It comes as no surprise that the majority of mail received since the last Reader Speaks post was over the Marion Local/Versailles football game, and other issues relative to high school officiating…including, do they get paid enough to make it worthwhile.
By actual count we received more than a hundred specific responses regarding the finish of the Marion Local/Versailles football game two weeks ago, on September 26.
I will also add that many of the following responses were from outside the area, and less personally involved with the outcome of the game, and the circumstances. No lives were lost here, just a hard-fought football game between teenagers.
Since the posting of that story on the 26th, along with dozens of videos shared, it’s been seen by tens of thousands across the country, thanks to every platform imaginable, including CBS sports.
Interestingly enough, most agree that a missed officials’ call in a high school football game is “par for the course.” And one reader offered, “If they (officials) were better they’d be working at a higher level and making more than a hundred dollars. How much can you ask?” And here are some of the rest, in random order…..
“I’m amazed at those who believe that because a team like Marion Local benefits from a call that the popular notion is the game was fixed. Not a good reflection on high school football.” … Dick Urban
“If the call was biased does that mean the other 69 wins before this one were biased, too?” … David Frye
“Yes, that was a terrible call. But if Versailles had made their extra points…???” … Jan Turner. (Via Facebook)
“The bigger issue, as you wrote, is where the next, and new generation of officials come from. The recruiting points you presented about why to get into it are questionable incentives. Chances are we’re never going to see another generation of men who get together on Friday nights for the sake of the game.” … Danny Burcham
“I don’t know what they make now, but when my dad worked high school football games the average pay was $50 (2000, I think). Now it costs $50 to take your family to the game and the referees probably still make $50.” … Gary Heineman
“You get what you pay for. I don’t know what they make, but anything less $300 per man is not enough to lure qualified, younger officials.” … James Starner
(Ed. Note: Some area conferences that I’m aware of pay as much as $125 per man now. Others, still play less than $100. But there is a growing sentiment that even $125 is not worth the travel, the time, and the abuse from fans for four hours work. Last year we asked officials from different parts of the state their opinion about what officiating a high school football game was worth and more than one offered that if college officials were making $2,500 high school officials are worth at least 10% of that, plus travel, to work with fewer men and with less resources.)
“I can’t see replay in a high school game because of cost, and the people qualified to make it work. I can see long delays and still not getting the call right.” … Tim Bayman
“Minimal equipment to do replay the right way would cost $100,000 because you’d need multiple camera views, monitors, and quality people to operate them. This is not something you’d want to do on the cheap. Not as easy as a video on a cell phone. And do you ask people to do it for nothing?” … Kenneth Odenweiler
“Great game and a great effort, and it’s unfortunate that the discussion is about one missed call in a 48 minute game. Regardless of what you think, 70 in a row is impressive.” … Gregory Chonko (Via Facebook)
“Obviously no one considered that when you add divisions you need additional officials in every sport. And it’s reasonable that if the quality of play is watered down the quality of officiating would suffer because more are leaving than coming on. Classic cause and effect.” … James Oceak
“There are approximately 130 other plays in the game that could have changed the outcome of this game, outside of just this one play. Go to any high school football game and you’ll see officials making a mistake.” … Sara Pinks. (Via Facebook)
“More games and fewer officials means that we’ll be playing on multiple days of the week to take advantage of the officials available. Is it likely that we’ll play high school football on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday because there’s not enough, and wouldn’t that make family life even crazier? Something to think about.” … Jennifer Campbell
“Seriously, are there consequences for anything, anymore? Or do we just accept bad behavior and bad job performance as a result of the diminished human factor? If we were really tired of this there’d be more impactful involvement than just begging for people to become referees. It’s like Congress. You get what you accept” … Christopher Courtney
“First-time writer, and I have yet to read one public comment of respect for a high school football team that has won fifteen state titles (four in a row) and a national-best 70 games in a row. What the hell is wrong with people worried over an official’s call? On a better note, I’m a new reader who really appreciates this website.” … Bradley Kopetz
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