NFL and SIAC Enter Officiating Agreement Supporting Diversity and Inclusion

ATLANTA, Georgia (9/24/15)-- The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) announced that it has signed an agreement that creates additional training and development opportunities for individuals seeking to enter the football officiating profession.

Specifically, the NFL will not only provide the SIAC with technical assistance in connection with conference officiating clinics, but also give feedback with regard to current officiating best practices. The SIAC will provide the NFL with access to all SIAC game video, evaluations of all SIAC officials, and provide officials from the NFL's Intermediate Development Program opportunities to officiate conference games.

SIAC commissioner Greg Moore remarked, "Two years ago, the SIAC was very proud to become the first NCAA conference to provide four outstanding young women with the historic opportunity to officiate a college football game. This agreement represents a natural extension of our league's demonstrated commitment to increasing the number of professional opportunities in intercollegiate athletics to individuals who otherwise would not have them. We are extremely proud to be working with the NFL to advance such an important initiative."

Alberto Riveron, NFL Senior Director of Officiating stated, "We are proud to assist the SIAC with its football officiating program. The SIAC is a conference rich in tradition. Its commitment to diversity and inclusion is second to none. Under the direction of Harold Mitchell, the SIAC's football officiating program has consistently demonstrated the ability to motivate and train officials to allow them to reach the highest levels of officiating. We look forward to a great partnership."

Harold Mitchell, SIAC Coordinator of Football Officials added, "Officiating expertise is enhanced by video study, on field training and classroom rules study. The partnership with the NFL will give the SIAC Football Officiating program a tremendous boost, both now and in the future."

ABOUT THE SIAC:

The SIAC is a NCAA athletic conference headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and includes fifteen member institutions (Albany State University, Benedict College, Central State University, Claflin University, Clark Atlanta University, Fort Valley State University, Kentucky State University, Lane College, LeMoyne-Owen College, Miles College, Morehouse College, Paine College, Spring Hill College, Stillman College, and Tuskegee University). The SIAC sponsors six women's sports and seven men's sports. Last year 388,787 fans attended SIAC football games which led NCAA Division II in average football attendance.