2018 Week 9 Football Playoff Listing
October 16, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Here is a list of Michigan High School Athletic Association football playing schools, displaying their win-loss records and playoff averages through the eighth week of the season.
Schools on this list are in enrollment order for 11-player teams, with 8-player teams ordered by playoff average. An asterisk (*) beside a record indicates a team has eight or fewer games scheduled.
Those schools with 11-player teams with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules, or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer, will qualify for the MHSAA Football Playoffs beginning Oct. 26. Schools with 5-4, 4-3 or 4-4 records may qualify if the number of potential qualifiers by win total does not reach the 256 mark. Schools with six or more wins playing nine-game schedules or five or more wins playing eight games or fewer may be subtracted from the field based on playoff average if the number of potential qualifiers exceeds the 256 mark.
Once the 256 qualifying schools are determined, they will be divided by enrollment groups into eight equal divisions of 32 schools, and then drawn into regions of eight teams each and districts of four teams each. Those schools with 8-player teams will be ranked by playoff average at season’s end, and the top 32 programs will then be divided into two divisions of 16 each based on enrollment. The playoff in that division also begins Oct. 26.
To review a list of all football playoff schools, individual school playoff point details and to report errors, visit the Football page of the MHSAA Website.
The announcement of the qualifiers and first-round pairings for both the 11 and 8-player playoffs will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 on the Selection Sunday Show on FOX Sports Detroit. The Selection Sunday Show will be available on the primary FOX Sports Detroit channel on cable. The program also can be viewed on the internet through the FoxSportsDetroit.com Website, and on handheld devices and television streaming devices like Roku using the FOX Sports app. The playoff qualifiers and pairings will be posted to the MHSAA Website following the Selection Sunday Show.
11-Player Playoff Listing
1. Macomb Dakota, 3114, 6-2, 78.375
2. Dearborn Fordson, 2795, 7-1, 92.875
3. Utica Eisenhower, 2668, 5-3, 69.125
4. East Kentwood, 2651, 7-1, 93.750
5. Grand Blanc, 2637, 5-3, 67.125
6. Sterling Heights Stevenson, 2591, 4-4, 54.500
7. Clarkston, 2548, 7-1, 93.625
8. Rockford, 2481, 5-3, 64.875
9. Clinton Township Chippewa Valley, 2462, 8-0, 120.000
10. Detroit Cass Tech, 2432, 8-0, 107.714
11. Lake Orion, 2393, 4-4, 52.875
12. Howell, 2387, 4-4, 50.750
13. Canton, 2260, 6-2, 79.375
14. Brighton, 2202, 7-1, 94.875
15. Holland West Ottawa, 2190, 6-2, 78.000
16. Oxford, 2170, 6-2, 84.125
17. Dearborn, 2106, 4-4, 49.625
18. Plymouth, 2060, 6-2, 74.375
19. Detroit Catholic Central, 2020, 6-2, 87.268
20. West Bloomfield, 2005, 6-2, 90.000
21. Macomb L'Anse Creuse North, 1994, 4-4, 48.000
22. Monroe, 1949, 6-2, 77.181
23. Hudsonville, 1879, 5-3, 64.036
24. Saline, 1834, 7-1, 96.875
25. Romeo, 1779, 5-3, 71.125
26. Detroit Western International, 1773, 5-3, 52.000
27. Lapeer, 1772, 8-0, 107.000
28. White Lake Lakeland, 1740, 5-3, 65.125
29. Ann Arbor Skyline, 1701, 4-4, 49.375
30. Davison, 1687, 7-1, 87.625
31. Kalamazoo Central, 1672, 5-3, 67.250
32. Walled Lake Northern, 1672, 4-4, 49.750
33. Belleville, 1642, 8-0, 112.000
34. Traverse City West, 1634, 6-2, 81.375
35. Brownstown Woodhaven, 1628, 7-1, 94.625
36. Rochester Adams, 1621, 5-3, 66.750
37. Grosse Pointe South, 1593, 8-0, 103.000
38. Warren Mott, 1585, 6-2, 79.750
39. Waterford Mott, 1558, 4-4, 50.250
40. Saginaw Heritage, 1541, 5-3, 53.500
41. Warren DeLaSalle, 1474, 6-2, 83.700
42. Jenison, 1464, 5-3, 67.000
43. Temperance Bedford, 1462, 4-4, 51.125
44. Livonia Franklin, 1443, 4-4, 50.500
45. Livonia Churchill, 1435, 6-2, 79.625
46. Ypsilanti Community, 1433, 4-4, 48.125
47. Dearborn Heights Crestwood, 1424, 8-0, 95.000
48. St. Clair Shores Lakeview, 1399, 5-3, 59.625
49. Traverse City Central, 1391, 6-2, 83.250
50. Okemos, 1381, 6-2, 72.536
51. Birmingham Seaholm, 1376, 7-1, 91.875
52. Wyandotte Roosevelt, 1376, 5-3, 65.125
53. Flint Carman-Ainsworth, 1358, 4-4, 50.750
54. Oak Park, 1349, 7-1, 91.625
55. Portage Central, 1349, 6-2, 80.000
56. Royal Oak, 1335, 4-4, 47.500
57. Roseville, 1303, 5-3, 58.536
58. Birmingham Groves, 1298, 6-2, 72.375
59. Port Huron Northern, 1295, 7-1, 90.500
60. Midland, 1289, 5-3, 58.875
61. Portage Northern, 1284, 6-2, 75.375
62. Midland Dow, 1277, 5-3, 59.250
63. St. Clair Shores Lake Shore, 1276, 6-2, 72.625
64. Flushing, 1275, 6-2, 82.250
65. Swartz Creek, 1262, 6-2, 78.500
66. Walled Lake Western, 1258, 5-3, 66.000
67. Jackson, 1229, 8-0, 104.000
68. Ypsilanti Lincoln, 1226, 4-4, 46.625
69. South Lyon, 1225, 8-0, 108.000
70. Muskegon Mona Shores, 1215, 7-1, 95.875
71. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, 1212, 4-4, 54.250
72. Dexter, 1172, 6-2, 69.500
73. Birmingham Brother Rice, 1168, 5-3, 70.329
74. Detroit Renaissance, 1168, 4-4, 43.000
75. Ferndale, 1162, 6-2, 73.375
76. Fenton, 1160, 6-2, 78.375
77. Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 1154, 5-3, 54.375
78. Mattawan, 1153, 5-3, 62.179
79. Detroit Martin Luther King, 1149, 7-1, 85.875
80. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern, 1142, 5-3, 59.500
81. Warren Woods Tower, 1126, 8-0, 90.000
82. Auburn Hills Avondale, 1115, 6-2, 71.250
83. Gibraltar Carlson, 1114, 7-1, 96.750
84. East Lansing, 1111, 7-1, 91.161
85. Farmington, 1111, 6-2, 83.625
86. Allen Park, 1105, 6-2, 81.250
87. Redford Thurston, 1098, 5-3, 53.125
88. Grand Rapids Northview, 1096, 6-2, 74.250
89. Garden City, 1080, 6-2, 70.125
90. South Lyon East, 1063, 5-3, 62.625
91. Mt. Pleasant, 1053, 8-0, 99.000
92. Eastpointe, 1022, 4-4, 50.750
93. Muskegon, 1022, 8-0, 111.000
94. Battle Creek Central, 1014, 5-3, 61.179
95. St. Joseph, 1010, 5-3, 66.750
96. Gaylord, 1002, 5-3, 54.750
97. DeWitt, 1001, 8-0, 115.286
98. East Grand Rapids, 998, 5-3, 67.250
99. Zeeland West, 997, 6-2, 80.375
100. Cedar Springs, 992, 7-1, 88.875
101. Mason, 968, 4-4, 42.625
102. St. Johns, 955, 5-3, 58.750
103. Zeeland East, 955, 7-1, 88.750
104. Marquette, 952, 4-4, 52.333
105. Petoskey, 948, 5-3, 65.125
106. Detroit Mumford, 943, 5-3, 59.125
107. Trenton, 914, 5-3, 65.000
108. Riverview, 913, 6-2, 67.500
109. Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, 903, 6-2, 70.125
110. River Rouge, 897, 7-1, 69.018
111. Haslett, 895, 7-1, 85.750
112. Ortonville-Brandon, 887, 7-1, 90.625
113. Grand Rapids Christian, 886, 6-2, 82.250
114. Parma Western, 870, 7-1, 76.875
115. Stevensville Lakeshore, 864, 4-4, 50.375
116. Chelsea, 851, 6-2, 73.917
117. Farmington Hills Harrison, 849, 5-3, 61.875
118. Spring Lake, 845, 5-3, 52.500
119. Marysville, 843, 4-4, 43.375
120. Edwardsburg, 838, 8-0, 95.000
121. Wayland Union, 829, 4-4, 46.500
122. Plainwell, 825, 5-3, 53.250
123. Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, 809, 5-3, 59.946
124. St. Clair, 807, 6-2, 70.375
125. Sparta, 793, 5-3, 52.625
126. Milan, 761, 6-2, 65.500
127. Goodrich, 758, 5-3, 56.375
128. Detroit Cody, 755, 6-2, 77.375
129. Allendale, 749, 4-4, 46.625
130. North Branch, 726, 6-2, 62.375
131. Croswell-Lexington, 724, 5-3, 58.625
132. Center Line, 720, 5-3, 52.000
133. Battle Creek Pennfield, 709, 4-4, 47.625
134. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, 702, 4-4, 41.819
135. Sault Ste. Marie, 700, 5-3, 47.250
136. Escanaba, 691, 6-2, 75.278
137. Detroit Country Day *, 687, 6-2, 78.304
138. Flint Powers Catholic, 687, 5-3, 64.125
139. Romulus Summit Academy North, 684, 4-4, 38.696
140. Three Rivers, 682, 7-1, 80.875
141. Holland Christian, 672, 5-3, 57.125
142. Paw Paw, 670, 6-2, 66.625
143. Whitehall, 669, 6-2, 56.500
144. Wyoming Kelloggsville, 663, 4-4, 39.875
145. Grand Rapids Catholic Central, 662, 7-1, 81.750
146. Wyoming Godwin Heights, 659, 5-3, 54.750
147. Otsego, 651, 5-3, 53.250
148. Lake Fenton, 648, 4-4, 34.250
149. Yale, 647, 4-4, 39.500
150. Ludington, 645, 6-2, 49.125
151. Alma, 643, 7-1, 75.875
152. Lake Odessa Lakewood, 643, 6-2, 67.946
153. Williamston, 619, 7-1, 84.500
154. Grand Rapids South Christian, 615, 4-4, 53.679
155. Big Rapids, 613, 5-3, 51.750
156. Grosse Ile, 609, 8-0, 94.000
157. Dearborn Heights Robichaud, 608, 6-2, 65.500
158. Hudsonville Unity Christian, 602, 7-1, 85.625
159. Harper Woods, 594, 6-2, 55.768
160. Howard City Tri-County, 585, 4-4, 44.000
161. Freeland, 584, 5-3, 52.125
162. Dowagiac, 580, 4-4, 41.625
163. Essexville Garber, 576, 4-4, 41.000
164. Saginaw Swan Valley, 573, 8-0, 99.000
165. Belding, 572, 6-2, 64.250
166. Muskegon Oakridge, 571, 7-1, 69.750
167. Macomb Lutheran North, 560, 7-1, 72.500
168. Birch Run, 552, 5-3, 58.500
169. Clawson, 550, 5-3, 45.500
170. Portland, 550, 8-0, 90.000
171. Frankenmuth, 549, 7-1, 77.875
172. Kingsford, 547, 4-4, 43.375
173. Olivet, 542, 7-1, 79.750
174. Detroit Osborn, 537, 6-2, 61.250
175. Lansing Catholic, 531, 7-1, 74.875
176. Remus Chippewa Hills, 531, 4-4, 44.500
177. Cheboygan, 527, 4-4, 44.375
178. Grant, 525, 4-4, 37.250
179. Richmond, 524, 5-3, 54.875
180. Grand Rapids West Catholic, 513, 4-4, 50.000
181. Ida, 512, 6-2, 61.500
182. Hopkins, 507, 7-1, 73.750
183. Benzie Central, 505, 5-3, 55.000
184. Detroit Denby, 504, 6-2, 65.554
185. Reed City, 504, 8-0, 94.000
186. Almont, 503, 8-0, 86.000
187. Marine City, 503, 6-2, 70.500
188. Berrien Springs, 500, 7-1, 78.161
189. Dundee, 485, 5-3, 47.875
190. Caro, 473, 4-4, 34.250
191. Detroit Henry Ford, 472, 4-4, 39.500
192. Manistee, 472, 8-0, 79.000
193. Coloma, 460, 4-4, 45.000
194. Ovid-Elsie, 453, 6-2, 63.750
195. Kalamazoo Hackett, 450, 8-0, 85.000
196. Clare, 449, 7-1, 65.750
197. Montague, 445, 7-1, 72.875
198. Newaygo, 445, 5-3, 56.000
199. Kingsley, 443, 7-1, 76.875
200. Hillsdale, 441, 7-1, 71.750
201. Tawas *, 418, 5-2, 43.214
202. Michigan Center, 412, 7-1, 61.875
203. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 410, 7-1, 81.500
204. Negaunee, 404, 5-3, 46.375
205. Constantine, 400, 6-2, 59.625
206. Fennville, 400, 7-1, 58.500
207. Maple City Glen Lake, 395, 4-4, 39.750
208. Calumet, 392, 8-0, 88.000
209. Warren Michigan Collegiate, 392, 8-0, 85.429
210. Ishpeming Westwood, 391, 6-2, 57.750
211. Millington, 390, 5-3, 55.625
212. Ithaca, 388, 7-1, 67.875
213. Ecorse, 387, 7-1, 72.196
214. Sanford Meridian Early College, 387, 4-4, 37.250
215. Blissfield, 383, 5-3, 59.000
216. Byron, 380, 4-4, 43.000
217. Montrose, 379, 6-2, 64.500
218. Delton Kellogg, 378, 5-3, 52.000
219. Hemlock, 374, 7-1, 60.750
220. Morley Stanwood, 369, 6-2, 52.375
221. Quincy, 369, 5-3, 46.250
222. Elk Rapids, 366, 6-2, 52.875
223. Napoleon, 365, 5-3, 43.375
224. Beaverton, 362, 6-2, 59.625
225. Grass Lake, 357, 8-0, 76.000
226. Jackson Lumen Christi *, 356, 8-0, 95.000
227. Traverse City St. Francis, 355, 8-0, 94.000
228. Flint Hamady, 353, 8-0, 82.000
229. Schoolcraft, 353, 7-1, 76.750
230. Niles Brandywine, 352, 6-2, 51.903
231. Kent City, 351, 7-1, 66.875
232. Lutheran Westland, 349, 4-4, 31.179
233. Detroit Central, 348, 4-4, 35.625
234. Lake City, 348, 8-0, 81.000
235. Leroy Pine River, 348, 6-2, 53.500
236. Vermontville Maple Valley, 347, 4-4, 35.250
237. Ravenna, 344, 4-4, 35.875
238. Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, 331, 6-2, 69.929
239. St. Louis, 331, 4-4, 36.625
240. Oscoda, 329, 7-1, 55.268
241. Riverview Gabriel Richard, 328, 5-3, 56.625
242. McBain, 327, 6-2, 60.625
243. North Muskegon, 327, 4-4, 32.500
244. Hartford, 322, 4-4, 31.750
245. Roscommon, 319, 7-1, 71.625
246. Madison Heights Madison, 316, 8-0, 101.000
247. Pewamo-Westphalia, 315, 8-0, 73.000
248. Clinton, 313, 6-2, 56.375
249. Bad Axe, 311, 4-4, 34.625
250. Detroit Community, 308, 7-1, 57.179
251. Madison Heights Bishop Foley, 306, 7-1, 65.036
252. New Lothrop, 302, 8-0, 86.000
253. Springport, 302, 7-1, 62.875
254. Allen Park Cabrini, 300, 5-3, 40.643
255. Sandusky, 300, 7-1, 59.750
256. Iron Mountain, 298, 6-2, 62.500
257. Union City, 297, 5-3, 42.125
258. Cass City, 291, 7-1, 67.625
259. Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, 282, 7-1, 62.750
260. Detroit Loyola, 280, 6-2, 69.536
261. Harbor Springs, 280, 6-2, 49.661
262. Manton, 280, 4-4, 37.750
263. Centreville, 279, 8-0, 70.000
264. Whitmore Lake, 278, 4-4, 34.000
265. Saugatuck, 273, 7-1, 63.750
266. Sand Creek, 266, 5-3, 42.804
267. Detroit Leadership Academy, 264, 4-4, 34.589
268. Cassopolis, 261, 8-0, 73.000
269. Saranac, 257, 6-2, 41.500
270. Hudson, 252, 4-4, 38.625
271. Royal Oak Shrine Catholic, 252, 4-4, 36.250
272. Ottawa Lake Whiteford, 250, 8-0, 74.000
273. Carson City-Crystal, 248, 7-1, 50.875
274. Gwinn, 246, 5-3, 41.750
275. Iron River West Iron County, 246, 6-2, 50.750
276. Dansville, 244, 6-2, 49.125
277. Reading, 244, 8-0, 79.000
278. Addison, 243, 5-3, 39.125
279. Flint Beecher, 237, 6-2, 53.625
280. Holton, 234, 5-3, 40.000
281. Ishpeming, 233, 8-0, 80.000
282. Ubly, 232, 6-2, 51.500
283. Johannesburg-Lewiston, 226, 7-1, 61.661
284. White Pigeon, 225, 6-2, 54.417
285. Breckenridge, 224, 8-0, 69.429
286. Harbor Beach, 222, 7-1, 68.250
287. Norway, 220, 4-4, 32.875
288. Rogers City, 220, 7-1, 66.893
289. Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, 220, 8-0, 61.429
290. Petersburg-Summerfield, 219, 4-4, 34.750
291. Decatur, 216, 4-4, 34.750
292. St. Ignace, 209, 4-4, 30.375
293. Detroit Public Safety Academy, 206, 7-1, 56.179
294. Munising, 201, 4-4, 32.125
295. Mendon, 193, 4-4, 30.750
296. Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary, 193, 6-2, 49.500
297. Merrill, 186, 5-3, 36.179
298. Pittsford, 186, 7-1, 53.639
299. Three Oaks River Valley, 186, 4-4, 31.317
300. Athens *, 185, 4-3, 38.214
301. Adrian Lenawee Christian, 183, 7-1, 57.746
302. Martin, 183, 5-3, 38.786
303. Saginaw Nouvel, 180, 5-3, 43.125
304. Frankfort, 174, 5-3, 39.911
305. Fowler, 170, 4-4, 31.000
306. Detroit Southeastern, 154, 5-3, 49.250
307. Waterford Our Lady, 128, 4-4, 36.125
308. Clarkston Everest Collegiate, 115, 7-1, 59.232
8-Player Playoff Listing
1. Colon, 162, 8-0, 66.000
2. Pickford, 156, 8-0, 65.000
3. Wyoming Tri-unity Christian, 173, 8-0, 60.429
4. Morrice, 182, 8-0, 60.000
5. AuGres-Sims, 160, 8-0, 59.000
6. Suttons Bay, 189, 7-1, 54.446
7. Engadine, 102, 7-1, 52.875
8. Hillman, 140, 7-1, 52.875
9. Powers North Central, 109, 7-1, 52.750
10. Bellevue, 185, 7-1, 52.542
11. Onekama, 131, 6-2, 49.054
12. Deckerville, 175, 6-2, 48.500
13. Kingston, 187, 7-1, 46.625
14. Brethren, 143, 6-2, 42.268
15. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 122, 6-2, 41.625
16. Posen, 78, 6-2, 39.625
17. Rapid River, 127, 5-3, 37.375
18. Peck, 136, 5-3, 37.292
19. Camden-Frontier, 176, 5-3, 37.000
20. Battle Creek St. Philip, 178, 5-3, 36.125
21. Mayville, 185, 5-3, 36.000
22. New Haven Merritt Academy, 154, 5-3, 35.804
23. Portland St. Patrick, 102, 4-4, 34.625
24. Genesee, 169, 5-3, 34.179
25. Crystal Falls Forest Park, 125, 5-3, 33.542
26. Fife Lake Forest Area, 183, 4-4, 33.536
27. Webberville, 176, 4-4, 32.500
28. Marion, 139, 5-3, 31.768
29. Tekonsha, 121, 5-3, 31.750
30. Kinde-North Huron, 130, 4-4, 31.500
31. Cedarville, 151, 5-3, 30.750
32. Stephenson, 159, 5-3, 30.417
33. Manistee Catholic Central, 181, 5-3, 29.893
34. Mesick, 202, 4-4, 26.518
35. Pellston, 167, 4-4, 26.500
36. Onaway, 187, 4-4, 26.054
37. Eben Junction Superior Central, 121, 3-5, 25.181
38. Ontonagon, 173, 4-4, 24.000
39. North Adams-Jerome, 146, 4-4, 23.750
40. Bellaire, 131, 3-5, 23.482
41. Central Lake *, 190, 3-4, 23.339
42. Bay City All Saints, 77, 3-5, 22.679
43. Lawrence, 171, 3-5, 21.625
44. Caseville *, 95, 3-4, 18.214
45. Burr Oak, 74, 3-5, 17.500
46. Owendale-Gagetown, 57, 3-5, 17.375
47. Rudyard, 159, 3-5, 16.375
48. Ashley, 94, 2-6, 14.875
49. Atlanta, 74, 2-6, 13.000
50. Waldron, 65, 2-6, 11.750
51. Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, 201, 2-6, 10.625
52. Bear Lake *, 94, 1-6, 9.571
53. St. Helen Charlton Heston Academy, 156, 1-7, 9.125
54. Hale, 122, 1-7, 8.625
55. Burton Madison Academy, 163, 1-7, 7.536
56. Brimley, 154, 1-7, 7.500
57. Litchfield, 81, 1-7, 7.375
58. Felch North Dickinson, 83, 0-8, 4.375
59. Flint International Academy, 171, 0-8, 4.250
60. Carney-Nadeau, 133, 0-8, 3.625
61. Baldwin *, 120, 0-7, 2.911
62. St. Joseph Michigan Lutheran, 100, 0-8, 2.750
MHSA(Q&)A: NFL official Ronald J. Winter
July 19, 2012
By Brian Spencer
Second Half
Kalamazoo's Ron Winter has officiated in the National Football League for nearly two decades, and became a referee in 1999. But long before he joined the highest level of the game, he got his start on Michigan's high school fields.
Winter has officiated that sport at all three levels and also high school and college basketball. He's also served as a source of knowledge for officials around the state -- and an example for those hoping to start at the high school level and climb to the pros.
Winter remains registered as an MHSAA official, as he's been for 42 years. An associate professor emeritus of human performance and health education at Western Michigan University, Winter was appointed earlier this month to serve a two-year term on the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports. The council focuses on increasing physical activity and health improvements.
He served on the WMU faculty first beginning in 1969 and then again from 1992-2008. Winter earned bachelor and master's degrees at Michigan State University.
Did you play any sports in high school or college?
I played football, basketball, baseball, and track in high school. However, once I got to Michigan State University, I started playing lacrosse. A couple guys that lived near me played lacrosse and asked me to come out to throw the ball around. After throwing with them a couple times they asked me to come out for the team. I ended up playing lacrosse for MSU for four years.
How did you decide to choose football as the sport you would officiate?
I started officiating as a student at MSU in their intramural program, officiating touch football and basketball. The next logical step was to then officiate in the high school leagues. From there, I began to proceed to all the different levels.
Are there specific requirements for becoming an NFL official?
The biggest requirement is experience. The progression that I went through went like this:
After officiating high school games, I went to the MIAA (Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association). They (MIAA) were looking for people that had 3-5 years of experience at the high school level. From there I went to the Mid-Continent conference. I wasn’t able to go to the Mid-American Conference because I was employed at Western Michigan University.
From there I went to the Big Ten. The Big Ten was looking for people with 5 to 10 years of experience in high school and people that had experience at different positions as an official. I ended up officiating in as a Big Ten football official for 10 years and a Big Ten basketball official for 15 years. I then submitted an application to the National Football League. Coincidentally, the NFL was scouting officials, and had followed me for four years before they finally asked me to be a part of the staff. The NFL decides on who they want to pursue through recommendations and personal interest. They look for personality traits as well as how (officials) carry themselves through different situations.
What has been your favorite level to officiate; High school, college or professional?
I enjoyed officiating all of them, but for different reasons.
I found high school to be the most fascinating because it’s all about the kids; they are playing the game for the love of the game. That is the purest sense of the sport. I loved being involved with kids simply because they love the game.
I found the Big Ten to be most exciting because of the kind of atmosphere that exists on a Big Ten campus on a Saturday afternoon. It’s electric. You don’t get that same sense or the same feel on Sunday afternoon in a pro stadium.
I found the NFL to be most intense. The NFL really has three or four different levels of play during the season. There is preseason play, the first third of the season, the second third of the season, and the last five games of the season. Each level is ramped up another notch as the season progresses. Playoffs are entirely different all together. In terms of the intensity and pure speed of the game, there is nothing like the NFL playoffs.
How important is getting along with your fellow officials on the field?
It’s imperatively important if you want to have a smooth and well-run game. This doesn’t mean that you have to buddy-buddy off the field, but on the field you have to be committed to one goal. We spend two or three hours on meetings Saturday afternoon to go over rules tests, tape, and more to prepare for the next game (and) to get over rough patches that develop on a personal level in a previous week. I need to know that the other six guys are focused and thinking about football like me. Everyone has to have confidence in one another. We spend plenty of time on Saturday to get to the point that we need to on Sunday.
What has been the most exciting game you’ve officiated?
I’ve been in plenty of exciting games from NFL playoff games, to the first Orange Bowl game, to the Rose Bowl, to the Division III Hope vs. Calvin basketball game, to when Indiana played Purdue in basketball. All of them were incredible to be a part of. During the Indiana vs. Purdue game, the arena was electric. The players, coaches, fans were intense. Everybody is totally focused on the game. Each coach had a tremendous respect for one another. Neither one wanted to show up or embarrass their counterpart. This game wasn’t that drastically different at the Division III level, however. The intensity of both was very similar.
Are there games that you get excited to officiate more than others, presently?
Not in terms of specific teams. It really just depends on the circumstances, of course. Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore is an intense game. The Jets vs. Patriots game is great. There are clearly rivalries that are very exciting to be a part of. The level of play and intensity of the athletes in the NFL is unmatched and can provide excitement every week.
What is the most difficult aspect of being a NFL official?
I would say that preparation and being able to maintain intensity on the field on Sunday are key aspects. The preparation is difficult because it’s time-consuming. It is a misconception that we simply show up on Sunday to work the game. By the time Sunday rolls around, I’ve spent over 20 hours during the week trying to prepare for a Sunday game. It isn’t hard in terms of physical labor, but difficult in terms of a time commitment. You have to have an understanding family to be in the occupational field that I am in.
Do you have any advice for aspiring officials who hope to make it to the league?
Practice, practice, practice. Be able to work any game at any level and get as much experience as you can. Be a good partner on the field. It takes time; it isn’t something that just happens. Like anything else, it takes practicing your trade to be able to make it to the top level.