This in an interesting time of year in NCAA football officiating circles. Its the time of the year when open football official roster slots are filled, supplemental roster spots are offered to new prospects and rookies anxiously await their fate at the hands of DIII and DII conference supervisors. I’ve personally waited on pins and needles through the period of time that starts with the final spring scrimmage and ends with the release of the conference rosters.

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Join me as I discuss Agility and Flexibility with Roanoke College faculty, Dr. John Creasy and Jim Buriak. These gentlemen are experts in the field of sports fitness and training and have developed proven methods and routines to assist football officials with respect to flexibility and agility.

Tony Josselyn is a Back Judge in the Southeastern Conference and I spent an hour with him recently discussing his career and philosophies on football officiating.

Tony shared his concept of the Mental Rolodex and how he uses visualization techniques to put himself in the correct frame of mind just prior to the snap. You’ll also hear why his score of 93 on his first SEC rules test “wasn’t good enough!”

Given the national attention that continues to roil around player behavior and unsportsmanlike conduct, it might be helpful for me to share some thoughts as we go forward.

Calling or not calling these fouls places our officials in a difficult situation; it is the nature of the business to be criticized, and it seems especially true when we try to apply 9-2-1. These are judgment calls, as are all the decisions officials make during the action of the game.