NFL Officials' marks on footballs

[BVC]

Hello, first-time poster here. I primarily collect pre-war vintage items, including game-used, but recently purchased a couple of modern footballs. As a result, I was digging around looking for information on how to photo-match NFL footballs, and found an old post that describes the marks that various officials put on balls: http://www.gameuseduniverse.com/vb_f...1&postcount=11

The other information in the thread was also very helpful;e.g- explanation of 2-letter codes for determining when the footballs were manufactured. Has any attempt been made to create a more encompassing list? Thanks.

[BVC]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Is this an inappropriate topic, or simply no interest? If it's a newbie thing, I understand and will gladly go back to lurking - just thought this forum would be a good place to get such information.

[NEFAN]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Be patient, sometimes it takes a while for posts to be read. Weekends have alot more people on the site.

[BVC]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

okay, thanks for the response. This was the first forum I found that had anything to do with game-used. I'll look around and see what else is out there.

[BrianK]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Here are some markings I think I've identified.

Al Riveron 2010
Bill Leavy 2011
Carl Cheffers 2009
Carl Cheffers 2010
Clete Blakeman 2011
Ed Hochuli 2010
Ed Hochuli 2011
Jeff Triplette 2009
Jeff Triplette 2011

[BrianK]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Some more.

Jerome Boger 2009
John Parry 2009
Mike Carey 2009
Pete Morelli 2010
Ron Winter 2010
Ron Winter 2011
Terry McAulay 2010
Tony Corrente 2010
Walt Anderson 2010
Walt Coleman 2011

[BVC]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Thanks, Brian.

[jrhoads23]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Has anyone ever heard of ref markings on game balls when that ref is NOT doing the game? I have found images of balls being used in games with Walt Anderson's zig-zag marking when he was NOT the ref doing the game. ??? Very odd... anyone seen this before or know how it happens?

[RaiderNationPDX]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Has anyone ever heard of ref markings on game balls when that ref is NOT doing the game? I have found images of balls being used in games with Walt Anderson's zig-zag marking when he was NOT the ref doing the game. ??? Very odd... anyone seen this before or know how it happens?

This does happen; balls are sometimes reused by teams from previous weeks' games. They may or may not be marked a second time. Occasionally game balls won't be marked at all (I've had this happen with an 2010 Raiders ball; confirmed the use of an unmarked ball during that game via Getty). Referee marks are not an exact science, so there are any number of anomalies.

[BVC]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

This really clears up a lot (ref marks in incorrect games), as I was recently offered some balls that looked perfect in terms of wear, and the marks looked perfect, but didn't all match the games the officials worked.

Thanks again for all the great information.

[BrianK]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

This really clears up a lot (ref marks in incorrect games), as I was recently offered some balls that looked perfect in terms of wear, and the marks looked perfect, but didn't all match the games the officials worked.

I bet if you look at the previous couple of games for the team you'll find that the referee worked one of those games. As said, using a ball for several games is not uncommon.

[sctizzle]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Does anyone know if a ref would put their mark on a ball that was previously used and marked by a ref earlier in the season? Have one I'm trying to figure out that was from a home game but the ref on the ball was from a road game a few weeks earlier. Or would the next ref not need to approve the ball if a ref already marked it? Not sure if you would see multiple marks or just the first ref that gave the ball the initial approval.

Any thoughts?

[BrianK]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Does anyone know if a ref would put their mark on a ball that was previously used and marked by a ref earlier in the season? Have one I'm trying to figure out that was from a home game but the ref on the ball was from a road game a few weeks earlier. Or would the next ref not need to approve the ball if a ref already marked it? Not sure if you would see multiple marks or just the first ref that gave the ball the initial approval.

Any thoughts?

Yes, there are definitely balls with multiple marks.

[jrhoads23]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Does anyone know if a ref would put their mark on a ball that was previously used and marked by a ref earlier in the season? Have one I'm trying to figure out that was from a home game but the ref on the ball was from a road game a few weeks earlier. Or would the next ref not need to approve the ball if a ref already marked it? Not sure if you would see multiple marks or just the first ref that gave the ball the initial approval.

Any thoughts?

Yes, I have a ball with 3 different ref markings on it. Looking back at their schedule, all 3 of those refs had games in a short time span.

[jrhoads23]

Re: NFL Officials' marks on footballs

Here are some more...
I am not 100% on the Walt Coleman one but I am 98%