Be the Referee: Football Review
November 21, 2019
This week, MHSAA officials coordinator Sam Davis explains how video will be used for the first time at this season's MHSAA Football Finals.
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment - Football Video Review - Listen
For the first time this year, video review of potential scoring plays and potential turnovers will take place at the MHSAA Football Finals at Ford Field for the 11-player games.
Under this system, any play which may or may not result in points being scored or any play which may or may not have resulted in a turnover can be reviewed. Personnel in the press box will look at all such plays and contact the referee on the field if a review takes place – and they give the final determination to the crew on the field.
Review may not be initiated by the officiating crew nor by the head coach of either team. Football joins basketball and ice hockey as sports where limited video review may now take place.
Past editions
Nov. 14: Sideline Safety - Listen
Nov. 7: Officials Playlist - Listen
Oct. 31: Most Important Line - Listen
Oct. 24: Automatic 1st Downs - Listen
Oct. 17: Catch Momentum - Listen
Oct. 10: Golf Rules Changes - Listen
Oct. 3: No Tackle Box - Listen
Sept. 26: You Make the Overtime Call - Listen
Sept. 19: Swimming Finishing Touch - Listen
Sept. 12: Curbing Gamesmanship By Substitution - Listen
Sept. 5: Football Safety Rules Changes - Listen
Aug. 29: 40-Second Play Clock - Listen
What's My Why: Official Joey Crawford
September 2, 2026
Joey Crawford, Newtown Square, Pa.
Joey Crawford was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last month as part of the Class of 2026. He was an NBA referee from 1977-2016 and officiated more than 300 playoff games, including 50 Finals games.
He also is part of a famous officiating family – his father Shag and brother Jerry both served as longtime National League baseball umpires and crew chiefs. Crawford was a clinician at this summer's Officiate Michigan Day in Grand Rapids.
I got involved because I was from an officiating family, to be very honest. And I wanted to be an NBA referee since I was a kid.
So to me, it was like a religion. That’s why I did it.
“What’s My Why” is a weekly feature telling the stories of MHSAA-registered officials in their own words. If you’re an MHSAA official and would like to share your reason why, please submit a 15 to 45-second video, taken horizontally, to director of officials Sam Davis at [email protected].
What's My Why
Aug. 26: Ron Torbert, Hanover, Md. - Watch
Aug. 19: Kari Seitz, Mill Valley, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 13: Mike Pereira, Sacramento, Calif. - Watch
Aug. 5: Dino Paganelli, Wyoming - Watch
Aug. 3: Stacy Smith, Caledonia - Watch
July 22: Jason Nickleby, Lake Elmo, Minn. - Watch
July 15: Sam Davis, Lansing - Watch
July 9: Candace Cox, Quincy - Watch
July 1: Robert Williams, Redford - Watch
June 24: Will Godfrey, Jackson - Watch
June 19: Jarrett Skorup, Midland - Watch
June 12: Brady Driver, Sturgis - Watch
June 8: Cindy Tyzo, West Bloomfield - Watch
June 3: Jeff Spedoske, DeWitt - Watch
June 1: Mike Carrier, Commerce Township - Watch
May 27: Stan Wright, Warren - Watch
May 26: Murray Rose, Zeeland - Watch
May 22: Mike VanLaan, Alto - Watch
May 18: Clint Abbott, Newaygo - Watch