clintabbott

Artus Cimber

Thanks, it is nice to be remembered for something you did in your early years.

Clint

What about the Johnson or Johnston brothers that wrestled at Chattanooga Centraland George and John Farr who wrestled for their uncle- John Farr at Red Bank?

delaWarr

Thanks for the info about Brentwoods web site. I read the story about all the fathers and sons. I had the priviledge of officiationg for all the fathers.

Clint

If ralphw is Ralph Williams of Murfreesboro, I congratulate you on having a son who someone thinks will be the no. 1 seed. I hope to see you in Chttanooga.

your friend

Clint Abbott

In my humble opinion, the most enjoyable coaches to watch are the ones who coach their kids and take every opportunity to teach. The coaches who try work the officials and incite the crowd are not enjoyable for an old and fat official to watch.

reftn

Thanks for the compliment. I have enjoyed being a small part of the wrestling family. My plans are to be in Chattanooga for the traditional state tournament. Stop by and we'll share some old stories about the toughest sport on campus.

Clint

Reftn

In the real old days, you officiated by yourself. The first state tourney I worked was in 1968 at Donaldson. You had two mat judges for overtime. The mat official had one vote and each of the judges had one vote in case of a tie. We then went to two officials sitting in chairs on opposite sides of the mat and the whistle blower. Luke Worsham told me when we first started using that system, that I had officiated for a long time, but I was allowing the two guys on the side to officiate my match. I thought about what he said and realized he was right. After that, I paid no atttention the the two guys, unless I saw both of them standing. The next system was the present one. I agree with Jose that two eyes are better than one and I agree with you that I would rather be by myself than have an assistant that does nothing or tries to referee the match. The only problem with a whistle tooter and an assistant is if the tooter is intimidated by the assistant. This happens sometimes when the mat official is younger and less experienced than the assistant. The tooter constantly looks at the assistant for help on close calls. My advice is to call the match and if the assistant sees something he should verbally communicate with the whistle blower, stop the match and talk about the situation quickly, make the call and go on with the match. Thanks for allowing a geritol user to express my thoughts after forty years of officiating wrestling for the TSSAA and twenty years of officiating for the NCAA. Clint Abbott

The TSSAA publishes a directory each year. The directory is only as current as the schools turn in their information.

KKW

I'm sure you don't remember this, but several years ago in the rules of wrestling, if you pinned your guy in the first period in x amount of time. You're opponent had the same amount of time to try to pin you, if he was successful, he was declared the winner. I'm just an old proponent of wrestling and thought you're proposal was interesting. I'll bet Danny Gilbert didn't know that.

I have been checking daily for a few days and I get the same posts.

I officiated many tournaments at Carter High before they dropped wresrling. I remember one time when legman was wrestling and one of his braces on his teeth came loose and was sticking out of his mouth. He was very upset with me when I told him that he couldn't wrestle with his brace sticking out. He was as competitive then as he is now. His coach was and is a true gentleman.

Muffinman

Please elaborate a little about the two terrible calls in the 119lb match. I saw some of the matches at Cleveland and I saw all five of the officials. These guys are as good as any in the country. Please don't knock the officials, if you have never tried to officiate.

This complete separation is not about wrestling, it's about football. I predicted in 1992 that eventionally the county school districts would eventially want to separate from city school districts. I now believe it will be any school district that accepts tuition. Most city districts have students who pay tuition. The playing field will never be exactly level. As Mr. Emmit Simon said,"How long will it be before a caucasian student wins the 100 meter dash?" All the tinkering will never give all students a chance to be a state champion. Let's get back to developing athletes and good tax paying citizens.

I have made lots more people mad about my vote for OW than my calls in a certain match. I contend that all officials will vote for the person that think is the most qualified. I have worked with the Simpson officials_ Jim and Paul-. They are both very good officials. I have officiated for their brothers and their brother-in law and they have not always agreed with my calls, but they are still my friends and I am proud to call them my friends. I know of no official that would vote for someone, because of their kinfolks.

I had the privilege to officiate the match between Keller and Dye, and he pinned him with a headlock with 13 seconds to go in the third round.

Steve, I appreciate you and what you had to say about Pete and me. I've always said that all officials should have to coach and all coaches should have to officiate. Good luck to you and the Trojans in the years in the future.

cgb

I' sorry about calling you CHB, I guess my mind has lost a step also.

CHG

I have no problem with you not liking our officiating, when you put on the striped shirt and put the whistle in your mouth, you are nnot going to please everybody all the time. I've always said that you please half the coaches half the time. I do have a problem with you questioning our loyality to the sport of wrestling. I started officiating for five dollars a match in 1963. I know I have lost a step, but for to wonder whether I care about the sport is baffling to me. I have officiated for most of the young officials in our state, and I believe that if you questioned them about whether I care about wrestling or not. The vast majority would tell you that I do care about wrestling. Why don't you conduct a poll to find out if most TN officials and coaches believe that I have been loyal and true blue to the sport of wrestling.

You need to contact the TSSAA office at 615-889-6740 or TSSAA

3333 Lebanon Road

Hermitage TN 37076

The web site is WWW.TSSAA.org

Good Luck

I can't speak for Pete, but I quit officiating as much as I reached my autumn years. I have worked for thirty-eight years as an official, if you don't count the year I worked before the TSSAA started governing wrestling. I have a goal of forty years. I will work a few Saturday tournaments in our area and a couple of dual meets. I have never allowed a coach to pass an official in a meet, but if you are a coach and don't want me to officiate your match because I'm too old, I will gladly pass your match if you will come to me and tell me that you think it would be better if I did't work your match. I look forward to hearing from you on this thread.