You may remember referee Jeff Heaser from the XFL and the AAF.
Both line of scrimmage officials, head line judge Brian Perry and line judge Brian Sakowski, are on the roster of the NFL Mackie Development Program (MDP).
The MDP is a development program that the league uses as a hiring pool. Officials will attend meetings and shadow NFL officials during OTAs, training camps, and preseason games. The MDP also assigns officials to college invitational all-star games — Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl, and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl — for evaluation purposes.
Head line judge Brian Perry flags an illegal shift by Georgia. Once two or more players are in motion at the same time, it is considered a shift, and all 11 players must get set for a second before the snap. After Georgia receiver Arian Smith stepped up, his fellow wideout Kearis Jackson remained in motion at the snap without getting set, making this a foul.
Heaser announced both numbers. This is a cherry on top by Perry to get both numbers and communicate them to Heaser for the announcement.
At the bottom of the screen, you'll see head line judge Brian Perry signaling by waving his hand to the backfield. In some conferences, the line of scrimmage officials will punch their hand to the backfield to signal that the widest receiver is off of the line of scrimmage. This helps the opposing flank official count the offensive players in the backfield to ensure the formation's legality.
When there are two receivers to that official's side, the official will signal "2" with their fingers and emphasize it by waving back and forth. This is a pretty exaggerated motion by Perry, but is common in conferences that use this mechanic (not all do).
Gary Patterson's crew had a pretty good year, with four guys on this crew. HL Brian Perry, LJ Brian Sakowski, SJ Jamal Shears, and BJ Pat Ryan. U Jim Eckl worked with Heaser. Not sure about Kip Johnson.
Gary Patterson's crew had a pretty good year, with four guys on this crew. HL Brian Perry, LJ Brian Sakowski, SJ Jamal Shears, and BJ Pat Ryan. U Jim Eckl worked with Heaser. Not sure about Kip Johnson.
Eckl was on Flanagan’s crew, Saunders with Hedgepeth and Johnson with Heaser
Line judge Brian Sakowski shuffled to the goal line on this scoring play. Once the ball is snapped on or inside the 7 yard-line, the deep wings will start on the back corners of the end zone, and the line of scrimmage officials will make their first move a step to the goal line. On this play, Sakowski shuffles to the goal line and keeps his eyes on the play along the way, and was able to signal the touchdown as the ball carrier crossed the line.
TCU offensive lineman Alan Ali is flagged for holding. He gets beat by the defender, and uses the jersey to yank the defender down to avoid the running gap being closed. Easy call right at the point of attack.
Georgia leads TCU 38-7 at half. The crew has had a quiet half, but has kept things under control. In the second half, keeping control of off-ball and dead-ball action will be key as there is potential for the score to get even more out of hand. Otherwise, the officials will be looking to get the big stuff and the big stuff only.
Great focus by field judge Kip Johnson to rule this play short of the goal line. This is called "double action", when one body part touches down before the rest of the body falls forward. Johnson sees clearly that the ball had not yet crossed the goal line when the knee hit the ground, and makes the ruling emphatically.
If an official is tuned out at this point of the game, this would be an easy call to miss. Johnson shows that he is dialed in and focused, not willing to take a play off in the most prestigious game of his career so far.
Just after Johnson's short ruling, the line of scrimmage officials have to make a ruling on a goal line push - this time, its in.
