NCAA Umpire Mechanics
 

I attended a college (high level D-1) game Saturday. I usually do not watch the Umpire, but he got my attention early, so I concentrated somewhat on him. I have not attended a college game in a couple of years, so this might be standard seven-man mechanics.

He seldom went outside the hashes. The following descriptions varied somewhat depending on the the amount of yards gained or lost, but generally held true.

If the play ended inside the hashes, he went to the pile if it was close and spotted the ball. If the pile was not close, he relayed the new ball to the Referee, who then spotted the ball.
If the play ended between the hash and the numbers, he went to the pile if it was close. Sometimes he spotted the ball, but most often, he relayed the new ball to the Referee, who then spotted the ball.
If the play ended outside the numbers he stayed at the hash, even if the play ended in the team box.

What got my attention was the lack of deadball support he provided on sweeps. The deep wings could offer little help. The Referee was very mobile and was in the bench area helping the L or LJ, but the Umpire was inside the hash.

I am not identifying the game or the conferences involved as I do not want to be viewed as slamming the official. I just want to know if these are the normal mechanics for NCAA Umpires.

Unless this is a "conference" thing, the "R" should rarely need to touch the ball after a down ends.

The U rarely will help out at the sidelines either. That's what the R and the two deep officials (F and S) do all day long with their respective partners (L and H). U can hold back to get the approximate succeeding spot and dead ball officiate with the middle official (B) from the inside out.

Interesting. Thanks for the information! I have been out of the college game for about 10 years and we used 6 officials, but our umpires were very active into the team bench area when the play ended there. I can see the benefits of him staying home, IF the deep wings get there. It seems they were the ones not providing the support.

I would guess the referee spotted the ball at least 50% of time.

Blue37,

I am the referee on our college crew and I touch the ball a ton, I think this is a crew preference. If the play ends outside the hash and inside the numbers on my side I will get the ball, if it is closer to the U he will get the ball and the other guy will spot the ball. For me it just helps us speed up the game. I have talked to crews where the R will never touch the ball.

REPLY: Don't know what game you attended, but if it was a conference where the supervisor is an NFL official (e.g. C-USA - Gerry Austin), it wouldn't surprise me. The mechanic you describe is used by the NFL.

We already have new timing rules to speed up the game:D .

Regardless of who touches the ball or not, you do what your conference supervisors mechanics say to do.
No need to debate it, criticize it nor approve it when it's not what others do.

I related what my area of collegiate officials do and that's just one way of doing it.