Officiating Sunsets or Possibly Moving On? - Time Out #222

It is just very strange, weird, and unnerving feeling.

Hanging up my lifelong officiating stripes is of what I write.

A year ago when our crew worked the 5-A Oklahoma state high school football championship game, I sincerely thought that would be my final officiated game during my 52nd year, since beginning this unusual passion of mine as a junior college student at Oklahoma State University. I have worked on-the-field longer than any other high school football official in the history of our state.

Simply put, I was incorrect regarding my former thought.

In 2019, I suited up several times in my zebra outfit, once again getting totally excited during my limited Friday Night Lights (FNL) experiences. Yes, my current career officiating experience now stands at 53 years!! What??? Officiating is truly part of my body's DNA.

So, what does my crystal ball say about my officiating future?

The short answer to this complex question is my crystal ball is currently in the shop; therefore, no obvious answer!

Just how did this entire dilemma develop this year?

The best I am able to tell you is it probably got its start when I received my annual on-line renewal application from my beloved Greater Tulsa Officials' Association (GTOA) the first week of March. O.K., just because I submitted the small yearly membership fee, and submitted it along with the requested information, didn't necessarily mean I would actually attend the local meetings, or work any varsity games. A couple of calendar months later, I received my 2019 Redding (the "Bible") high school (NFHS) rules study guide, which I also paid for, and mailed back to them. My rational with that expenditure was I would just study it for my own knowledge and reference. Next in line, was the application and renewal process involved with the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA). This process is also an on-line exercise, which I easily completed; my thinking at worst case outcome, my good friends at the OSSAA would just gain a little bit more "free" money, if I didn't follow through officiating 2019 games.

Oh, boy, now time continued to move on to hot July, and the beginning of the scheduled GTOA meetings in south Tulsa, a 1:15 drive each way for me. This drive would occur after I have seen an afternoon office full of patients. This normal preparatory "hoop" proved the most daunting, requiring me lots of mental consideration. My former crew member, Scott, directly helped me arrive at the decision to once again make this trek to Tulsa, especially since Scott and I rode together each time in his automobile. I also was wooed into traveling to Tulsa in order to see many of my fellow officials that have been my close friends for years in the GTOA organization. An officiating friend is definitely a close, close friend, due to the nature of what we officials all go through together in preparation. and on-the-field action.

Additional factors to add to the decision-making scheme were an OSSAA required on-line open book test, attending 4 Stillwater local rules meetings, an OSSAA closed book crew test, and viewing an required on-line concussion video.

The last "if or maybe" hedge factor was decided when I chose to work a pre-season scrimmage, held on my home town high school field in late August. When I came home that evening, I told my bride, Debbie, I had decided I would make myself available as a substitute, or as an extra (6th, i.e., field judge) high school varsity game official.

Well, it did happen, by way of the extra position option, and even though I have worked as the white hat referee forever, just being on the turf with my 5 fellow officiating crew mates, was simply wonderful. As has been the case since I began officiating in the fall of 1967 with 3-men high school varsity crews and using red penalty flags, the absolute thrill of being involved in the game itself, has been totally intoxicating to me.

Will I be on-the-field again in 2020 for my 54th season? I guess the answer depends on fixing that darn broken crystal ball!