Valley referee Ed Hightower

[Da Coach]

I saw this on the Wichita State board. Did anyone else know this interesting fact?

Long time basketball referee Ed Hightower, who has officiated numerous MVC and Bradley games, is on the board of directors of Southern Illinois University!

http://www.siu.edu/bot/Hightower-bio.html

Does this strike anbody else as a bit odd? Even though he supposedly doesn't get assigned to SIU games, you don't think he might have a conflict of interest even with other Valley games that he does officiate?

[MacabreMob]

Hmmm... Did not know that.

I have no idea of NCAA rulings of what games officials can do based on affiliations like this - if there is even any.

IMO, officials try to make the right call every time. But they are human just like you and I - they make mistakes. But another point... the average fan doesn't understand the complete rule book and goes off the deep end on a call without knowing the actual reason for a call.

[tornado]

The athletic director at Northern Iowa, Rick Hartzell, also is one of the top college refs, and although he claims he does not do Missouri Valley games so he avoids the appearance of a conflict,
here is a story about how he does officiate in games of significance that might have a major effect on his own school.

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/8249532

[BUBraves06]

Hightower is also the head of the Edwardsville school board.

[real fan]

He is on the board at SIU Edwardsville as my daughter rec"d her masters degree at SIUE and he presented the diplomas that day.

[Scouter]

BUB06 and realfan are correct. I live about 15 minutes from Edwardsville, and I'm pretty certain Hightower is still the superintendent of the E'ville school district. I would assume he's on the board at SIUE and not Carbondale.

Regardless, he's one of the best officials in the country, and him doing MVC games is a sign of how far the Valley has come. I don't think he's officiated a Final Four yet, but he's well-deserving. That's a huge honor for officials.

[DUBulldog]

I don't think he's officiated a Final Four yet, but he's well-deserving. That's a huge honor for officials.

Actually, according to his profile, he's done 11 Final 4's.

https://www.eofficials.com/controlpages/ESOCrew/crewbio.aspx?CrewID=25

[Scouter]

Nice catch, Bulldog. Maybe he hasn't worked the championship game yet. It doesn't mention that in his bio.

[MacabreMob]

I don't think he's officiated a Final Four yet, but he's well-deserving. That's a huge honor for officials.

Actually, according to his profile, he's done 11 Final 4's.

https://www.eofficials.com/controlpa...aspx?CrewID=25

A-ha! He did the 2005 NCAA Final 4 - so it is his fault UIUC didn't win the Championship (cause every time UIUC loses, especially this time, it is because of the officials)!

HAHAHAHA!!!

Eddy - You are my #1 Official!

Ooops.

I searched it out. The officials for the Championship game were:
Ed Corbett, John Cahill, Verne Harris

But I still like Eddy.