THE CLEVELAND FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION

THE GOALPOST THE OFFICIAL’S NEWSLETTER

VOLUME 22, NUMBER 1 AUGUST, 2015 JIM LANESE, EDITOR

2015 Meetings The meeting list for 2015 contains the regular Monday sessions at Independence Middle School Auditorium. The annual Browns stadium clinic was cancelled this year due to construction. The clinic should resume in 2016.

2015 CFOA Meeting Dates:

Mtg Day Date Time Topic

1 Mon Aug 17 6:30 OHSAA State Interpretation, Bruce Maurer

2 Mon Aug 24 7:00 Game Preparation, John Rock

3 Mon Aug 31 7:00 Sideline Control, Jim Schartman

4 Mon Sep 14 7:00 TBA

5 Mon Sep 21 7:00 TBA

6 Mon Sep 28 7:00 TBA

7 Mon Oct 5 7:00 TBA

8 Thur Nov 5 6:00 Business Meeting and Banquet

Please note that the August 17 State Rules Interpretation meeting begins promptly at 6:30. Final Score will be available to purchase any referee materials needed as well. Our meetings will include presentations, rules, and mechanics featuring video and visual illustrations. Starting with 8-24 meeting, any member trying to break into varsity games will have a few minutes at each meeting to step forward and give their name as a way to “put a name to the face” to help get them a chance!

Sideline control    

 

Officials  doing  their  job!  

The August, 2015 issue of Referee Magazine summarizes the Wells Report, the independent review/account of the events of January 18, 2015 at Foxboro Stadium concerning the deflated footballs used in the championship game between the NE Patriots and the Indy Colts. The article focuses upon the actions of officials during a 24 hour period beginning the day before the game.

Interesting revelations from the report:

• The NFL alerts Referee Anderson the day before the game that Colts GM voiced concerns about Patriot football air pressure. (Something must be in the air!)

• Routine checking and marking of the balls occurs during the pregame time, but the Patriots’ balls are removed to the field without official authority. (Referee Anderson is notably concerned).

• The game balls appeared to be missing for about six minutes prior to kickoff (including a filmed restroom stop by the ball attendant), backup balls were retrieved but later returned when game balls re-appeared!

• A Colts interception late in the first half brought the attention to the deflated ball. Halftime measures document low pressure of 11 of the Patriot game balls which were certified prior to the game (using the same gauges).

• The officials collect balls at games end, selected balls appear to be legally inflated.

• The Wells report documents officials’ efforts to ‘control’ the balls; it also relies upon other evidence to implicate Patriot’s attendants and players in the dilemma.

The upshot.

The Patriots organization is implicated and fined by the NFL for complicity in the caper.

Quarterback Brady is alleged to be knowledgeable of the deflation effort via text messages and other information. Brady jokes and denies the allegations, appealing the NFL’s suspension decision. The suspension is upheld via NFL/NFLPA procedures and now the federal courts are asked to intervene and review the case.

At what point do we cease the involvement of our nation’s legal system in trivial sports issues? The arbitration process agreed upon by the league and the players has played out. The decision has been rendered. Why go to court? What about SPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOR and the INTEFRITY OF THE GAME?

Memoriam

Our  thoughts  and  prayers  are  with  the  family  of  David  Coad,  a  veteran  official,  coach,  and  educator  at  Hawken  School.  Dave  is  a  Hall  of  Fame  athlete  at  Baldwin  Wallace  College.  He  passed  away  in  June.  

Keep  the  family  of  Gary  Huspaska  in  your  prayers.  Gary  died  in  late  July.  He  supported  newer  officials  with  game  assignments,  instruction,  and  encouragement  for  many  years.  Gary  spent  31  years  on  the  football  field  as  well  as  umpiring  baseball.  He  was  inducted  into  the  CFOA  Hall  of  Fame  in  November,  2014.  

Also,  sympathies  and  prayers  to  the  family  of  Roye  Kidd,  longtime  head  coach  and  teacher  at  Cleveland’s  John  F.  Kennedy  High  School.  Roye  passed  in  June;  his  career  spanned  36  years  in  the  schools.  

OHSAAFB.com  

The site continues to grow! Would you like to review the NFHS rules change presentation? File copies, discussions, Ohio mechanics, weekly quizzes, and OHSAA bulletins are featured on a full access site (no password or membership required). Under the Rules tab, find NFHS rules tests from previous years. Video clips of lays are also available under the video tab. Use these to enhance you preparations for the new season. Many other resources provide study options for rules and mechanics.

Post your availability on the CFOA Website! Assigners seek officials using our claendar

listings.

 

Eyes  on  the  point  of  attack  

Hall  of  Fame  

The  Hall  of  Fame  Committee  begins  its  search  for  new  inductees  at  the  beginning  of  each  season.  Eligibility  for  nomination  is  included  in  the  CFOA  Constitution  By-­‐laws  and  is  posted  on  clefoa.org.  If  you  would  like  to  suggest  a  nominee,  contact  a  CFOA  officer  with  details  to  provide  to  the  Committee.  

 

 

Heads up, Ray, these guys are big.

Members Corner

Ronnie Schell, Ray Anthony and Jim Demetriu, Sr was recognized at the Cleveland Touchdown Club Charities golf outing with the Bobby Brown Award. These awards were presented by the CTCC on July 16th. Ronnie was there to accept his award, Mike Hayes accepted on behalf of Jim and Ray. The 43rd Annual East-West All Star Scholarship football game saw an eight man crew of officials in the June, 2015 game at Baldwin Wallace Finnie Stadium. Mechanics were a bit challenging! Crew members included: Mike Hayes, Jim Lanese, Ken Vagase, Brian Crummie, Anthony Huspaska, Mike Muzychenko, John Schuller, and Tim Hahn.

Mentoring, 2015 Season

The Mentoring Program has worked extremely well for the past several years. Newer officials have the opportunity to ‘join up’ with a crew and attend games as an observer/partner with the crew to learn the Friday Night regimen and connect with the experienced officials. The Mentorship board for 2015 is Paul Manfredi, Pete LeCastre, John Mastrey and Don DeRoia. We will be asking crews that are interested in being mentors at the August 17 meeting and getting their schedules. Six crews have already volunteered; contact a member of the mentorship board if you would like to be included. We will ask any newer official that's interested to give us their contact name, cell phone, and e-mail address to connect with a crew. Mentors will meet a 1/2 hour (6:30 PM) before each meeting going forward with the group to discuss the program and game arrangements.

The 2015 Golf Outing has been cancelled due to scheduling problems.