There’s something about Friday nights and high school football that seem just so darn American. The air that gets cooler and more crisp as the season rolls along, the marching bands and cheerleaders, and trees changing colors to provide a great backdrop. What’s not to love about it? But make no mistake, Friday nights on the gridiron are disappearing, and sooner than anyone really wants to talk about. How is this possible? Because it’s getting harder and harder to find men and women who are willing to wear the black and white striped shirts of an official. And it gets worse. It’s not just football refs; there’s a growing shortage of officials in all sports, not just in out little corner of the world, but across the nation.
Mark Howe-mhowe@timesuniononline.com | August 12, 2017