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Officials Adjust to New Role

By JIM ELLIOTT, W.Va. Sports Editor

August 4, 2008


The National Football League's recent decision to allow the use of defensive helmet transmitters, similar to those used by the quarterback on offense, has opened a rather large door for one local football official and Wellsburg resident.

Jim Sperlazza, a Brooke High School and Bethany College graduate, was recently hired by the league to oversee the technology at all Pittsburgh Steelers home games.

As On-Field Player Monitor/Game Day Assistant to the on-field officials, Sperlazza's duties will include meeting with equipment managers and checking helmets marked with fluorescent dots prior to games, making sure only one on-field player has the technology in his helmet at one time, and monitoring to ensure the transmission from coach to player shuts off with 15 seconds left on the play clock.

Read the complete article from The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register.