OCR Text |
Show V'vV' 2C ? Lakeside Review, Wednesday, August 19, 1987 backfield, somewhere in the vicinity of the linebackers, but not to interfere with them. He is to read the offensive alignment and know the ineligible receivers. He From 1C watches illegal line movement The back judge usually takes and makes certain the defense doesn't use signals to distract the his position 25 yards deep in deoffense. On pass plays he watches fensive territorry he always covers the deep area of the field and .the interior linemen. often has the tight end or motion The linesman and line judge man on pass plays. The back themselves on either side position judge also has the deep man on of the line of scrimmage and note punts and false starts by offensive players and encroachment by the defense. in is the referee The positioned They also watch for illegal mooffensive backfield 7 yards betion and illegal formations. The yond the deepest back, preferably watch the neutral zone and mark the on the throwing arm side of the ball on short running plays. is He for responsible quarterback. On passing plays they watch the formaoffensive the overseeing tion and the player count and halfback and interior linemen nearest them. checks for illegal motion. On runmosthe covers action ning plays The side judge and field judge ly in the backfield and on passing take positons 15 yards deep on plays he watches the quarterback the sidelines. The side judge and watches the tackle on his counts the players on defense and side. the field judge watches the 25 sec- back blocks and forward progress and the field judge watches the The umpire positions himself ond clock. They cover the flat on of the ball. On passing plays the flanker. in a position in the defensive running plays including crack- - side judge watches the split end On pass plays Duties kick-off- s. 5-- you have to prepare mentally just like you would if you were going Ugly to play. From 1C cials. Last year he was selected as back judge for the Aloha Bowl, a nationally televised game on ABC between North Carolina and Arizona. Ive played a lot of sports, and Ive coached 17 years. Officiating satisfies me as much as playing or coaching does. It's alot the same. You have to work prior to doing it you have to prepare by studying the rules and running to get into shape. Granted you dont have to do as much physical preparation as you do to play, but The biggest difference is you dont win or lose, but you know whether youve done a good job or not, Robison said. One thing I dont think people realize is the amount of preparation officials put in," Robison said. There are 990 football rules and there are also 85 exceptions cases where deviance from the rules is allowed, Robison said. And the officials go over those rules constantly. Every Tuesday night from the second week in July until the last week in November, Robison and Doug Toole, another WAC official from the area, teach an officials class Then Robison read the headline Officials of the local newspaper that to the game and the fact that President Jimmy Carter had called Merit to wish him good luck seeking his 200th win. From 1C referee his games. Merit said he knew the white refs would cheat for the white players, Robison said. Looking back on it now, it was like a fairy tale. I cant believe it ever happened," Robison said of the events followed the game. Ive never been called white boy so much. It seemed like everybody who spoke to me called me white boy, Robison said. But the real excitement came after the game, which Tennessee State had won. Robison and the other referees were leaving the locker room when a group of about 100 blacks spotted them and beean chasing them, dition, the coach, Joe Merit, was going for his 200th win. When Robison and his two partners from the PCAA met with the officials from Tennessee, who were also white, Robison was shocked at the way they taked to the blacks they came in contact with. The headline read something to the effect that Carters phone call wouldnt be the only surprise from a white man that day. The article then went on to quote Merit as saying he was dead set against letting any white boys" We were scared. We all took off in different directions and me and the other two PCAA officials were running down the street, with about 40 of them after us. We spotted a disco and ran toward it. Just as we were running past the disco a car pulled up with about five white guys and three women. One of the guys asked me where I was running, and we turned around and pointed at the group behind us. He said, Relax, now. Youre in white territory. and we turned around and the group ran up to within about 50 yards of the place and they just stopped. It was like there was a wall for the other local WAC officials. In addition, there is a clinic held every August (Robison just got back from it last weekend) and there is also a three-homeeting before each game where the last games film is reviewed and any problems discussed. ur In the WAC, as with many conferences, the same seven men officiate together all year so they can develop teamwork and get better collectively. Each of the seven always keeps the same job. Robison is the official known as the back judge and has certain duties distinct from the others, but which vary from play to play depending upon formation changes. there. We had crossed the territorial line. I coulnt believe it. The white guys were standing there kind of taunting the group, but they wouldnt come any further. The thing that did was really make me sad that people treat each other that way. I know the reason those blacks hated us, was because of the way the whites had treated them, Robison said. But Robisons first real scare came down in Spanish Fork when the home team was ahead 20-- 0 at the half. American Fork 0 and on came back to win the final play of the game there was a penalty that disallowed the home team from its last chance to score. 21-2- Six policemen had to make a circle to protect the officials and escort them off the field. Parents need to understand that officiating is part of the game. That officials are going to make mistakes and that they need to worry more about what the kid is getting out of the sport, rather than whether the referee is trying to cheat their son or daughter," Robison said. at our newly expanded store Friday & Saturday, Aug. 21st & 22nd Tony Lama Boots Wrangler Jeans Braided Nylon Belts Western Shirts Ladies Ropers A 7995 $1495 $995 129S $4995 DIMM I Vft WISIEBI! 451 NORTH MAIN Watch For Our Annua! Garage Sale... 1987 Coming Aug. 19-2- 9, Fantastic Savings on: WEAR LAYTON Focus Ora America's Birth Defects Help Prevent Support qT) March of Dimes One-of-a-Kin- Have you blood pressure checked. WE'RE FIGHTING FOR VOUR LIFE American Heart Association ds Scratch & Dents Clearance Items Cabinets Home Improvement Much More Hardware Don't miss out on vour chance to save $$$ Our Layton Store Only 200 W. Gentile |