Mark "Doc" Armstrong - LINE JUDGE

Football officiating began for me as pure luck. One day coworkers and I were discussing things that we have always wanted to do but never got the chance. I mentioned that I had always wanted to be a football official.  The next day one of the ladies asked me how serious I was about that. She said that her husband, brother, and nephew were all officials and she hooked me up with her brother. I called and he encouraged me take the test. The rest as they say is history. In fact that official is now my crew chief and happens to be the guy who will be Head Linesman across the field from me during the Kili Bowl.

The stress of the medical field can sometimes get to you. Running around a football field lets me relieve some of that by participating in game that I love. I enjoy eing on the field for sure but the aspects of officiating are also amazing. I can talk about football rules and rule applications all day. The camaraderie with the rest of the officials provides as much fun as the games themselves. I really enjoy the stories about the experiences of the other guys. 

There’s nothing like the atmosphere of the big game but I think my favorite officiating moment was when I was able to do one of my son’s Pop Warner games. Family is what it’s all about and combining that with officiating made for a great day. I guess I can’t get away without telling the story that the other members of my crew will never let me forget. I had the opportunity to be the white hat for a varsity game for my first time. Problem was I didn’t have a white hat and I only had 3 days to get one. I ordered the hat and decided to pay for overnight shipping. The hat was 12 dollars, the shipping was 50 dollars and the reaction that my wife had when the company called the next day to find out if I really wanted to pay that much to have it shipped when it would be here on time with regular shipping was priceless. I don’t think I’ll ever live that one down.

I am honored to be included in this historic event. When I began officiating, I could never have dreamed that an opportunity like this would ever come my way. I look forward to working with the kids of Tanzania, the college players who are participating and most of all the 6 other guys on the crew. 

Incidentally, it has been suggested by that same son that I not come home without an autograph from the crew chief of the most recent NCAA National Championship game.