R without a mic

[SouthGARef]

I've seen some Rs do it. I've seen some Rs not do it.

I would advise that Rs should do it every time -- if nothing else, it gives you practice so that when you are asked to wear a mic announcing penalties isn't totally foreign to you.

I see way too many HS games on television where the Rs are HORRIBLE at accouncing the penalties on mic. Is this a huge deal? No. As long as we get the call and the enforcement spot correct, it doesn't matter. But a good announcement and presentation by the R makes the crew look good. This is one of the reasons I like Steve Shaw from the SEC. He articulates well.

Another thing: Get in the habit of saying where the penalty is enforced from. "Holding, On the Offense, 10 yard penalty from the previous spot, second down." Why? Because that's important information. And if you are wearing a mic and we enforced it from the wrong spot -- maybe an official who was too far away to actually see the error can hear it and make sure the crew gets it right.

It may be all for show, but if we're going to do it it needs to be a good show.

My .02