Gophers game features first-ever all-Black officiating crew in Power 5 football
Saturday’s game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Michigan Wolverines made history, and it had nothing to do with the players.
An all-Black officiating crew — comprised of 11 men and one woman — called the game, a first in any major-conference football game, according to a news release from the Big Ten Conference.
The crew, led by referee Larry Smith, includes nine on-field officials, a replay official, a communicator and a timer.
According to the release, minorities and women make up 22% of the Big Ten’s football officials.