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At 92, a ref’s ref still keeps an eye on the game 1982 Cotton Bowl officials. Head Linesman Bobby Gaston is second from right.
and a little better,” Gaston said. “Consequently you’ll see a better brand of football, and not the pounding, pounding, pounding like you used to.” But he decries the player showboating that has become more common in recent years He’d far rather see players demonstrating respect for their
By Mark Woolsey It’s been quite some time since Bobby Gaston refereed Southeastern Conference football games, but he’s still making judgment calls. At 97, the longtime former head linesman (1955-1981) for conference games and overall officiating coordinator for SEC football (1988-2007) still cheers from the stands for his beloved Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, devours TV football and plays golf every chance he gets. He retired from an officiating career that saw him judging a quarter century of regular-season contests, 19 bowl games and five national championships. As officials’ chief, he ushered several key innovations in refereeing into SEC conference play. And he’s noticeably proud to
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have been a part of the striped-shirt brigade. “It’s like a brotherhood, a family,” said Gaston. “It’s a very tight-knit group and they teach each other.” But that by no means equates to perfection. 1982 Cotton Bowl Officials Head Linesman During a recent Bobby Gaston signaling touchdown chat at the Settindown Texas beat Alabama 14 -12. Creek at Ansley Golf Club in Roswell, coaches, team-mates and schools Gaston’s tone was genial, but his than high-stepping into the message was straightforward and endzone. occasionally critical as he weighed And the recent NCAA rule in on the state of the college change that allows players to do football game and the quality of endorsement deals gets very short officiating. shrift from Gaston. “I think we’re On the plus side, he notes the headed the wrong way,” he said. “I evolution from a running-based, wish it would be college football grind-it-out style of offense to instead of professional college much more passing. “Offensefootball. Kids don’t know how to wise, the game is a little faster
NOVEMBER 2021 | AtlantaSeniorLife.com
handle money at that age.” Officiating crews that have doubled in size, instant replay, sideline clocks, on — field antics, hail — Mary passes, even plastic helmets; none of that was on the radar when Gaston played for the Yellow Jackets his freshman and sophomore years before heading off to serve in World War II. He absorbed fundamental life lessons from coach Bobby Doddyes, that one, who the stadium is named for-that still resonate: Be a gentleman on the field at all times. Step up to the plate when a task needs doing. If you make a commitment, stick to it. Gaston learned that last principle the hard way. Tech’s football program had sprung for tutoring for players. Gaston felt he was doing well enough in one class that he could skip out. Dodd called the youthful player on the carpet, sternly reminding him that the school had paid a fair penny for the sessions and that he would attend, no questions asked. “Coach Dodd was right on the money,” said Gaston. Back from the war, Gaston earned a degree in industrial management and then took ownership of two Texaco stations in Buckhead, later switching to the insurance business. “Part of my customers were guys I had played with earlier.
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