups have D-1 officials or NFL officials as part of their ranks.

We'll see.

Didn't a lot of the NBA replacements from a few years back ultimately make it onto the regular NBA roster?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by DLH17

I understand and respect that perspective.

While I don't personally know any of the replacement officials, it's probably not a stretch to say most of them are excellent officials at whatever level they were working previous to the NFL. What a great opportunity for them to learn, at the highest level, and take back with them an awesome experience when they eventually settle into their previous roles as college, etc, officials.

Maybe, just maybe, a few catch the eye of a decision-maker and thereby creates an opportunity to move up to the NFL ranks down the road.

The guys that I know were already told that this would not be a good idea for them. And the guys that crossed that had some college experience probably ruined that opportunity in the future. Not all of them, but certainly many of them. There were guys that were not regular college officials and if they come back I see many of them not even being used. And one of the reasons is they have been replaced already. They are not likely to come back this season as the schedules are set and slots are filled. And actually this situation also made live harder on the assignors as they had to scramble a few weeks out to fill their spots. And even the most high profile of these guys was a crew chief at the D3 level and I do not see him coming back in that role for sure. And none of the guys I know were not realistically to get a shot at D1, let alone the NFL. It would be different if they used D1 officials that worked in the major conferences. Now one guy could not work any college games because of his new job and took this as a chance. I can somewhat understand his position because after this his career might be over anyway. Otherwise most had something to lose when coming back. I guess there is always high school ball.

Peace