Announcers wanted U to signal TD

[Soonerump]

I have been with the same crew for 5 years, and an Umpire for 4 of those years. The previous U of this crew would signal a TD every time.

Final game of the season 5 years ago and playoff implications were on the line. U signaled a TD with 32 seconds on the clock. He did not check with anyone else he just signaled. The bad thing was, the runner had lost possesion of the ball at the 3 yard line, and he did not regain possession of the ball. The HL and the LJ came in blowing their whistle saying runner did not have possession. Everyones Bean Bags were on the ground except for the U. Even the BJ saw the ball come loose.

The U was very adamant about it being a TD. We could not convince him otherwise, and he stated that if we overturned his call that he would never call with us again. We had a conference and overturned his TD signal. He walked off of the field with 32 seconds left on the clock, and has never officiated again.

If I see a TD I look to my wings, and if they need help I will walk over and confer with them, but I will never signal. Too many things can and will go wrong.

I wanted to share this with you guys, because bad things do happen when an Umpire thinks they have the proper angle and signal something that they have no business signaling.