Author: Mark Schultz

Mark Schultz is a high school football official, freelance writer and journalist. He first became interested in officiating when he was six years old, was watching a NFL game with his father and asked the fateful question, "Dad, what are those guys in the striped shirts doing?"

Chuck Heberling, referee of The Drive passes away

by Mark Schultz - 0

Charles "Ace" Heberling, 1925–2019 Chuck Heberling, a NFL line judge and referee for 23 seasons passed away Dec. 9 at the age of 94. Heberling worked Super Bowl XXIII as a replay official, and was in uniform as an alternate for Super Bowls XIII and XXI. He wore uniform number 46 for

NFL100: A century of determining who gets the ball first

by Mark Schultz - 2

It is a simple procedure. The game can’t begin without it. Before any football game starts the referee has to decide who gets the ball first. That question has been decided by the coin toss for the past 100 years. The coin toss determines who gets the first choice of

NFL100: 30 years ago instant replay helped decide the outcome of a game … and it wasn’t pretty

by Mark Schultz - 0

https://streamable.com/u5g78 On Nov. 6, 1989, the Green Bay Packers hosted their hated rival the Chicago Bears. The Bears were having a down season and the Packers showing life for the first time in many years, winning several close, last-minute games and getting the nickname "The Cardiac Pack." The past five years featured

When teams are determined to fight, officials go into survival mode

by Mark Schultz - 2

NFL officials have several tools to try and maintain order and prevent the game from degenerating into a fight. The biggest tool, short of throwing a flag, is preventative officiating. Officials don't want to throw flags and throw people out a ball games, so they use their people skills to

NFL100: When the referee had to rule on things other than football

by Mark Schultz - 0

Usually, a NFL game goes off like a well-oiled machine. The players, coaches, fans, support staff, visual effects, broadcasters and infrastructure all work together to make the game the best show in town. But, sometimes, things happen: circuits overload, pyrotechnics tip over, fans get too drunk, and tornadoes threaten the stadium.