I would propose that the refs be hired and paid by the NCAA, not the conferences. The conferences could pay the NCAA for all the expenses incurred as they do now, however only as an assessment and a pass-through. The refs would not be able to work games in the conference in the footprint where they live.
I don't think money is changing hands directly for at some point a jilted party would blow the whistle, however the result is the same. I think I recall someone saying the refs are always on 1 year contracts with their employer conference. There are two institutionalized problems with this system. First, does the ref really want to be the one who costs his employer 10's of millions of dollars or more in the 'last year' of his employment contract and, second, does a ref who lives in Austin or Fort Worth, etc. want incur the wrath of everyone he knows for making a difficult call that goes against what all of his friends and neighbors hold dear?
It happens in every conference. I started to watch the aib-eiu game Saturday, hoping for a herky loss. I had to stop as the LT (#52?) for aib-eiu was holding/tackling the Minnesota DE who was much faster than him EVERY play....no call. Same issues, different conference.
I don't think money is changing hands directly for at some point a jilted party would blow the whistle, however the result is the same. I think I recall someone saying the refs are always on 1 year contracts with their employer conference. There are two institutionalized problems with this system. First, does the ref really want to be the one who costs his employer 10's of millions of dollars or more in the 'last year' of his employment contract and, second, does a ref who lives in Austin or Fort Worth, etc. want incur the wrath of everyone he knows for making a difficult call that goes against what all of his friends and neighbors hold dear?
It happens in every conference. I started to watch the aib-eiu game Saturday, hoping for a herky loss. I had to stop as the LT (#52?) for aib-eiu was holding/tackling the Minnesota DE who was much faster than him EVERY play....no call. Same issues, different conference.
Last edited:
