INDIANAPOLIS --- The NCAA and the Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) have established an oversight structure to enhance college football officiating. College Football Officiating LLC (CFO) will be governed by a board of 15 managers, composed of 11 representatives from the Division I Bowl Subdivision, two individuals from Division I Championship Subdivision conferences and two representatives appointed by NCAA President Myles Brand. In addition, the American Football Coaches Association has a representative in an ex officio capacity.
The main goals of CFO are to create a consistent application of playing rules and officiating mechanics, establish a central leader for officiating, and to ensure officials and conferences adhere to NCAA and CCA directives.
"This cooperative effort, which has been in the planning stages since the summer of 2006, enhances the existing strong system in place across conferences and will better position the officiating community in the future," said Tom Jernstedt, NCAA executive vice president and chairman of the Board of Managers of CFO. "College football is experiencing unprecedented fan and media interest and the potential for growth is very good...we want to ensure the best possible system is in place to support that growth," he added.
David Parry, currently the CCA's national coordinator of football supervisors and coordinator of football officials for the Big Ten Conference, has been named the first national coordinator for college football officiating. In this capacity, Parry will serve as national spokesperson for college officiating issues; work directly with the college football community to accurately communicate officiating issues at all levels; create and develop national training programs; assign and evaluate postseason officiating crews and coordinate national meetings of the college officiating community.
"Leaders from across the country's collegiate football community have contributed to the creation of this position. With pride, I look forward to working with the NCAA and CCA. Enhancing college football officiating to the highest level will be the challenge. By cooperation and leveraging the talent within our conferences and inside the NCAA, we can ensure a shared success," said Parry.
An NCAA official for 20 years and a National Football League (NFL) official for 15 years, Parry's extensive experience includes 20 NCAA tournaments, 12 NFL playoffs and four NFL championship games. In 1983, he officiated Super Bowl XVII.
"While Dave Parry has done an outstanding job working with football officials at both the Big Ten and the NCAA level over the last 12 years, we want to congratulate him as he takes on the sole responsibility for serving as the CFO's first national coordinator," said Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany. "Dave will supervise the Big Ten officials for a 19th season in 2008 and has performed exemplary work, including overseeing the creation of the first collegiate version of instant replay. With Dave moving to a full-time role with CFO in February of 2009, we willbegin the search process to find a new person to lead the Big Ten's football officiating programs over the next several months."
Rogers Redding, secretary-rules editor of the NCAA Football Rules Committee and coordinator of football officials for the Southeastern Conference sees great benefit to a coordinated,national system. "A collaborative approach between the Rules Committee, conferences and Dave Parry as the national coordinator will provide consistency across the college football community and provide players, coaches and fans the best experience possible as we move to the future," he said.
