50 Super Bowl calls, Part 4: XX to XI

The Football Zebras staff -- with the assistance of our affiliated forum, Behind the Football Stripes -- has examined the Super Bowls of years past for the work of the officials who, in a given year, achieve the honor of the best of the best. While every team competes for

Gerry Austin still out at ‘MNF’; Jim Daopoulos to assist crew

ESPN rules analyst Gerry Austin has been notably absent from the Monday Night Football booth. Football Zebras has learned that Austin was, in fact, hospitalized with an undisclosed illness. During the 49ers-Rams telecast, announcers Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden sent their best wishes, and Tirico said that Austin is now

NFL grooming players on officiating ‘fast track’

The NFL could soon see more former players become officials. The league is sending 14 former players and one active player to a pair of officiating clinics over the next three days. The first clinic is tomorrow, March 13. It is the league's Fast Track Clinic, run by the Football Officiating

4 historic facts related to this year’s Super Bowl crew

I enjoy historic aspects of NFL officiating and as we get ready to zebra watch in Super Bowl XLVIII here are some interesting nuggets regarding officiating in the Super Bowl. Field judge Scott Steenson sets the record for most years between return trips.  Steenson worked Super Bowl XXXI, and makes his

Al Jury presented with Art McNally Award

Former field judge Al Jury is being honored by the NFL with the Art McNally Award for his distinguished officiating career. He will be formally presented with the award by the outgoing executive vice president of football operations, Ray Anderson, in a ceremony prior to the Pro Bowl in Honolulu. Jury

Dean Blandino to give rules analysis to NBC during ‘SNF’

Fox Sports pulled off a major coup in 2010 by hiring Mike Pereira, the former vice president of officiating, as a rules analyst. But, NBC has trumped Fox by adding the current head of officials to their coverage.   Sunday Night Football producer Fred Gaudelli told Football Zebras, "any time we have

5 NCAA officials prove it’s not the old boys’ club anymore

It didn't take long, but I had to make a slight modification to the site organization, based on a miscalculation on my part. We have a category that we place stories that profile a particular official or his off-the-field accomplishments titled, "Men in Black & White." I thought it was