Was watching the MSU game today, and I realized that all of the officials had blue bean bags. Is this now the standard at the NCAA level??

ACC is also using blue bean bags this season.

It's opinion. Our Div. III conference is using them as well. The officials manual allows it. Conf. USA used them last season. It's conference by conference.

Big Sky Conference
 

Big Sky Conference will use Blue Bean Bags in 2004.
Just an observation but it appears conferences with supervisors affiliated with the NFL seem to be making the switch to blue.

<b>A reminder, the 2004/2005 NFHS Officials Manual (Page 10) still <u>requires white bean bags!</b></u>
While opinions may vary on which color is better, nothing looks worse than half the crew with blue and half the crew the with white.

Does anyone but another official even notice the bean bags? It seems to me that most "civilians" don't seem to realize that officials carry them, let alone what they are for.

I'm not certain what our association has to say about it but I think they allow either blue or white for all levels. I've even seen a couple of guys carrying one of each at the same time.

For the record, mine are all white. ;-)

-SW---

I notice them but I doubt any other 'civilian' does. Like you said I doubt most of them know what its for and I bet most of the times they don't even seen them being used. Probaly about the only time is on punts.

NCAA mechanics allow for a color other than white. From the CCA manual, "all members of the crew should use like-colored beannags." That means all white or all whatever.

I suppose if ya'll wanted to use pink bags it would OK.

NF mechanics did not change, the color is still white.

Texas Orange Beanbags
 

Theisey, I hope your post didn't wake a sleeping giant!
I am envisioning "Texas Orange" beanbags in some of the TASO chapters!
"Jus thank ya'll, "Texas Orange" never gits dirty!"

How do you find a blue beanbag in the grass, sometimes I have a hard time finding my white (ok a little gray) one?

I use them quite a bit and often there are volunteers working the stick crew. At times when I'm nearby, they tell me, "Hey Ref, you dropped something over there." I've even had players pick it up and give it back to me. Cringe.

My favorite is when they pick up a flag and hand it to me. :rolleyes:

"Yeah - we're going to enforce that from the, uh . . . the 50? Maybe the 45? Not quite sure - just make something up."