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View Full Version : JaxSt to See First FBS Ref in Game vs Memphis



TexasTerror
September 13th, 2007, 06:12 PM
Coach Crowe is used to JaxSt having involvement with women and firsts as far as the college game goes. FCS has had a female ref before, but now FBS gets their first taste of a female official, when Memphis tackles JaxSt this weekend...good deal, congrats to her!

Mississippi woman first to officiate major college football game
By ANTONIO GONZALEZ
Associated Press Writer

By stepping on the field Saturday night, Sarah Thomas will likely turn a few heads. By blowing her whistle, she'll make history.

The veteran Mississippi high school official will become the first woman ever to work a game in the former NCAA Division I-A, now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision, when she works as line judge in the Jacksonville State-Memphis game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

A pharmaceutical saleswoman by day, Thomas earned a spot as one of 21 alternate officials who will work one or two non-conference games involving Conference USA teams this season.

"She came highly recommended by two NFL scouts," said Gerry Austin, a longtime NFL referee and the conference's coordinator of officials. "She has a good presence and demeanor. I feel like she has the ability and courage to make a call, and the guts to not make one, too."

http://www.sunherald.com/306/story/141542.html