Steve Welmer (big 12 ref): Billy Tubbs gave me the hardest time

[Big Old Booger]

Here is a great interview with Big 12 official Steve Welmer (the tall bald-headed ref). He is retiring this season or retired after last season, so 810 whb in Kansas City had him on today as a guest.

The best part of the interview is when they ask Welmer "which former Big 8/12 coach gave you the most business (hardest time)?".

Steve answers that question with Billy Tubbs. He said Billy used to tell Steve that Steve was his "wife's favorite official; I don't know why she likes you but she does".

He goes on to talk about the night Billy grabbed the mic vs Mizzou and spends about 3 minutes talking about how good Billy was at working the officials and some of his tactics.

If you don't want to listen to the entire interview, the part about Tubbs starts at the 20 minute mark.

http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=26&c=374&f=69613

 

[Beerme]

I heard that interview this morning. It was great and Welmer seemed to respect Billy a ton.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Welmer is the only official that I can thnk of who really seemed to enjoy his job, the players and the coaches. He will be missed.

 

[T_Neal's Twitter]

Welmer is awesome. I don't know if it's me, but it seems like every time he calls one of our games, the calls go our way. Also, he's an extremely friendly guy. He has this thing where his pants always are too loose and fall down so the Capelables would give him crap about it and he'd respond back. He's a good dude.

 

[AdaSooner]

I hate to see Welmer retire. As far as I'm concerned, he's the best official in college basketball.

 

[campbest]

Ada and I have had some conversations about Welmer, his style, etc.

Dude is awesome, straight up. I will admit though, don't agree with how he did his schedule (and a lot of officials do now)...they're overworked. You can't be doing five games a week for five months.

Sad to see him never do a Final Four, but I am pretty sure there is a reason for that.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Ada and I have had some conversations about Welmer, his style, etc.

Dude is awesome, straight up. I will admit though, don't agree with how he did his schedule (and a lot of officials do now)...they're overworked. You can't be doing five games a week for five months.

Sad to see him never do a Final Four, but I am pretty sure there is a reason for that.

What do you think that reason is? He certainly seems deserving.

 

[colston15]

If he had mentioned that he played in college one more time, or how many games he was assigned to, I would've turned it off. Goodness, ego much, Steve?

 

[campbest]

What do you think that reason is? He certainly seems deserving.

I don't have any hard facts, so not going to throw out accusations or assumptions. Let's just say the feeling I have is that it had just as much to do with Wilmer not wanting to officiate a Final Four as well.

 

[qwertyqaz]

I don't have any hard facts, so not going to throw out accusations or assumptions. Let's just say the feeling I have is that it had just as much to do with Wilmer not wanting to officiate a Final Four as well.

Actually that's not quite true...he's on record saying he'd have loved to do a FF but for whatever reason never got the chance.

 

[Mackie McNeer]

I love weimer! We always called him "tugs" because he would always pull his pants up.

 

[campbest]

Actually that's not quite true...he's on record saying he'd have loved to do a FF but for whatever reason never got the chance.

Oh I know, I read the article last year or the year before...but the info I have heard (via a Big 10 official) makes me believe that he would like to, but it is probably not in his best interest. As I said, don't have any hard facts, so not going to go there.

 

[D Rock]

I just heard it, but that was an interesting interview. I always got a chuckle out of him jacking his pants up every 15 seconds as others have said. It seems to me that if, as he says, he was rated 1st, 2nd, or 3rd best official by every conference all the time, he would have gotten to officiate a Final Four (unless as Campbest mentioned...he had a reason for not doing so...like nerves maybe...I don't have any idea). Regardless, I always found him entertaining and that interview made me like him even more. Seems like a great guy.