Intramural refs gain experience, swell in numbers By ROBERT DUNN There comes a time every year when all Aggies unite against a so-called common enemy: the in tramural referee. “Everyone yells at you because you’re not calling fouls or you’re calling too many,” said Mike Benedict, one of the underdogs. “You have to take some hassle from those in the game and on the sidelines but if you can let it just go in one ear and out the other, you’ll be okay.” So far this year, A&M’s intra mural office had more than 60 referees, as compared to about 20 at this time last year, accord ing to Jim Jeter, assistant intra mural director. “The caliber of referees this year is far more improved. We’re extremely lucky to have good well-qualified of ficials here at A&M. Some of our officials had refereed elsewhere before coming here. “About the only qualification we have around here is a referee must be a student,” Jeter contin ued. “For those who don’t know the rules, we have clinics before every sport season to brief them. Even if he doesn’t have the judge ment to referee, we use him; most ly as a supervisor of a certain field.” “I’ve refereed softball and foot ball games in San Antonio for the last couple of years,” said Gary Clark. “It’s a lot of fun to referee. I like to see people play and if no one officiates, they may not play fairly. “Although I’ve refereed some women’s games, I find faster, moving action with the men. They seem to have more skill.” “I think they’re both pretty ex citing,” said Deni Bone. “The guys are really great, while the girls have more excitement.” There are some problems that go with the job of being a referee. “Too many people that don’t know the rules come out here to play and get mad when you en force a rule they’ve never heard,” THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1974 said Mike Ellerbrock, “it’s their responsibility to know them.” “I’d say I knew about 90 per cent of them when I came up here. The little technical ones I had to learn. I’ve played sports all my life and this is a good way to make money while in school. “I just wish there was some way to make everyone learn the rules before they get out here so they wouldn’t fuss at the refs so often,” Ellerbrock said. “Softball is probably the best sport to umpire,” said Kevin Vin- all. “The calls are more distinctive than basketball or football. 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I think the reason we had less protests this year is because of the three or four men officiat ing football games instead of just one or two as we had last year.” The university plans to initiate a 7-man football system next year, according to Jeter. “There are several reasons for this change. (1) It equalizes the teams. An off-campus group would have as good a chance to win with nine men as a dorm group with 20, and (2) there’s a lot more strategy invoved.’” “Nine man football is too rough,” said Mike Ellerbrock. “There are too many injuries and it’s not as high scoring a game.” Whatever the system, the school will still need referees to officiate games, and most of those this year will come back. “I think bas ketball and football are pretty neat,” said Bone. “I’m looking forward to them next year.” Rugby guns for rematch with LSU Five members of the national champion Texas A&M rugby team presented an award trophy to TAMU President Jack K. Wil liams. Team members also delivered two championship plaques which rotate among winning schools. The plaques will be displayed at TAMU until another team wins the National Intercollegiate Rug by Championship Tournament. The trophy presented to Dr. Wil liams will be permanently housed here. John Gunn, team coach, said the championship still seemed somewhat like a dream to his players. Gunn announced a rematch be tween TAMU and LSU, the team the Aggies defeated 12-3 r to win the title, will be held here March 9. He said all three squads from both teams will compete. “We just went to the tourna ment in Baton Rouge in hopes of making a good showing and gaining valuable experience,” he said. “But following the first game Saturday morning, we all had the feeling we might have a crack at the title.” He noted that team members from the Palmer College squad, twice defending champions, refer red to the Aggie team as a bunch of “ruffians.” “They were upset in the first round of the tournament,” Gunn noted, “then were defeated a sec ond time. Since rugby to Palmer College is what football is to Tex as A&M, we can understand their disappointment.” Dr. Williams called the national title an impressive accomplish ment for the Aggie rugby squad and for the university. “We know how hard you’ve worked to prepare for this tour nament,” he said, “and your ef forts certainly have paid off.” Keepsake Diamond Solitaires The ultimate in beauty and bril liance . . . 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