Whats that for? Smith does remember the play before it, Gonzagas Andrew Nembhard stealing the ball and going the other way, but now the action is coming back toward the USC basket, where Smith had remained hed been unable to run the court as Nembhard finished at the rim and Smith is wondering whats going on. Do we give an extra hug enough? Bert Smith, the official who collapsed during the Elite Eight, believes his fall could have saved his life. My colleagues and I have strong personalities with how were wired so being able to do a job that you know youre in a select company of people is very rewarding. Given time that night on March 30, those around SmithNCAA doctors, his wife and colleaguesthought it best if he at least visited IU Methodist Hotel in Indianapolis to check his head and spine. Two hours later, she returned into the room with the test results. They strapped me in! REFEREE Bert Smith collapsed during the first half of the USC - Gonzaga game during the Elite Eight of the 2021 NCAA Tournament. CBS provided an update on the medical status of referee Bert Smith following his collapse on the court Tuesday. 1 seed Gonzaga and No. Copyright 2022 Referee Enterprises Inc. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Referee Bert Smith said he was 'tricked' into getting on the stretcher after his collapse . There is no swaying what we are attempting to do to make sure the game is played as fairly as possible. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Shes an important part of this story.. We Shouldn't Have Watched It Twice. Smith was admitted into Methodist and put on blood thinners. The scary scene unfolded with 15:44 to play in the. Moves fast, this guy. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. But slow down, OK? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. That was one of the few times I remember getting in trouble with my father for kicking his car door as hard as my little legs could out of anger. Oh, Ill be back. Now Bert Smith is laughing again. Its energizing and refreshing to have that kind of focus on something. Another was former Indiana State coach Greg Lansing. Smith, a veteran college basketball official of 28 years, lost consciousness five minutes into the game, falling backward in a scary moment captured on the TBS broadcast and banging his head against the hardwood court. "But do we say 'I love you' enough? Which Men's College Basketball Programs Should We Keep an Eye Out for Next Season? Smith, have a good night, I thought they had done a good job, he says, but because she wanted to know why I fell, we got the answer. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. The referee who collapsed during Gonzaga 's matchup against USC in the NCAA men's basketball tournament had a blood clot in his lung, The Indianapolis Star reported Friday. My uniforms were enormous, and I stepped on my flag but I felt as big as the world! or redistributed. As the doctor says: Sometimes you dont get a red flag. Just over four minutes into the game between USC and Gonzaga, Bert . Something doesnt add up. Thats 1990. Katie Trammels stock is up with me in the Smith family book, he says, laughing. The confidence I feel on the field has spilled over into almost every aspect of my life, and it has propelled me to believe that any dream is within my grasp. Bert Smith. Smith trains year round on a treadmill or stationary bike, and gets in other workouts like when the family goes to Disney World in Florida and Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. Jacquie was waiting at the door. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? Youve probably seen him. Hes working Gonzaga-USC the next day, and Bert and his crew are staying in one of the NCAA bubble hotels, Le Meridien. He wasnt one of those guys you couldnt talk to. . Referee Bert Smith's fall in men's NCAA Tournament game didn't kill him. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. Find IndyStar columnist Gregg Doyel on Twitter at@GreggDoyelStar. It has put me in the middle of so many exciting situations where my skills and knowledge have been tested and given me and my crewmates the afterglow of satisfaction when you know you nailed it in a championship atmosphere. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. He runs. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. ", BAYLOR BEATS GONZAGA FOR FIRST NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. Berts on the sixth floor, and hes putting on his mask to run the stairs down to the fifth floor for ice, or to run up to the eighth floor to see his buddies. The whole thing is mysterious, because hes a sculpture of a man, 6-3 and 195 pounds. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body flat and unmoving, his eyes open and unseeing, a Gonzaga trainer frantically waving for help. But do we say I love you enough? Katie Trammel, he tells me slowly, then repeats her name, then spells it. Do we do the things with our family and friends that have value to them? You could talk to him during a game. For now, hell continue to return new messagesstill flooding inand relax while, yes, watching golfs first major championship. Hes worked 17 NCAA Tournaments. Shes an important part of this story.. Eades, who at age 56 has worked three Final Fours and. For someone like me who has been in the game for a long time, there is a certain level of expectation on the part of players, coaches and my supervisors. This season he worked about 90 games, including dates in the ACC, Big East, Big 12 and Missouri Valley Conference. My father and older brother both became soccer referees, and I had to watch them referee every Saturday in agony waiting for my turn. She said: I got the answer to the question. They were pretty intense, man. The former NCAA national mens basketball officiating coordinator, John Adams, says Bert is funny but quiet, not a me-first guy. Adams was one of the 500 who reached out to Smith. Referee Bert Smith is taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing during the first half of an Elite 8 game between Gonzaga and Southern California during the first half of an Elite 8 game . Referee, the worlds original sports officiating magazine, educates, challenges and inspires officials at all levels. Bert Smith told the publication the fall might have saved his life. He didn't have a headache or blurry vision. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. My father was a basketball official and one of the founding members of the local IAABO board in Lowell, Mass. Theres no room in your head for thinking about cutting the grass, what you need from the store or how you have to finish your taxes. Written By. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Having good presence, working with pride, acting professional and enjoying the challenge of the job is what I love most about officiating hockey. Follow every game: Latest NCAA Men's College Basketball Scores and Schedules. Why cant he catch his breath? He said the fall was related to a blood clot in his lung. OK, so the night of March 29. Bert Smith, Raymond Styons. Nobody can say. I know his wife is going to be going bananas. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". NCAA Referee Bert Smith Collapses During March Madness. By 1993 hes an NCAA Division I official. Officiating is similar to playing the game full of emotion, both highs and lows. I thought he was a good official, a fair official, and when you saw him at a game, you knew you were going to get a good whistle from him., Smith says well see him at games next season I could work again in seven to 10 days, he says but for now he wants to thank some people publicly. Why cant he catch his breath? Youre going to get on one side, hes going to get on the other, were going to wave to the fans, and Im walking out of here.. Referee Bert Smith was taken off the court on a stretcher after collapsing to the court during the first half of the NCAA men's tournament Elite Eight matchup between USC and Gonzaga on Tuesday. Turns out, that night probably saved Bert Smiths life. When I am out on the field working a game I am mentally and physically completely focused on doing the job right. Thats normal to huff-and-puff, right? I love officiating for the same reason I love my wife. April 9, 2021, 9:39 AM. The three officials for the game who are in question are Bert Smith, James Breeding and John Gaffney. I hate the fact I passed out in the Elite Eight, he says, but you know what? Hed rather take the stairs, and Bert Smith doesnt walk them. His crew comes back to Le Meridien with a doggy bag of the dinner he missed at the game, and theyre talking and laughing, but theyve seen replays of Smiths fall. Smith is the college basketball official who passed out during the 2021 NCAA region final between Gonzaga and Southern California, toppling over like a fallen tree his description his body. And they found out. She sits down next to the bed, Smith continues, and she says: I saw your fall tonight. Each week, Id tag along with dad and his crew to whatever game they had scheduled. Hes huffing-and-puffing a little, but hes running stairs in a mask. Later, doctors discovered the reason. When hes saying something serious, though, he slows down. Your heart begins to race, the adrenaline begins to run rampant throughout your body, the excitement takes over as you look around the stadium; you take a couple of deep breaths and then everything becomes so clear. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of all the cookies. I want to know why you fell. She checked a few things out, came back in, and took me through the car wash. Just a lot of tests. Todays game is so fast and the players have such a high skill set that its very important to be in the best possible position to judge a play and make a call. By 1993, hes an NCAA Division I official. It puts in perspective the value of each day, because we all go through our lives were all guilty of it and we just live, right? She said: I got the answer to the question. Sometimes it just hits you. I dont know which bucket Im in.. I still play in a mens league, have refereed more than 700 NCAA games and am in my 17th season as an MLS official. Im ready to get after it, he says. First as an athlete growing up in Buffalo, a high school small forward, receiver and 400-meter runner, then some junior college basketball. If you saw it, you understand. She said: I got the answer to the question. Success! As a person with a disability, Im pleased to be a part of a profession that doesnt discriminate against what I cant do and emphasizes what I can. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Dr. Officials figure they run at least four miles during a game, and its not a jog but a series of sprints. You dont know where that clot was going next, he says. When hes telling a funny story, which happens quite a bit, Bert Smith talks quickly. However, minutes into the game, the NCAA tournament ended up experiencing a scary moment. Smith trains year round on a treadmill or stationary bike, and gets in other workouts like when the family goes to Disney World in Florida and Smith says they dont need a stroller for their grandson, Karter. Smiths also grateful that his health scare, if it was going to happen,took place during the NCAA Tournament and not when he was driving or sleeping.