Rotary Happenings: Talking football…
San-Cap Rotarians have been known to take their college football quite seriously. Not so much with the pro teams, but college well that’s a different story. So much so, that this week we had to call-in a nationally recognized ACC/Atlantic Coast Conference referee, Joseph Rider. Rider has been a Division I college football referee for 20 years, currently an instant replay official, ACC 2005-present. Officiated 18 bowl games. Along with his duties as ACC referee, he is an active FHSSA/Florida High School Atlantic Association football official in his 35th year.
Football was Joe’s game and you can tell by his physical presence that he was made for the game. This is brought to light, if you focus in on his hands, bedazzled by two very large football sized rings acquired by officiating as referee of ACC College Championship games. So immediately, Rider got the attention he deserved from Rotarians in the room.
He is the man in the booth – the instant replay official, the decision maker. The man with his finger on the button, making the final call. Love him or hate him, this is the guy.
You must earn your position as replay official. Joe refereed on the field for 19 years eventually becoming crew chief and then with additional education took on his official replay referee position, but he is not alone up there. The replay booth is occupied by a three- person team made up of a technology technician/ computers, cameras, etc.; a communicator between field and booth; and replay official referee.
An instant replay is the reviewing process of camera footage of game plays in dispute or question. The average replay call lasts about one and a half minutes. During this time the booth reviews camera footage of play on the field from at least five to 11 cameras. Footage from cameras are sometimes synced on the replay official’s computer screen to give views from different cameras for the most accurate viewing of a play. The replay official can toggle between camera views – play, end-play, snap. The official can confirm field referee calls, let the call stand because the play review is unclear, or reverse the decision of field referee. This decision must be made in just two minutes. Is he often seconded guessed, of course, but that part of his job? He does make sure that he wears his civilian clothes when leaving the stadium.
At this point, Joe showed some film clips of instant replay footage and Rotarians were asked to determine play calls. After view of the footage some calls were obvious and some not so much. So now our arms-chair Rotarian referees may have more respect for instant replay official. This is not an easy call and you really have to know your game and have extremely good eye-sight.
Just another note about what Rotarians were up to last week. Sanibel-Captiva Rotary was given the opportunity along with the Children’s Educational Center of the Islands in hosting a Mix and Mingle Reception for the Young Professionals Association of Sanibel & Captiva at the educational center. This was Rotary’s first get-together with the Young Professionals and certainly a worthwhile endeavor. From Rotary’s perspective, this is a group of young men and women just starting in their careers and the hope is that Rotary has an opportunity in the near future to exchange ideas on how to work together on future projects such as designing educational opportunities to enrich both groups on common topics of interest or by working together on projects benefitting our community.
The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary meets at 7 a.m., on Friday mornings at the Dunes Golf & Tennis Club, Sanibel. Guests are always welcomed.