This weekend is the Championship weekend here in Jersey. I woke up to a snow covered ground...I remember a few years back they canceled the games because a light snow storm because nobody wanted to pay to clear the Rutgers (college)field.

tpaul, did you get a final? Our chapter was awarded finals to 3 crews. I believe two were sent to Giants stadium and the other crew to Rutgers for a game today. The one crew's referee from our chapter was NJSIAA Official of the Year.

Congrats to Maxbk who will work as back judge at Rutgers University today. His referee is (our cadet supervisor) and is one of the best as his respective position and they are a top flite crew. Maxbk, a younger official, performs like a 10-year veteran and was very deserving of this assignment. Stay warm guys!

tpaul - do they show Comcast games up North? I worked on the chains for the SJ Group III title game yesterday and was shown on live TV (Delsea v. Lacey Twp).

LJ, no final this year. We did the second round game Absegami/Pennsauken 28 - 0...The one guy on our chains said he was a cadet instructor (in your area). My umpire and I are the raritan instructors. I know 3 of our crews got finals.

I guess they do but I have Direct TV, not comcast. I may get it next season just to record those games.

I just saw all games at Rutgers will happen as scheduled. I forgot they now have field turf...last time it was canceled it was still a grass field.

I held the chains for the 8:00 game at Giants Stadium on Friday night, Don Bosco vs. St. Peter's. A South Jersey crew worked the 5:00 game, Hoboken vs. Verona. I didn't catch their names.

How'd they do? I know the whole crew and they do a real nice job. The referee starts his 2nd term as our chapter president. He was our president in 2000-2001 and was elected again. A very polished referee and very helpful to younger officials. He just left his college post and works high school ball full-time. His U still works NCAA.

Tpaul - here's someone on your crew from the Sauken / Gami game.... the courier post comes to many SJ games.

http://cgi.courierpostonline.com/cgi...NSAUKEN&curr=2

Here's yours truly from Thanksgiving day (Camden v. Woodrow Wilson) The kid getting sacked (Antwine Perez) was recruited something like #2 in the nation. Going to USC to play for Pete Carroll. (They cut me in half)

http://cgi.courierpostonline.com/cgi....WILSON&curr=3

REPLY: Our championship game last evening at Rutgers was everything a game of that magnitude was supposed to be. Both teams intent on playing football rather than demonstrating how much testosterone was flowing through their systems; coaches who cared more about their teams' performance than seeing things that weren't there and wanting us to see them too; sidelines that were kept clear and unencumbered. It allowed the HL and myself to move quickly without fear of a collision; and finally a high caliber game that went back and forth about four different times.

And to top it off, the favorite (Jackson 12-0) had to score on the last play of the game when the QB, after eluding a sack and scrambling around for about 8 seconds found his fullback in the back of the endzone for the winning score. (note: we looked very carefully for ineligibles down field and there were none.) The underdogs (Brick 10-2) had gone ahead late in the fourth quarter and looked like they were going to pull off an upset.

But it was cold...I'm sure not as bad as Friday night at RU or Giants Stadium, but the Field Turf which was wet after they removed the snow started to freeze about midway through the second half.

We had a great game. Boyd Sands, Jim Loper and the new NJSIAA supervisor of officials came to our locker room to congratulate us. It was a great way for the season to close.

And I did manage to meet and speak briefly with the crew that ljudge mentioned. Nice guys who also got to work a good game (Middletown South vs. Shabazz).

Walt...will I see you at the banquet tomorrow night??

Bob, congrats on the game. I sent you some e-mail stating the same. There was also a link to some videos on nj.com if anyone is interested in watching the final play of Bob's Jackson/Brick Memorial state final.

I'll be at the dinner tomorrow. See you then.

Walt

Post the link if you could. Would love to check it out.

Link
 

http://www.nj.com

Click on the Championship Video link. You'll be asked for a zip code and year of birth before you can continue but you don't have to register. Bob worked the Jackson/Brick Memorial game. There are highlights from other games too, including an overall highlight of all games.

LJ,
Thanks that's my umpire Jimmy...

PS- that was me standing behind him (can't see my face, thank God...LOL

They looked good for the little bit I got to watch them. We did get to spend some time together in the locker room at halftime and between games. They seemed very thorough.

I always enjoy the opportunity to sit in and listen to other crews as they discuss the game.

NCHSAA Championships
 

Bob, I hope my experience is as great as your was. I have the 2AA game tomorrow at 4:30pm at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.

Re: NCHSAA Championships
 

Congratlations Tony! And good luck. Are you the R?

Re: Re: NCHSAA Championships
 

Nope, I was the U. But what a party! It was great.

26-18 Final with the losing team driving but coming up short in the final minute. Great kids and coaches to work for. We just soaked it all up!