When Opportunity Knocks

[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