Officials Selected for 2016 Final Four

he NCAA has notified these 10 individuals selected to work the 2016 Final Four, which will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston:

Roger Ayers, Roanoke, Virginia

Jeff Clark, Cheltenham, Pennsylvania

Brian Dorsey, West Caldwell, New Jersey

Mike Eades, Princeton, West Virginia

Tom Eades, Gallatin, Tennessee 

John Higgins, Omaha, Nebraska

Tony Padilla, Sacramento, California

Michael Stephens, Providence, Rhode Island

Mark Whitehead, Denham Springs, Louisiana 

Terry Wymer, North Baltimore, Ohio

More here....  http://www.ncaa.com/news/ncaa/article/2016-03-31/march-madness-ncaa-d-i-mens-basketball-committee-names-game-officials

2015 Final Four Officials Named

The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee has approved 10 game officials recommended by John W. Adams, the national coordinator of officiating, to work Saturday’s two national semifinal games and Monday’s national championship game. A three-man crew will work each Final Four game, while one official will serve as the standby official for all three contests.

The NCAA has notified these 10 individuals selected to work the 2015 Final Four, which will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis:

• Pat Adams, Mobile, Ala.;
• Jeff Clark, Cheltenham, Pa.;
• Joe DeRosa, North Canton, Ohio;
• Pat Driscoll, Syracuse, N.Y.;
• Mike Eades, Princeton, W.Va.;
• Verne Harris, Denver, Colo.;
• John Higgins, Omaha, Neb.;
• Bryan Kersey, Carrollton, Va;
• Doug Sirmons, Virginia Beach, Va.; and
• Michael Stephens, Providence, R.I.

“These 10 men represent the best in NCAA men’s basketball officiating, having been evaluated after each game and receiving the best grades,” said Adams. “We look for officials who have great communication skills with coaches and student-athletes, while also getting the most calls accurate while enforcing the written rules of the game.”

Harris will officiate his eighth Final Four, while Higgins will be calling his sixth. This will be the fourth Final Four for Adams, Driscoll and Stephens and third for DeRosa and Sirmons. Eades will be calling his second while Clark and Kersey will be calling their first Final Four.

There are some great officials on this list, Higgins is one of the best known and DeRosa used to officiate in the NBA.

The officiating assignments for each semifinal game, as well as Monday night’s national championship game, will be announced an hour before each game.

NFL Refs Cheered

I don't know if it was a first, but the seven-man crew led by referee Gene Steratore, was cheered before the Thursday Night football on the NFL Network.

The were cheered from the moment they walked onto the field, the men in stripes ran a smooth and efficient game Thursday night as the NFL's lockout of officials came to an end with the Baltimore Ravens' 23-16 win over the Browns.  No incidents.

2012 Final Four Refs Selected

The officials working the NCAA semi-final games along with the Championship game have been selected.  It is not known who will work each game, orwho will be the alternate officials, but we do know the refs come from all over the country and the selections mainly come from the major conferences.

Here's the list:

Pat Adams: SEC and SWAC

Roger Ayers: Big East, ACC, SEC

Joe Derosa: Big XII

Tommy Eades: SEC

Verne Harris: MVC, WAC

Les Jones: ACC, Big East

Jamie Luckie: ACC, Big East

Doug Shows: SEC, Big East

Mike Stuart: Big East, Big XII

Mark Whitehead: Big XII and MVC

Some Notes:

Joe Derosa is a former NBA official, Pat Adams has worked 3 Kentucky games throughout the season, and Mike Stuart has worked 3 Louisville games.  Luckie worked the Iowa St/Kentucky game in the round of 32 and Jones called the Sunday game between Kentucky and Baylor.

Joe Derosa