THE PONCHATOULA TIMES. DECEMBER 16,2010, PAGE A-4
Scott Vaughan
FROM PAGE A-1
Scott Vaughan earned his experience starting with seven years
officiating high school games. "In my seventh year I got into the
Southland Conference, so for a year I was officiating high school on
Friday and college on Saturday. In my second year of officiating col-
lege ball I worked four games in the Southland Conference, seven
games in Conference USA. My travel regimen was so demanding
I no longer officiated high school games. I went on to work seven
years in Conference USA." Vau ghan told The Times.
In the meritocracy that is professional officiating, Vaughan's
proficiency in the regular season began to earn for him post-season
assignments such as the Army-Navy game, the Gator Bowl in 2005
pitting West Virginia against Florida State.
"The next year I worked the inaugural Conference USA game,"
and in 2005 the NFL tapped the Ponchatoulan to officiate for NFL
Europe. "They would send us for 12 days at a time. In 2006 they
sent me on three trips to Europe," Vaughan told his interviewer.
The longtime married man who was interviewing Vaughan had
to ask how such a demanding schedule can exist with love.
"It is hard to maintain a relationship and find somebody who
understands," replied the handsome and fit football official, every
bit as toned as the professional players he polices.
What really gets to him is the public misperception of his job
as one that only lasts a few hours during games. "People think we
show up and officiate a game and that's it." Reality is way differ-
ent, as Vaughan explains:
"We go to the games in a coat and tie and then change in our
own locker rooms. We have a two to three hour pre-game meeting
("Even as a kid I sat in on pre-game meetings"). We have to be at
the stadium three hours early to inspect the game balls, to meet
with the play clock operator, meet with the TV producer on the
media timeouts (TV commercial breaks). It's all to keep the game
flowing.
"I spend more than 40 hours a week preparing for a football
game. Five minutes prior to kick-off we have the captains on the
field. Everything is precisely done, on time.
"There are seven of us on the field and we are all evaluated by
NFL officials and others.
We get rules tested every week. We get DVDs at the end of each
game. to review. And we are evaluated every week. Depending on
how good you do during the year as how you get assigned post-
season," explained Vaughan.
His next game is an industry plum. the Senior Bowl on January
29 when the stands will be crowded with NFL scouts preparing for
the draft.
Officials get paid a per-diem plus game fees, and they rest their
heads at the Marriot and Hilton hotels, so life is not all struggle
and strife for a football official. And you have the best view in the
stadium. Vaughan has worked the International Bowl twice in the
last four years, and his most recent gig was last Saturday's Big 12
Championship.
And what would have to come as music to the ears of any fan,
Vaughan actually told a reporter the following: "We do sometimes
or SROOOEE THE CLOWN t
Ponchatoula's Scott Vaughan (left) is pictured
with Pres. H.W. Bush at the October 18, 2008
Texas Tech vs. Texas A&M game (Courtesy Photo)
make the wrong call. We are not perfect."
As a back judge, Vaughan says, "My primary responsibilities
involve keying on the receivers, trying to spot pass interference,
responsibility for the play clock, catching on illegal blocks below
the waist. I key on the offensive formation. We all wear beepers
and will stop the game to review. The NFL goes under the hood,
while college uses the replay booth and an official makes the call,"
he said.
But for this dynamic Ponchatoula athlete official, even what
would suffice as a full schedule for most of us does not describe the
true picture of his work week.
He is a professional physical therapist with offices in Metairie.
He is also an arena football official. "I've refereed Arena Foot-
ball for eight years, four as the head referee, the other four as back
judge.
"My goal is to make it to the NFL," needlessly stated Scott
Vaughan, going on to spell out what it takes to meet that chal-
lenge, besides luck:
"It takes at least 10 years of high school and college officiating.
Then you have to wait for an opening, and there are only about
four openings a year. I've just completed my seventeenth year of
high school and college officiating
Dudley Clark playing
The Mules Hitch
(Times Photo)
Christmas Parade
memories
• and Robin Richardson 6. The
Lady Wave won the game 52 -
FROM PAGE A-2 47.
next week's column, or bringNov. 23
it up on my next radio show, The next game the Lady
which airs every Monday from Wave came out and began play-
7-9 p.m. on 90.9 F.M, KSLU. ing good. Then it became obvi-
ous that Ponchatoula was being
• played against a lot more than
FROM PAGE A-2 the Jennings team. Calls on
and go man-to-man and just Ponchatoula were frequent but
about shut down the Tigers. when Jennings did the same
Once in a while defense broke and the calls were not called.
down and scored. Then the The Wave was behind 14 - 10
Wave got back on track and the at the end of one. Considering
Tigers became frustrated. Pon- all the bad calls it was a good
chatoula broke Westgate's man quarter.
and scored. Scoring came from Second quarter Ponchatou-
Taylor Johnson (2), Savanna la was falling behind 26 - 19,
Balado and Anne James scored Johnson came off the bench and
17 each, Hannah Fletcher 10, PLEASE SEE PAGE B-2
Official Journal
The Ponchatoula Times
PUBLIC NOTICE
The City of Ponchatoula is accepting bids on surplus property until Friday, De-
cember 24, 2010. Please visit - - - _ j: . - ._ , for a complete list of items, and
to place bids.
Tomlyn Poche, City Clerk
PUBLIC NOTICE
An application for rezoning at 404, 408, 412, and 416 East Beech St. has been
submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission. A public hearing will be held
on December 20, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. by the Commission at City Hall to decide on this
matter. All interested parties are invited to attend. Questions regarding this mat-
ter may be presented to the Commission at this time.
Ronnie Perrin. Zoning Chairman
(Publish in The Ponchatoula Times,: December 16, 2010)
PUBLIC NOTICE
SALE OF PROPERTY
Notice is hereby given that the City of Ponchatoula has for sale and is accepting
bids on a certain parcel of property described as: Lots 4 & 5. block 1, Diamond A
Sub. of Ponchatoula,
Sec 45, T7S,R8E (approx. 80' x 80'). Minimum bid is $9,000. Sealed bids will be
accepted until 4:00pm on Tuesday, December 28. 2010 at Ponchatoula City Hall,
125 West Hickory St., Ponchatoula, LA 70454. All bids must be submitted in a
sealed envelope, outside of envelope must contain the bidders name. telephone
number, and item for which the enclosed bid is intended. Bids must contain item
description, bid amount, bidders name. bidders address, and bidders telephone
Number. The final and highest bid is subject to approval by the City Council via
passage of an ordinance accepting such bid.
s/Tomlyn Poche, City Clerk
(Publish in The Ponchatoula Times, December 9, 16, and 23, 2010)
NOW YOU CAN SHOP ONLINE AND FIND A GREAT SELECTION OF
...... . , +:i : l"' .... Mnmmm _ -_- -
All ~15,000 Under vohloln mrkotod by Bill Hood Ford/Lincoln • Bill Hood Nissan~AazdaMyundai • Monlson Bivd,, Hormonal, LA • 888-904-1797
n Programs
rograms
• mo
Classes Include:
aF
n
ALso avaiLabLe - Massage 8: Tanning
1330 Hvvy. 51 North
(Veterans Avenue)
Ponchatoula, LA
985/386-8507
www.ponchatoulafitness.com
Michael Tournillon Owner/Operator
*PLus tax with one year membership
agreement Ome restrictions apply
Courtney Lee
Antique City Queen
(Times Photo)
Jeff Wiggins
Cart 'n Swim
(Times Photo)
