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Expert: - 10/7/2006


Question
LSU VS. FLORIDA,

Holding call against LSU Offensive Lineman calling a touchdown back....show me the holding penelty....then a hit to the head on Chris Leak....when the lineman hit him chest level or lower....what the fuck is the problem with the referees in this game....again home game and LSU is being screwed just like the Auburn game....new officials need to be brought in....I am really getting sick and tired of my team being screwed on the road by miss calls from degenerates who seem to be pulling for home teams.


Answer
First and foremost, questions and answers generated to me and from me are to be serious and legitimate in nature – not editorial opinions or subjective comments.  I have agreed to use my expertise to help explain the game of football and the technical aspects of the game, its officiating and coaching and its historical evolution.  I will not dignify rude or disparaging comments with a response.  I also will not entertain questions that use profanity.  
 
Professional and collegiate football officials do not have any agendas or seek to “screw” any team. Such an insinuation is ridiculous and ludicrous.

As I have said and written:  Football officials are the last bastion of integrity the game has.  They are unbiased arbiters of the game whose only allegiance is to the game itself. They are charged with the duty of equitably enforcing the rules and administering just penalties.  They stand guardian over sportsmanship and player safety.  When an official views a play, he sees it with his eyes and processes it with reason through his mind; when a fan, coach or player views a play they see it with their eyes but processes through their “heart” with an emotional basis.

The sophistication of today’s collegiate and professional officials is greater than ever before with margin of errors of less than 2% - that is a great feat for any human endeavor – especially when observation and judgment is required to be exercised immediately in real time .  Officials today are being paid for their no-calls.  When a football official throws his penalty flag it is because all of the following has occurred:
The conduct was in violation of a rule;
It was done at the point of attack;
There was an advantage gained by the player doing the act;
The player who was fouled was put at a true disadvantage;
The foul had an impact on the play or action during the development of the play.

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Vic Winnek

Expertise

Will Answer all queries RE: Rules of Football - NCAA & Federation; Officiating; Instruction on Football; Mechanics & application of rules; Setting up Instructional programs and clinics for: Officials, coaches and media; Liability Issues (Legal & Insurance questions)arising from coaching, playing, refereeing, product liability. Serve as an Consultant and Expert Witness in Football Related Matters in Tort and Contract (Standard of Care for: officials, coaches, players, assignors, BOD; Player, equipment, field & stadium Safety; Fee issues, independant contractor workers compensation. History of the College football game -its evolution. MY PURPOSE IS TO INFORM & EDUCATE FANS, MEDIA, THOSE INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL ABOUT: THE RULES, THEIR APPLICATION, PHILOSOPHIES; OFFICIATING; LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING FOOTBALL. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO BASHING OF TEAMS, COACHES OR OFFICIALS. I will not dignify rude or disparaging comments with a response, nor entertain questions that use profanity or questions that suggest Football officials are corupt, such an insinuation is ridiculous and ludicrous.

Experience

24 years officiating High School & College football, NCAA Referee, Umpire, Back Judge & Line Judge 2 years Arena Football-substitution official Instructor of NCAA & Federation Officials, Played prep and college football; coached High School football; Athletic trainer; 23 years of instruction in Officiating Football

Organizations
Past President of Calif. Football Officials Assoc; Western Collegiate Football Officials Assoc.; CFOA-Long Beach Unit Board of Directors CFOA-South Bay Unit & Long Beach Unit, Pres. Executive Council of Calif. Football Officials Assoc.; CIF Presidents' Council on Officiating; Chairman Ethics Committee

Publications
Referee Magazine; California Football Officials Assoc. Instructor's Guide; NACC Div. 1-AA football officials' clinic; CFOA instrutional materials; Articles written: Line of Scrimmage mechanics, Forward Progress, Side Line Warnings, 2006 NCAA New Timing Rules; various instructional materials, UWLA Law Review

Education/Credentials
BA USC 1987
JD UWLA School of Law 1996
3 Years Reno Football Officials Clinic
4 Years UCLA Football Officials Camp Big 12 Mini Clinic NFL Grass Roots Clinic Aloha Clinic, Honolulu, HI West Coast Alliance Clinic

Awards and Honors
NCAA Div. 1 FCS & Div. III, 9 post season Bowl Games, play-offs, CIF Div. 1,2,3,5,8,9,10,12 Final, 10 years CIF Semi-finals, 19 years of CIF play-offs, California State High School Football Div. 1 Championship, Southern California Jr. College Championship, NCAA Div. III Semi-Final

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