The officials selected for the Gophers-Michigan game on Saturday made history as the first all-black referee crew for a Power Five game football, according to the Big Ten
The crew consisted of 11 men and one woman with Larry Smith (referee), Edward Feaster (referee), William McKoy (head linesman), Dorsey Skinner (linesman), Robert Smith Jr (judge) back), Lamont Smith (field judge), Lashell Nelson (side judge), Gregory Nelson (center judge), Calvin Diggs (alternate), James Robinson (proofread official), Terry Young (communicator) and Darrel Leftwich ( timekeeper)
They posed for a photo in midfielder at TCF Bank Stadium with Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren
« The principles of equality and fairness are very important to me personally and to the Big Ten Conference, » Warren said in a statement « Big Ten football has been around since 1896, but tonight is the first time an African-American football referee team has conducted a game. It’s a special opening weekend for Big Ten football and we are honored by our 14 member institutions and their student-led social justice initiatives, as well as our ‘United as One’ campaign at the ‘conference scale »
Robert Smith Jr is a former Iowa wide receiver who played for Hayden Fry from 1983 to 1986 Smith was an official in two BCS national playoffs
Feaster also worked in 2017 and 2018 national championship games Nelson was one of the first women to umpire a Canadian Football League game Skinner makes games with the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL
Warren launched the ‘United As One’ social justice campaign on October 23, which included all 14 Big Ten football teams sharing different messages with badges and helmet decals to raise awareness for greater racial equality and inclusion
The Big Ten officials staff for the 2020 football season are 22% ethnic minorities, including women, according to the league
Marcus Fuller covers men’s basketball and Gophers varsity basketball for the Star Tribune He has 13 years of experience in academia and professional sport in Twin Cities
Minnesota Golden Gophers Football, Big Ten Conference, Michigan Wolverines Football, American Football, Kevin Warren
World News – United States – The First Referee Team Big Ten’s all-black works for the Gophers / Michigan game
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
