What's My Why: Official Joe Popiel
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 14, 2026
Joe Popiel, Spring Lake
Popiel will soon begin his 56th season as an MHSAA-registered basketball official, having begun his tenure during the winter of 1971-72.
I started doing middle school games, freshman, JV … fast forward, (I) was having fun being on the court because I’ve always loved the game of basketball.
Next thing you know, I graduate from college and I’m starting to do varsity basketball games. I’m totally blessed, a few years later, to work 30 years with my older brother, and we just had a ball doing 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
Oct. 8: Shawn Ballor, Alpena - Watch
Oct. 1: Tim Erickson, Rockford - Watch
Sept. 23: Patricia Treman, Grand Rapids - Watch
Sept. 16: Tony Bertuca, Coloma - Watch
Sept 9: Jenna Schroeder, Berkley - Watch
Sept. 2: Joey Crawford, Newton Square, Pa. - Watch
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
Be the Referee: Covering Knees
September 8, 2016
This week, MHSAA assistant director Mark Uyl explains the increased focus on making sure knee padding is worn correctly in football.
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 – Equipment Covering the Knees - Listen
Everything in the game of football, from a rules-making perspective, starts and ends with an increased focus on player safety.
One big point of emphasis for the 2016 season centers on equipment being worn properly by all players. Too often we see college and pro players, especially those at the skill positions, wearing football pants that come nowhere close to covering the knee area.
With a continued focus on all high school players to lower the target zone when hitting an opponent to keep the head out of football, kids must wear pants with knee pads which completely cover the knee area to avoid those types of injuries.
Past editions
Sept. 1: Play Clock Experiment - Listen
Aug. 25: Clipping in the Free Blocking Zone - Listen