ncaa referee bert smith age ncaa referee bert smith age

Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree - his description - his body. The article is made available for educational use by individuals. Who parks in the farthest spot from the entrance to Kroger? Its deep, and its contagious. Moves fast, this guy. When he arrived, in walked Katie M. Trammel, the physician who, in many ways, may have saved his life. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Game official Bert Smith collapsed Tuesday evening in the first half of the men's NCAA basketball game between No. It does not store any personal data. Todays game is so fast and the players have such a high skill set that its very important to be in the best possible position to judge a play and make a call. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. They poured into Smiths phone after he collapsed on national television during Gonzagas eventual win over USC in a mens Elite Eight game on March 30. Their goalie tried leaping to his left I'm committed to it year round. And after it happens, with a replacement official stepping in for Smith, he spends two hours getting treatment at the stadium, where his vitals are normal pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level and he doesnt have a headache. It is my release. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. There are 96 NCAA referees all waiting for the same thing those 68 teams are waiting for. Market data provided by Factset. But slow down, OK? Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . It puts in perspective the value of each day, because we all go through our lives were all guilty of it and we just live, right? I look for officials I assign to have the same respect and values for the game as I do. There is no better feeling then walking back into the locker room with your partners and knowing that we worked together as a team and that we gave everything we had for those 48 minutes. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. We enjoyed working four football seasons together before his retirement. I always say, you can question my judgment but dont question my effort. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Hes incredibly fit, somewhat of a workout freak, and hes never really endured many traumatic health issuescertainly nothing like this. He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes,they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Smith is one of the longest tenured and most respected officials in college hoops. Then he becomes a basketball official. Why cant he catch his breath? You blacked out., I look to my right, and I see a stretcher. It saved his life. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It took me a few days, he says. I could be having the worst day possible and I still lose myself in my game that day. Further examination revealed Smith, 56, had a blood clot in his lung, the Indianapolis St Im ready to get after it, he says. No matter what age, talent, salary, race or sex, you must give your all. In 1973, my older brother Mike introduced the game to our family by joining the high school team as a freshman. Bert Smith was involved in a controversial ending to a Kansas and Iowa State game that led to the Big 12 Conference punishing Smith for a call that cost the Cyclones a win against the Jayhawks. Hes been friends with Smith for 30 years. The scary moment was caughtlive during the Bulldogs-Trojans matchup. It was a scary moment as an audible thud was heard throughout Lucas Oil Stadium, and the official was taken off the court on a stretcher, though he was awake and alert. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. This week, Gonzaga and Southern California faced off during the Elite Eight matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium. Smith said, in a way, he was grateful the fall happened during the tournament and not when he was driving. That road includes blood thinners and a trip next week to see a nearby doctor to strategize his future treatment. Bert Smith does. He was officiating the Elite Eight matchup last month in Indianapolis when he suddenly collapsed near the Gonzaga bench. Hes on the stretcher, and hes not even a little bit happy about it. Medical personnel and other staffers rushed toward him. Trammel was at Methodist the night of March 30. And after it happens, with a replacement official stepping in for Smith, he spends two hours getting treatment at the stadium, where his vitals are normal pulse, blood pressure, oxygen level and he doesnt have a headache. Bert Smith. Whats he doing on his back? a picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. OK, so the night of March 29. We make the calls and put up with the jeers because we love officiating. Legal Statement. OK, so the night of March 29. Well get there, but right now were moving too fast. He agreed. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. I have to be ready physically, mentally and emotionally. Even after coaches/fans express their disappointment in my calls, I still have the eyes and hearts of the players on the field looking to me for leadership and how to show good character and convictions. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". I hear (other officials) say, I do it for the kids. Im not disagreeing with them when they say that and I enjoy being around the kids too, but theres a hundred other things I could do if I was doing it for the kids. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Im letting the paint dry.. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. Check this out. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! His crew comes back to Le Meridien with a doggy bag of the dinner he missed at the game, and theyre talking and laughing, but theyve seen replays of Smiths fall. Might as well walk fast, too. Scary video shows the ref falling backwards and hitting his head on the hardwood floor just four minutes into the March Madness game as other officials pause the match and run to his aid. Devika Pawar. The reasons for our joy when we step on the field, court or ice are vast and every reason is forged in the fire of our individual experiences. Yeah man, you were staggering like you were fighting Ali., You were asking Mark Few for a job application because you were on his bench., Next thing you know, you were back in the ring again with Ali and you went down like a tree in a forest!. . Thats his wife of 33 years. My love of officiating started when I was very young five to six years old. I get to watch the Masters.. Add to that the fact that we actually get paid to exercise, and I cant think of a better way to spend a spring afternoon than on a lacrosse field! NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Being able to handle situations that arise separates the average official from the capable arbiter. Being able to participate and watch these young men and women playing the game because they have that desire to play is a joy to me that you cannot experience through a TV or on the sidelines. He later regained consciousness and was stretchered off the . Smith does rememberthe play before it:Gonzagas Andrew Nembhard stealing the ball and going the other way, but now the action is coming back toward the USC basket, where Smith had remained hed been unable to run the court as Nembhard finished at the rim and Smith is wondering whats going on. The referee who collapsed during Gonzaga's matchup against USC in the NCAA men's basketball tournament had a blood clot in his lung, The Indianapolis Star reported Friday. Hes a motivational speaker and diversity recruiter in addition to being an NCAA referee, and I imagine hes awfully good at both. For now, hes at his home in Florence, Ky., just outside of Cincinnati, relaxing and watching the Masters golf tournament while medicating an ailment that, if not caught after that fall, could have eventually been much worse. Heres why: The doctor said, Listen, tell you what, why dont you just sit on the stretcher? I said OK, I can do that, Smith says and now hes laughing. He told the Star he's happy it happened during the Elite Eight when he could get the right help he needed rather than during an instance when he was driving or sleeping. People often ask me how I maintain a smile throughout almost every game, however it is quite unintentional. He said the night before the game, while running the stairs in the hotel to see his buddies or get ice, he was a little out of breath. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. Since I'm involved in an athletic contest I want to be able to participate to the full, and working out, proper nutrition and recovery allow me to be able to keep up with the players and game. Referee Fall in Gonzaga USC NCAA Game TBS Replay Gets Backlash Sports A Referee Collapsed at an NCAA Basketball Game. That's where he learned his scary fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. I thought he was a good official, a fair official, and when you saw him at a game, you knew you were going to get a good whistle from him., Smith says well see him at games next season I could work again in seven to 10 days, he says but for now he wants to thank some people publicly. Look at those crossed arms. Collins and NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt, for their support and kindness to me.. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. All Rights Reserved. Youve probably seen him. Players on both teams returned to their benches. Read More Referee Bert Smith collapses on the court during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game in the NCAA men's . Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. When I enter the field, theres more bounce in my step, my senses are heightened and my competitive juices start flowing. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Smith trains year-round on a treadmill or stationary bike, and gets in other workouts, like when the family goes to Disney Worldand Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back inand took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. People in the building, and I was one of them, thought he was dead. Why I love officiating can be simply put as it has given me the opportunity to work with and be associated with some of the finest individuals that walk the face of this earth. Oh, and hes also been returning those messages. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith hasn't watched the moment that might have saved his life. He works his first game at age 24. Hes not wobbly, no blurry vision, nothing. If youve ever experienced a buzzer-beater, thats what Im talking about. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. He gets exercise any time he can and officiates around 90 games a year for the NCAA. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? The Big League College World Series (last August in Kalamazoo, Mich.) was probably the most fun Ive had on a ball field. They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. The hugs were pretty intense, Smith says, and hes talking slowly again. Smith abruptly collapsed during an Elite Eight game between No. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . Officiating for me has always been the ultimate escape. Smith trains year round on a treadmill or stationary bike, and gets in other workouts like when the family goes to Disney World in Florida and Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. Being part of the game is a big reason. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Whats he doing on his back? Bunch of sixth-graders at Garfield Park in Chicago. When he retired as an official to take the ACC job in 2016, he immediately had to replace one of the conference's best referees: himself. Working a Friday night high school football game gives me goose bumps. Medical personnel take care of a NCAA referee after he fell on the court during the first half during the game between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the USC Trojans in the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA . There is no greater place to be than on a softball or baseball field. the college basketball official who passed out during themen's NCAA Tournamentregional final between Gonzaga and Southern California, Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Its deep, and its contagious. Has it cued up on his iPad and everything. Nobody can say. When you are ready mentally you work with confidence. Youve probably seen him. Even though at this point in my career I have the experience and acceptance, there is still that constant challenge from one game to the next because you never know what is going to happen every time you step on the ice. All rights reserved. . Smiths pausing. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? He felt wobbly and the next thing he remembers seeing is the ceiling of the stadium. I will, he says. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. The NCAA announces that Smith has returned to the hotel, and its true. It and she have made me a better person. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. And how did the court get so blurry all of a sudden, like someone smeared it with. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I love officiating because of the challenge. Within seconds, theyd strapped the seated Smith onto it. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. The scary moment was caught. 1 overall seed Gonzaga Bulldogs remained undefeated and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA men's basketball tournament with a dominant 85-66 win over USC on Tuesday . You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. There were 500 of them. The board presents an award in his name each year to the area high school that exemplifies sportsmanship. He works his first game at age 24. And they found out. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. The final clip in this video compilation shows Bert Smith as he collapsed during a March Madness game in April 2021. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. The doctors who cared for him at Lucas Oil Stadium, Pat Kersey and Luke Berghoff; he appreciates their careand understands their stretcher subterfuge. My colleagues and I have strong personalities with how were wired so being able to do a job that you know youre in a select company of people is very rewarding. Areyougoing to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? They strapped me in! Now I have hundreds of brothers around the country. Soccer was now firmly in my blood and forever would help mold and shape me. The unnecessary replay of Bert. NCAA basketball official Bert Smith lies on the court after collapsing during the Gonzaga-USC men's game in the Elite Eight. Are you going to tell Bert Smith hes out of shape? Rules knowledge is a component of it. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. The passion and emotion of the contestants can never sway the judgment of the crew. It goes: You scored, Billy You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. He rarely uses the elevator. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Its because I was telling the doctor: You little SOB, you tricked me!. Success! And they found out. Everything was normal. 2023 www.southbendtribune.com. Bert Smith does. By age 11, I was organizing all the neighborhood kids in pick up games and by age 14, I got certified to referee and started coaching. I look to my left, and its a doctor, Bert says, and hes laughing about it now. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . "He's a great official, great person," Few said after his team's 85-66 win to advance to the Final Four. As soon as I arrive and begin preparing for the game, my day, my life, enters a new and exciting realm. As you looked toward my approval Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Veteran official Bert Smith hit his head on the baseline and laid face up for about five minutes before being stretchered off with 15:44 remaining in the first half of the 2021 March Madness. Referee Bert Smith collapses on sideline during Gonzaga-USC Elite Eight game (NCD) By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk March 30, 2021 at 8:58 pm CDT Look at his scowl. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. A pulmonary embolism. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Over the years Ive been blessed with so many highlights but have found a simple phrase that sums it all up: Special Soccer Moments, derived from the poem June Goal, written by my Dad in 1976. He rarely uses the elevator. Now check your email to confirm your subscription to the Referee.com Review. I appreciate that officiating has contributed lots of exercise and has helped to keep me in good health. Knowing the rules and how to implement them fairly, evenly and within the guidelines of accepted philosophy is important. The doctor says, Thats what Im taking you out on., I said: Listen, Doc, Im walking out of here. She said: I got the answer to the question. Just 4 minutes after tipoff in the Elite Eight matchup, Bert Smith crashed to the floor in a terrifying scene -- triggering team trainers and other medical personnel to race to his aid. I love officiating because of the rush of excitement I get every time a player rises over another for a nothing-but-net three-pointer or from two kids diving after a loose ball like its a $1 million bill. Note: This article is archival in nature. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. What I mean is that we are the upholders of the integrity of the game. Gallows humor, you call it, and its pretty funny, how Bert Smiths buddies tease him. He goes to IU Health Methodist. Dr. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. you knew we kicked it in together. March 30 (UPI) --The No. My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. He was released after two days in the hospital. Thats 1990. NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses During March Madness. Over the next seven years, Mike rose to become a star for both his high school and college teams, my dad became a coach and my love for the game was cemented. Smith's fall to the ground. You went down because you had a blood clot in your lung.. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.". The 2021 ACC men's basketball tournament (officially the 2021 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament Presented by New York Life) was the postseason men's basketball tournament for the Atlantic Coast Conference and held at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, from March 9 to 13, 2021. There was an error submitting your subscription. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". It offers a chance to lead by example. Whats that for? They were pretty intense, man. Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. According to the Indianapolis Star, Smith was placed on blood thinners and two days later the clot was gone. Moves fast? 56-year-old Smith was officiating the Gonzaga vs. USC matchup on March 30 when he collapsed to the hardwood a few minutes into the game. By Bert Smith, NCAA D-I men's basketball official from Florence, Ky. Where did it come from? They suggest he go to the hospital to get examined for a concussion, just to be sure. I thought he was a good official, a fair official, and when you saw him at a game, you knew you were going to get a good whistle from him., Smith says well see him at games next season I could work again in seven to 10 days, he says but for now he wants to thank some people publicly. Read More Referee Bert Smith collapses on the court during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament at Lucas Oil . It pushes you to be on top of your game. "It puts in perspective the value of each day, because we all go through our lives -- we're all guilty of it -- and we just live, right?" I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt , He said he told the doctor at the time, "You little SOB, you tricked me!. Then again, isnt that what Bert Smith has always done? Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during themen's NCAA Tournamentregional final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body prone and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. For me, it didnt seem like a red flag, Smith says. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Thats 1990. If hes going to walk, might as well make it a long one. Bert Smith . The support and love was just overwhelming. Smith tested positive for the coronavirus in August, but doctors cant say whether theres a correlation between COVID-19 and his blood clot. As a person with a disability, Im pleased to be a part of a profession that doesnt discriminate against what I cant do and emphasizes what I can. That was one of the few times I remember getting in trouble with my father for kicking his car door as hard as my little legs could out of anger. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. There is no other avocation that I can think of that requires the level of physical and mental preparation that officiating mandates, and you have to dedicate yourself in order to be successful. Smiths also grateful that his health scare, if it was going to happen,took place during the NCAA Tournament and not when he was driving or sleeping. We make mistakes but we make them with the honest attempt to be right 100 percent of the time; I like being held to that high standard. INDIANAPOLIS Bert Smith hasnt seen the moment that made him famous. More than a week later, he hasnt watched the moment. He started on the lowest levels as a youth league official in 1990, began working Division I games in 1993 and. Subscribe to get the Referee.com Review every week plus periodic free training and special offers on the sports you officiate. I had grown up playing the sport, but for some unknown reason, playing was just not satisfying enough. The problems of the world do not exist when I am working a game. Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Moves fast, this guy. Nobody can say. When you live something like I did, it hits you square in the eyes that you really have to value each day.. Active referees are listed in bold. Hed been duped. Dr. Next thing he remembers, hes looking at the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Unfortunately we miss plays every night, but the challenge of trying to be perfect and get every play right is why I love it so much. Trammel had seen the video. The thing I enjoy most about NHL officiating is the challenge each game presents. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. We won't send you spam. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. His wife has seen it once, and shell never watch it again. The referee who collapsed during Gonzaga's matchup against USC in the NCAA men's basketball tournament had a blood clot in his lung, The Indianapolis Star reported Friday. They strapped me in! Smith trains year round on a treadmill or stationary bike, and gets in other workouts like when the family goes to Disney World in Florida and Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. We get him off the floor out of sight and he just loses it, Fox recalls. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. Check this out. I looked at him and said, Oh no you didnt. To me, he offers an aside: Hes taking advantage of a guy in a weakened position., The doc says, Swing your legs around. I swing my legs around, and they go: Click-click-click-click. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Look at those crossed arms. Do we give an extra hug enough? Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. "You don't know where that clot was going next," Smith told the Star's Gregg Doyel. View. What happens next leads toa picture caught by IndyStar photographer Kelly Wilkinson. Whats that for? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. If you saw it, you understand. They strapped me in! He'll just carry Karter on his shoulders, and yes they'll use the stairs when everyone else rides the escalator. Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. After completing my doctorate, I returned to officiating. She said: I got the answer to the question. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. I love the challenge of being in complete control of your emotions, maintaining the calmness and the challenge to make a split-second decision in front of 60,000-100,000 screaming fans and knowing you have six crewmates that have your back in the heat of the battle. Hospitalized with a blood clot. Smith, who became an NCAA Division I official in 1993, said he remembers the play preceding the fall. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. There were no signs in the preceding days of this happening, even when he was running up and down three flights of stairs, with a mask, the day before. Soccer has enriched my life ever since that fateful day in 1973 when my brother came home and said he made the high school soccer team. Smith was put on blood thinners and discharged two days later with the clot gone. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? 10,797 Ncaa Referee Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images CREATIVE EDITORIAL VIDEO basketball referee 10,797 Ncaa Referee Premium High Res Photos Browse 10,797 ncaa referee stock photos and images available, or search for basketball referee to find more great stock photos and pictures. It is by far the most difficult thing Ive ever done. Usually I will leave the venue with a different outlook. Bert Smith doesnt remember any of that and hasnt seen a replay of his fall, though he says hes almost ready to watch. I always thought he was a good dude, Lansing says. Hes feeling wobbly, so wobbly. Fox News Flash top headlines for April 10. Thats his wife of 33 years. Smiths pausing.