Tag: Don Willard

How the NFL grooms an official for the referee position

by Mark Schultz - 0

In the past two seasons, we have seen seven NFL officials promoted to referee due to multiple white hat retirements. While we speculate on who will be the next referee promoted, the NFL actually has a Referee Training Program in place to identify, train, and mentor potential referees well before

3 officials to audition for referee

by Mark Schultz - 1

Three NFL officials will audition this preseason for future referee openings. Deep judges Jonah Monroe, Land Clark, and Don Willard will work all or part of a game at the referee position with a regular referee and other NFL observers watching their performance.  The NFL used to send potential referees to

Candidates for white hat in 2019

by Mark Schultz - 9

The coveted white hat worn by the referee There are two referee openings for the 2019 season after Walt Coleman and Pete Morelli retired. So far, they are the only two referees we know who have retired. There are very few chances for the NFL to test officials for future referee openings.

NFL and CFL continue officiating partnership

by Mark Schultz - 0

http://gty.im/641513974 The Canadian Football League and the NFL will continue to exchange officials in the early part of the CFL season and the NFL preseason. This is the third year of the NFL-CFL officiating exchange program. NFL officials will go north of the border in the summer and call games in the first

5 officiating observations from 2017

by Mark Schultz - 6

With just one more game left this season, here are five officiating observations I noticed in the last six months of football. Too many ejections This year, NFL officials gave the hook to 20 players for fighting, a flagrant personal foul or for contact against an official. This is not because officials are

NCAA referee with the announcement of the year

by Mark Schultz - 0

Big 10 referee and Officiating Development Program official Don Willard made a mistake Saturday.  He faced the wrong way when announcing a foul. It can happen. It has happened to the best, many times. But, the way he handled himself with a live microphone places him into nomination for referee announcement of

Senior Bowl helps evaluate officiating talent, too

by Ben Austro - 4

The Senior Bowl provides an opportunity for scouts to evaluate potential talent for the upcoming draft in a game played largely under NFL rules. The NFL officiating department also uses this as an opportunity to evaluate potential new officials as well. Since the demise of NFL Europe, the league has lost