Chance of a Lifetime
Sperlazza will have hand in Steelers gamesBy JIM ELLIOTT, W.Va. Sports Editor
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"My philosophy of officiating is that I'm no better than any other official. I take pride in hustling, being in the correct position and looking professional."
Wellsburg's Jim Sperlazza
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.
At this state, that's pretty much all he knows. He says there will obviously be plenty of details to work out, but it's a big step for one of the Ohio Valley's fast-rising football officials.
So how did all of this come about?
Sperlazza, who says he's been humbled since learning of the appointment, offered only some guesswork as an answer to that.
''This is just something the NFL is doing - recruiting young officials,'' he said. ''I'm 32. I started (officiating) right out of college. I've don a ton of games ...
''I've been fortunate to be selected for playoffs in both Ohio and West Virginia. I've been able to meet a lot of people, make good contacts, get my name out there. And I had some important people make good recommendations in my favor.''
He says that's what he likes most about the officiating fraternity, something he noticed all the way back in college when he was a Presidents' Athletic Conference men's basketball scoring champion who was handed the responsibility of taking care of the football officials on game days.
''I was in charge of the officials' hospitality room and was a part of the chain gang,'' said Sperlazza, fresh off working as the back judge for Sunday's OVAC All-Star Game and already with two Ohio regional finals under his belt. ''I was really fascinated with the job they do, the camaraderie they had, the overall fun they had out there on a Saturday afternoon.''
It helped that his father, also named Jim Sperlazza, had spent the better part of three decades working as an OV football official.
To get where he's going, Sperlazza said, required help from a lot of areas.
''I'm very grateful for all the veteran officials who have taken me under their wing and taught me how to be a professional on and off the field,'' he said.
The question is, where will this lead?
''The ultimate goal,'' he said, ''is to someday be on the field as an NFL official.''
There is no confirmation this gig will lead to that, he said, but it certainly can't hurt.
It's a long way from that first year, when he was working junior varsity high school games and getting his first taste of the other side of officiating, the one where coaches and fans can be merciless at calls that appear questionable.
Last spring, Sperlazza was part of a crew that was working West Virginia University spring workouts. He'll be back later this month for an intrasquad game. And this season, he's jumping into the NCAA Division II ranks in the West Virginia Conference in addition to a full high school schedule.
And, of course, the pros.
''When I started, I really had no aspirations I'd ever by on an NFL field in any aspect, or even a college field,'' he said. ''I just really paid attention to a lot of veteran officials; they helped guide me through and here I am.
''My philosophy of officiating is that I'm no better than any other official. I just take pride in hustling, being in the correct position, and looking professional.''
Sperlazza works at Jefferson Behavioral Health Systems in Steubenville, a career that allows time for the sometimes long weekend travels associated with football officiating.
