New NFL Uniforms?

[grantsrc]

I've tried to stay off this topic because of what happened the last time I brought up a rumor (think back to blue bean bags for Fed). I heard from several NCAA officials at a clinic this past March that the NFL will have new officials' uniforms. In fact, the new head of the NFLRA was in attendance at this clinic.

This is what I've heard. Reebok will now be the sole provider of uniforms for NFL officials. So anticipate their logo plastered everywhere, including on the side or back of the pants, hats, and shirts from what I remember. There will also be two styles of pants. They will go with the traditional knickers for fall games, and in cold weather, they will switch to a longer pant, much like many baseball players are wearing.

The biggest change will be the shirts. I've heard that the NFL is upset with the ripoff refs in the Miller Lite ads and other ads depicting officials in a negative light. So to get around this, since Reebok will only produce these shirts, advertisers will not have access to this new shirt, hence actors not looking like real NFL officials. The stripes will start off roughly 4 inches wide at the top and taper down towards the beltline into a point, much like a elongated triangle.

Again, this is what I've heard. We will see come early August if some of these changes take place. We've all heard the rumor about switching to black knickers for years so who knows, maybe this is just another example of the rumor mill going on wrong information.

[Snake~eyes]

I hope they aren't changing the shirts because of the beer commercials, those are funny and even though they make fun of officials I laugh. Who cares?

[Texas Aggie]

Longer pant for cold weather? My calves are the last thing to get cold in cold weather. UA cold gear will take care of that.

Heck, if you can keep your hands and feet warm, your body will be fine.

[ABoselli]

I was also at Liberty Bell last week and Pereira was in our breakout session (R). He and Gerry McGinn led the discussion and Pereira went into a little bit more detail about the change that is coming. Without being too specific, he intimated that officials wearing the same "Cliff Keen shirt and Cliff Keen polyester knickers" in Carolina in September as they were in Green Bay in December is stupid - with nothing against Cliff Keen - but he sees everyone on the sideline in parkas and hoods and his guys are out there with the same thing on as warm weather with some extra undergarments on. "being cold doesn't make you a better official" was the main point.

He mentioned the full length black pants for cold weather games and I'm guessing a new fabric for hot weather. He did mention the Miller Lite commercials in passing, but the way he said it, I doubt it has much to do with any change.

He seemed different than I imagined he would be. Very much a rules geek, very big on making the life of the NFL official easier, not harder. We watched a lot of film from last season (the film he is currently sharing with the teams - TV and team film) and we focused on fouls from the R position. Wasn't there to "big time" anybody, loved to break down film and mechanics - like any other guy at a meeting. Even volunteered to copy his DVDs and mail them, along with their respective script of fouls, to each of us.

I would say it was a good clinic, but there were a few hiccups, being their first year. WAY too many people - need to cull that herd by about 25%. Audio/visual/computer operations were hit and miss. Brings any presentation to a screeching halt. Could have used a little more Q&A, but that goes back to number of guys there - it'll take all day if there's too many. Was at Honig's clinic at Mich. St. the month before and they had everyone submit questions relating to their position the the first day and the position clinicians made sure they touched on those topics the next day - making sure everyone got every question answered to their satisfaction. Maybe this needs to be a two day in order for that to happen.

Got booted from the Ace Center - had to get rooms in King of Prussia - some last minute Bar Mitzvah booking. Bummer.

It was like being at the Oscars for football officials. Just in awe to be watching a presentation from Art McNalley - he wrote the 7 man mechanics manual for god sakes. Jimmy Quirk, Hill, Schleyer, Camp....all stars. Was behind Quirk as we all filed out of the driveway - nice ride: 500SL Convertible.

[Texas Aggie]

he intimated that officials wearing the same "Cliff Keen shirt and Cliff Keen polyester knickers" in Carolina in September as they were in Green Bay in December is stupid

Why is it stupid?

I've never heard a football official say, "man, we are freezing our butts off out there; if they would only let us wear different pants..."

I'm not a cold weather authority (even though it does occassionally get pretty cold down here in November), but if I'm packing for a cold night game, I'm much more concerned about shirts, undershirts, gloves, and maybe socks.

[CashionGrier]

I was also at Liberty Bell last week and Pereira was in our breakout session (R). He and Gerry McGinn led the discussion and Pereira went into a little bit more detail about the change that is coming. Without being too specific, he intimated that officials wearing the same "Cliff Keen shirt and Cliff Keen polyester knickers" in Carolina in September as they were in Green Bay in December is stupid - with nothing against Cliff Keen - but he sees everyone on the sideline in parkas and hoods and his guys are out there with the same thing on as warm weather with some extra undergarments on. "being cold doesn't make you a better official" was the main point.

-- That makes perfect sense. I just hope they don't overhaul the uniform and make it lose its integrity.

He mentioned the full length black pants for cold weather games and I'm guessing a new fabric for hot weather. He did mention the Miller Lite commercials in passing, but the way he said it, I doubt it has much to do with any change.

-- I wonder if he touched on when Red Cashion made a cameo appearence in a commercial a few years ago


Got booted from the Ace Center - had to get rooms in King of Prussia - some last minute Bar Mitzvah booking. Bummer.

-- Ouch that had to suck!!

It was like being at the Oscars for football officials. Just in awe to be watching a presentation from Art McNalley - he wrote the 7 man mechanics manual for god sakes. Jimmy Quirk, Hill, Schleyer, Camp....all stars. Was behind Quirk as we all filed out of the driveway - nice ride: 500SL Convertible

-- When your a great umpire, you get to drive the good cars.

[Bob M.]

REPLY: ABoselli...Mr. Quirk did quite well for himself on Wall Street before retiring. On the other hand, Messrs. Hill and Camp are still public school teachers and probably drove down together in something considerably less 'obvious' than a Mercedes.

Originally Posted by ABoselli

I was also at Liberty Bell last week and Pereira was in our breakout session (R). He and Gerry McGinn led the discussion and Pereira went into a little bit more detail about the change that is coming. Without being too specific, he intimated that officials wearing the same "Cliff Keen shirt and Cliff Keen polyester knickers" in Carolina in September as they were in Green Bay in December is stupid - with nothing against Cliff Keen - but he sees everyone on the sideline in parkas and hoods and his guys are out there with the same thing on as warm weather with some extra undergarments on. "being cold doesn't make you a better official" was the main point.

He mentioned the full length black pants for cold weather games and I'm guessing a new fabric for hot weather. He did mention the Miller Lite commercials in passing, but the way he said it, I doubt it has much to do with any change.

He seemed different than I imagined he would be. Very much a rules geek, very big on making the life of the NFL official easier, not harder. We watched a lot of film from last season (the film he is currently sharing with the teams - TV and team film) and we focused on fouls from the R position. Wasn't there to "big time" anybody, loved to break down film and mechanics - like any other guy at a meeting. Even volunteered to copy his DVDs and mail them, along with their respective script of fouls, to each of us.

I would say it was a good clinic, but there were a few hiccups, being their first year. WAY too many people - need to cull that herd by about 25%. Audio/visual/computer operations were hit and miss. Brings any presentation to a screeching halt. Could have used a little more Q&A, but that goes back to number of guys there - it'll take all day if there's too many. Was at Honig's clinic at Mich. St. the month before and they had everyone submit questions relating to their position the the first day and the position clinicians made sure they touched on those topics the next day - making sure everyone got every question answered to their satisfaction. Maybe this needs to be a two day in order for that to happen.

Got booted from the Ace Center - had to get rooms in King of Prussia - some last minute Bar Mitzvah booking. Bummer.

It was like being at the Oscars for football officials. Just in awe to be watching a presentation from Art McNalley - he wrote the 7 man mechanics manual for god sakes. Jimmy Quirk, Hill, Schleyer, Camp....all stars. Was behind Quirk as we all filed out of the driveway - nice ride: 500SL Convertible.

Hey AB,
I was also in the R break out! I thought the "Bell" was the best conference I've been to. Yes, they had little problems, as always....I stayed in King of Prussia it was only $80. Com paired to the Ace center $200.

[TxJim]

Originally Posted by ABoselli

We watched a lot of film from last season (the film he is currently sharing with the teams - TV and team film) and we focused on fouls from the R position. Wasn't there to "big time" anybody, loved to break down film and mechanics - like any other guy at a meeting. Even volunteered to copy his DVDs and mail them, along with their respective script of fouls, to each of us.

Get that DVD and script. Wish you could share that. I'm always looking for stuff like that. I bought last years NCAA 2005 Officiating video with Dave Parry narrating, but he doesn't go into much detail of mechanics and ruling discussion. Maybe I'm not looking for it in the right places.

Originally Posted by TxJim

Get that DVD and script. Wish you could share that. I'm always looking for stuff like that. I bought last years NCAA 2005 Officiating video with Dave Parry narrating, but he doesn't go into much detail of mechanics and ruling discussion. Maybe I'm not looking for it in the right places.

Is that the one that you play on your CPU and it has a little window you have to watch it in?

[TxJim]

Originally Posted by tpaul

Is that the one that you play on your CPU and it has a little window you have to watch it in?

Yes, it is in a small box b/c I think they chose the lowest resolution they could use to get all their files to fit on one CD.

I bring up the CD in windows explorer directory, then you can play the individual mpeg files and size it the way you want in media player.

They need to go to DVD to preserve the video quality though. Their page shows the 2006 Baseball officiating on DVD. Maybe '06 footbal will be too. http://ncaa.sportgraphics.biz/index....ory&param_0=16