Hey Ref! Congratulations...
It looks as though another Husker will be joining the NFL ranks this fall. Only this one wasn't drafted, and he didn't sign a free agent contract. The newest NFL Husker is an official. Clete Blakeman got the call to be a side judge in the NFL. I'm just old enough to remember Blakeman as a player at NU. And, even for those who don't remember his days as a Husker, it is good to see a person make it to the top of their profession.
Blakeman played for NU in the mid 1980's, primarily in the 1987 season when he backed up Steve Taylor. As Taylor was a big-time star, Blakeman didn't play too much. He did play capably in the games in which he filled in for Taylor. It's hard to know how Blakeman would have performed in more action. Regardless, the Norfolk NE native gave his best for the team. And he is a member of the All-Name team. Clete…for a football player…come on. That’s funny.
Seriously, it is nice to read how he moved up the ranks of officials, starting with his dad's crew working high school games, and eventually getting in to college work. He worked the last four seasons as a lead official in the Big 12. He worked some very high profile games. It paid off, as now the NFL comes calling. Good for him.
I have friends who referee both football and basketball. It's not an easy gig. You have to work at it like any profession, get better, and pay your dues. The best officials work a lot because they want to stay sharp. Apparently Blakeman is very sharp. Who knows? Maybe someday he could appear in a Super Bowl.
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