For twenty years Fenton Moore spent his Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons officiating high school and college football games throughout Ohio. This past fall, however, Moore found himself in an Iraqi war zone some 7,000 miles away from the gridirons of the Buckeye state.
Despite the drastic change of scenery and ambiance, Moore, a major in the 16th Engineer Brigade, still found time for America's favorite pastime. With daily routines, which some soldiers compared to the movie Groundhog Day, becoming a bore, Moore turned to football - more specifically - a high school football officiating certification program to increase the morale among soldiers.
"I gauged the interest of the soldiers, some of them expressed a profound interest, so I moved forward with the idea," said Moore, who spent 13 months in Iraq from November 2005 to November 2006.
Using his contacts back in the United States, Moore sought the assistance of the Ohio High School Athletic Association and other officiating organizations such as USA Football's Bill LeMonnier.
"We sent him all the materials to conduct the certification - rule books, DVDs, everything we normally use in a training class," said Henry Zaborniak, assistant commissioner of the OSHAA who oversees all aspects of high school football officiating in Ohio.
Certification required 30 hours of classroom study, plus additional time spent conducting hands-on training. To accommodate for the soldiers' busy schedules, they often met twice a week for approximately two hours per session.
The most difficult part of the process laid in the inadequate terrain of Iraq and a lack of manpower to perform an actual live tackle football game with equipment. This quandary, however, did not present an overwhelming problem for Moore and his students as it forced them to be innovative. Inventive ideas came in the form of silhouette targets taped to orange cones and pylons to resemble players on the football field. Another idea included having the 16th Engineer Brigade soldiers play a simulated flag football game on an unmarked field to give the officiating students a feel for actual game speed.
"Major Moore definitely came up with some interesting ideas to help us," said Scott Johnson, a combat engineer who participated in the program. "I enjoyed the program. I never would have thought about becoming a football official, until Major Moore presented it."
The soldiers formed four-man crews and managed the flag football game as if it was an tackle football game. This process included identifying penalties, properly communicating with fellow officials, coaches and players, managing the game clock and using proper terminology. According to Moore, the simulated game allowed the soldiers to use what they learned in the classroom sessions and apply them to real conditions, a process that is common for military service members.
"In the Army, typically you learn something through classroom study, then you take that concept and build upon it with hands-on training and then you apply it in an actual live environment," Moore stated. "This officiating program wasn't any different, we learned through study sessions using books and videos then progressed to a simulated game where everything the soldiers had been taught came into play. It was highly important that we give the soldiers a realistic look in the simulation game, as it was an opportunity for them to implement what they had been taught."
The entire program took forty days to complete as Moore had to temporarily delay training sessions to accommodate soldiers who left to conduct mission operations.
"It was definitely a great opportunity," said Bobbi Craigo, one of just 24 female football officials certified by the OHSAA and the lone female to participate in the certification process while stationed in Iraq. "I've always loved the game and becoming an official is my way of becoming part of it. I've never had the opportunity to be actively involved before."
In all, six soldiers took part in the certification program which was given the title "Rocky Freedom One" by Zaborniak. Additionally, "Rocky Freedom One" is the first OHSAA football certification course to be conducted in a war zone. According to Zaborniak, soldiers who completed the program are certified Class 2 Officials - meaning they can officiate games below the varsity level, this includes youth, junior high, freshman and junior varsity. After two years of officiating at the lower levels, the soldiers can continue their education and become varsity officials through the OHSAA.
"They all did very well," said Moore, who pointed out that the biggest obstacle for the young officials was learning the nuances and differences between the high school, college and NFL rules and interpretations. "They were very studious throughout the entire process, they definitely exceed my expectations."
When the soldiers weren't participating in the officiating program, they were successfully carrying out their duties throughout Iraq. According to Moore, the 16th Engineer Brigade's mission was to buy and secure materials to improve and build facilities throughout Bagdad and cities through the country.
"Our mission duties were top priority. Officiating always took a backseat, but I think it was a great diversion for us," commented Craigo, a native of Uhrichsville, Ohio, whose Army occupation is a light wheel vehicle mechanic.
When the 16th Engineer Brigade returned home in mid-November the high school football season was in full swing and it was too late for the soldiers to use their newfound skill. Still, Moore hopes the soldiers who completed the program will stay involved as youth football leagues and officiating associations are always in need of qualified personnel.
Johnson, native of Westerville, Ohio, plans put his new skills to use this fall.
"I want to help out the local youth program, that's what I enjoy," Johnson stated. "My plan is to get involved with my local youth league and help them out the best I can. Maybe after a few seasons of officiating youth football, I'll move up to the high school ranks, but right now I see a need at the youth level."
After returning to the United States in mid-November, Moore was invited by USA Football's Bill LeMonnier, a Big Ten referee, to dinner the night before the Ohio State vs. Michigan game. While at dinner, LeMonnier and his crew presented Moore and his wife, Maria, with "The Rock." According to LeMonnier, "The Rock" symbolizes excellence and hard work for the betterment of the crew.
"[We] thought that Fenton [accomplished this] with his efforts in Iraq both as a soldier and with the officiating class," LeMonnier stated. "I know Fenton felt honored to be with us but it was really our honor."
With the winter months now upon us and the football season in the rearview mirror, Moore has turned his attention to the basketball court where he is also a certified high school basketball official. Yet, despite trading in his military battle dress uniform for is basketball officiating jersey, Moore longs to be back on the gridirons of high school football.
"I definitely miss being out there. There isn't anything quite like the atmosphere of a football game -whether it's high school or college - nothing really compares. I'm definitely looking forward to getting back out there this fall."