In case you didn’t know, officiating the SEC Championship is big. I wanted to send out some ProFootballReferee love to some very good football officials with whom I’ve had the pleasure to interview, share the field, or simply hang out with. White Hats off to Matt Austin, Wilbur Hackett, Jr. and Roy Potts.

These three SEC officials (all from Louisville, KY) were selected to officiate the SEC Championship game next Saturday. If you recall I interviewed Wilbur Hackett, Jr back in October. I consider Matt Austin to be one of my mentors and I vividly recall Matt as my association president when I started officiating 7 years ago.

As the football season comes to a close, it is important to begin preparing for next year’s spring scrimmages. Officiating at the college level requires preparation year around. The following list will give you the top ten things to do to get ready for the NCAA spring scrimmages. Spring scrimmages are one of the most important aspects of getting noticed and potentially getting hired into a college conference. Supervisors use the scrimmages to evaluate prospects and new talent. Follow this list to be fully prepared.

During Morgan State’s 21-7 win over Winston-Salem State, the Bears’ Baptiste made one of the greatest pass catches ever caught on tape.

Join me as I interview Tony Michalek. Tony is a former Big Ten official who moved up to the NFL around 7 years ago. He worked his first Super Bowl as Mike Carey’s umpire when the Giants beat the Patriots.

Todd Skaggs

Things I’ll miss as the season comes to a close…I was sitting at home this Sunday watching my beloved Bengals do battle with the Steelers and I found myself drifting off in space thinking of all the great moments I’d experienced this season and how much I’ll  miss certain aspects that could only occur in a Rookie Season.  Here are some of those in no particular order:

1. Mid-South road trips in PJ Doyen’s van to Virginia Wise and Kentucky Christian. The middle of the back seat is highly over-rated but being sharing the ride was all that and a bag of chips. Both times.