Clete Blakeman Has Brook Berringer-Like Qualities

Blakeman's Professionalism Impresses Officials

Blakeman Leads Super Bowl 50 Officiating Crew

Clete: A Privilege to Work World's Biggest Game

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

As the world turned on Super Bowl 50 Sunday, NFL Referee Clete Blakeman handled the coin toss for Denver Bronco and Carolina Panther players in Santa Clara very well. Instead of flipping the coin himself, Blakeman, a former Nebraska quarterback, made a good audible. He asked the legendary Joe Montana to flip the coin and after a flawless toss, I only wish everyone who watched that pivotal moment knew an incredibly inspiring fact – Clete Blakeman, a native of Norfolk, Neb., and the son of a golf pro, has Brook Berringer-like character and qualities.

Don’t take that high-level assessment lightly. That’s not my opinion. It’s a shared judgement from Tom Osborne, his Hall-of-Fame head football coach, Steve Taylor, the All-America quarterback who played ahead of Blakeman at Nebraska, and Tom Banderas, a close friend whose son is a current starting linebacker for the Huskers.

Osborne watched Super Bowl 50 closely and proudly because he views Blakeman’s collegiate football career as a back-up to Taylor as “very similar” to the way the late Berringer handled his back-up status to All-American Tommie Frazier. “Clete was always well prepared and always did a good job as our No. 2 quarterback, so we didn’t miss a beat whether Steve or Clete started,” Osborne said. “We knew Clete would come in and play well every time he was asked.”

Steve Taylor: Clete Blakeman Was ‘The Consummate Professional’

Taylor agrees. “Clete was the consummate professional,” Taylor told me. “He helped groom me when I was young, pushed me to make me better and bailed me out whenever I was in jams. He was never malicious and always helpful. Like Brook, he always reflected the best interests of the team and was very, very loved by all the players on the team. I learned so much from Clete."

Banderas, whose son, Josh, is a Husker starting linebacker, connected Blakeman with Berringer-like qualities. “Clete competed every day,” said Banderas, a close friend since their college days. “Even though he backed up Steve, he never complained. When his number was called, he just ran in there and did his job. He was a heck of a game manager. We could¹ve won a lot of those games with Clete in there. Steve was obviously better overall, but we had no problem when Clete came in. It was the same kind of trust teammates had with Tommie Frazier and Brook Berringer. Players were going to win for whichever quarterback was on the field.”

Here are more thoughts from my Friday conversations with Osborne, Taylor and Banderas:

Osborne: Blakeman Joined NFL and Rose Rapidly Through the Ranks

Tom Osborne:  “I'm extremely proud of Clete (No. 12 above as a Nebraska quarterback). He's risen rapidly in the officiating ranks. When he was a referee in the Big 12, everybody was really high on him. I tried to get him to stay in the Big 12, but obviously, the NFL pays better and has a very attractive retirement package, so he moved on and has done a great job.

“The only surprise about Clete working his first Super Bowl is how relatively young he is compared to most of the referees in the NFL, who’ve been at it longer. Clete rose rapidly in the ranks. He’s shown to be calm and has his wits about him. He thinks rationally, and I know they pick those guys very seriously, so obviously, he’s earned it. I saw the coin that didn’t flip (in Packers-Cardinals playoff prior to overtime period). That was pretty rare when the coin didn’t flip.

“As a player here before he went on to law school, Clete was very intelligent. He always practiced well. He was a good all-around athlete. He started a couple games for us and did quite well. He played quite a bit. Even if he didn’t start, he’d play a fair amount. He was a very valuable team member. Sometimes, if you¹re not a starter, your role will still be important because if you have a guy that starts, how you call plays and how you treat that player depends a lot on if you have a guy that’s prepared and can come in and do a good job.”

Taylor: No One More Qualified for Super Bowl 50 than His Backup

Steve Taylor: “I was absolutely not surprised to see Clete head the Super Bowl officiating crew. In fact, I don't think there's a person more qualified than Clete Blakeman. He's a true professional and very knowledgeable in all aspects. He has a player's perspective, so I'm not surprised at what Clete’s done. He's a perfectionist and will do a great job in the Super Bowl.

"From the first time I met Clete, he was always a gentleman and a teammate. He was older than I was. You hear stories about backup quarterbacks and how there can be dissension between the starter and the backup. That was never, ever the case with Clete. He was well-liked, had good relationships and I watched that from afar. Everyone respected him.

“He taught me how to establish a good rapport with teammates. It has to be genuine. He was always calm and steady. He was always studying the playbook, which pushed me to be better. I was very, very fortunate. I would not have had the success if I didn't have a backup like Clete. He was a good player and bailed me out more than once. The coaches always felt comfortable with him. If I wasn't 100 percent or if things weren't going the right way, Clete took care of business. He's a really good guy, very knowledgeable and knew the game and the sport inside and out.  When he became a referee, I knew it was a good fit and a fun thing for him. He’s a great guy and great student of the game…very confident, very bright…we both knew we were playing for one of the best coaches in college football history, and we both learned how to lead by example.

“You kind of take on the demeanor of your head coach. Clete would go to Catholic services every morning before the games. He would be the first one to have his quarterback tests in, so he can help you out with any questions you might have. He was always there for you, and that's what great backups do – make you better and not divide. Clete not only made me a better quarterback; he made me a better person. To this day, we still have an excellent relationship."

Blakeman Has Been on a Meteoric Rise Since He Became a Football Official

Tom Banderas: “We were a close team and had close friends. Clete (showing his leadership above as a Husker) and I hung out with Jeff Jamrog, Jon Kelley and Keith Neubert, who was a basketball player that played some tight end in football. Gary Schneider and Dan Thayer were a couple walk-ons who were close friends. None of us are surprised that Clete got the job as the lead ref in the Super Bowl. That kid's been on a meteoric rise since he became an official.

“We followed him when he was doing high school stuff, then college stuff and now the NFL. Clete's just a perfect guy for it. He doesn’t get rattled. We laugh at him because he’s had some tough situations, but it¹s just cool to see him on TV. He’s perfect for it. He’s smart. He can make quick decisions. He’s Mr. Easy as well as Mr. Cool. He doesn’t get excited. He’s even keel. He does his job. He’s very smart and I think the NFL sees that. He’s done just a fantastic job and we’re all really proud of him.

“I saw the coin flip live in the Cardinals-Packers game and started laughing. It’s funny when you know somebody who’s Mr. Cool. It’s weird how he gets into odd calls. Two years ago, he was involved in a controversial call at the end of a Patriots-Panthers game. He handled it like a professional. He’s an awesome pro…always dressed nice. Always mild-mannered…never ruffles anybody’s feathers.

“Everybody likes Clete. He was a quarterback in high school. His dad was a golf pro, and Clete was a heck of a golfer, too. Pro golfers are some of the calmest people under duress because they have to be. They have to be patient. Clete has the same temperament. When he competed and backed up Steve Taylor, he never complained. When his number was called, he just ran in there and did his job.

“Clete didn’t look the best physically. He’s a Tom Brady-looking kind of guy. He couldn’t run very fast. He wasn’t very strong, but he knew the plays and knew where to deliver the ball and how to audible. He was more than ample to handle the job. I’m excited to watch the Super Bowl. I love it whenever Clete refs a game. I watch games I would never watch if he wasn’t working. When I heard the announcement that he would lead the crew for Super Bowl 50, it was awesome. No one deserves that honor more than he does.”

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