Dean Blandino has been named the director of instant replay for College Football Officiating, LLC, the NCAA announced Monday. The CFO is an organization run by the 10 FBS commissioners, two FCS commissioners and two NCAA reps.
“Dean emerged as the best candidate from a talented group of people interested in helping shape the future of instant replay in college football,” MAC commissioner and CFO Board of Managers chairman Jon Steinbrecher said. “His expertise and skills will help guide this important aspect of officiating.”
Blandino is formerly the senior VP of officiating for the NFL. He oversaw the league's officiating during the Dez Bryant debacle in January 2015, when the on-field official ruled the play a catch but was later overruled -- incorrectly -- by the replay official. The NFL has spent its offseason distancing itself from that decision, even going as far to say the Bryant play should have never been overturned and remained a catch.
He's now going to teach college football officials on how to run their respective replay systems.
“I’m extremely excited to join the CFO and NCAA in this role,” Blandino said. “I’ve spent much of my career in the replay space and look forward to continuing to improve our processes and programming with the ultimate goal of efficient – and correct – outcomes.”
Blandino has worked for FOX since leaving the NFL -- work that will continue even as he runs the CFO's replay program. From the release:
The position will be structured to focus on off-season development and educational duties, while allowing Blandino to continue his broadcasting role. For the 2018 season, the position begins immediately and will conclude at the end of August. Duties will start again in January 2019 until the start of the season.
“We are extremely fortunate to have Dean join CFO as our national director,” said Rogers Redding, CFO national coordinator of officials. “He has a wealth of experience with instant replay, and his gift for teaching will add immensely to our training of replay officials. Dean’s deep knowledge base will enable us to be very strategic moving forward. I am very excited about the opportunity to work with him.”
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