John McGrath & Allen Baynes
The NFL requires it, John McGrath has it, all NCAA conference supervisors desire it.
Integrity.
Success in sports is familiar territory to John McGrath. Once the Kentucky High School Athelete of the Year, football scholarship recipient to the University of Kentucky then later the Kentuckiana Football Officials Association Rookie of the Year, John still remains humble and thankful to those that helped him obtain his current position as Tony Corriente’s Head Linesman.
So where did Integrity come into play in John’s career? Well as John was getting started officiating high school football he had a chance to work some small college games. One of John’s mentors, Paul Schmidt; asked John to join him in a Independant Officials group which would work NCAA games for those independant schools not affiliated with a major conference (pre-conference USA). The acceptance date was in January. Now John had been applying to enter the SEC for several years and this was no different. Problem was the SEC didn’t decide until mid February. John went ahead and accepted Paul’s offer in January.
Guess who called in February? You got it, the SEC. They offered John a position on an SEC crew. After a 24 hour wait, John called the SEC back and declined the job. He had already given his word to Paul. Now you might think…WHAT? Turn down the SEC? No way, man!
John officiated in the Independant group for one year and then it folded. He was now without a major conference. So he applied and was eventually accepted to the Big East where he worked ten years (and in nine bowl games).
Later, John was called to New York City to interview for the NFL. During the NFL, several of the interview committee inquired as to why John turned down the SEC. His response, “I gave the man my word.” And John firmly believes that was a determing factor in his being hired to the NFL.
Integrity is one of those intangible qualities you can’t teach, train or demand it be there. It shows up in the toughest decisions, the trying times, moments that define you as an official. It’s also completely under your control…And when you think no one notices, your decisions from the past are brought back up for inspection and review. Just be sure they don’t haunt you.
