nfl officiating question

[grantsrc]

Yes, they switch at half time in the NFL. Not sure about the SJ and FJ. Some college conferences went to it last year as well.

[irefky]

what is the real purpose of this?

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Just to follow up on grantsrc's post...FJ and SJ switch sides as well in the NFL.

Interesting that some college conferences also have adopted switching the chains at halftime. But C-USA does not move the officials--just the chains. So the HL and LJ essentially switch jobs at halftime. I don't know if they change their shirts to have the correct position placket on their backs.

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by irefky

what is the real purpose of this?

So both coaches get the chance to chew their backsides!!

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by irefky

what is the real purpose of this?

REPLY: While I agree with grantsrc's assessment, I think the real reason is so that each coach has a half where he can look across the field to see for himself the distance to the line-to-gain. It's darn near impossible to judge that by looking at the chains when they're on your side of the field.

[Jim D]

In the NFL there is a line to gain marker on both sides of the field. On the HL side, it's the front stake of the chains and on the other side, it's a just a pole. The line to gain guy lines it up by eyeballing the opposite side (remember NFL fields are superbly marked and many crews tend to start a series on a yardline). I think the switch is so each official gets evenly roasted.

[NickelDeuce]

Bob, in Conference USA the chains don't switch sides of the field the officials do. The chains stay opposite press box and the HL,LJ, FJ and SJ switch at half time.

[Jim D]

I don't mean to say anything bad about the officials in Conference USA and I know it wasn't their idea but that has to be the dumbest practice I've ever heard of - having the HL and the LJ switch jobs in the middle of the game!

Maybe next year the R and the U will switch at half time!

[Snake~eyes]

Originally Posted by Jim D

I don't mean to say anything bad about the officials in Conference USA and I know it wasn't their idea but that has to be the dumbest practice I've ever heard of - having the HL and the LJ switch jobs in the middle of the game!

Do they switch plackets too?

But seriously, do the F/S switch responsbilities?

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by NickelDeuce

Bob, in Conference USA the chains don't switch sides of the field the officials do. The chains stay opposite press box and the HL,LJ, FJ and SJ switch at half time.

REPLY: I just went back and reread the email from my C-USA friend. You are indeed correct. In their conference, the officials change sides--not the chains.