Gaston

When Bobby Gaston, IM 48, retired as the Southeastern Conference's coordinator of football officials April 17, it seemed the last vestige of the Ramblin' Wreck had finally left the field 42 years after Georgia Tech officially severed ties with the SEC.

Not so fast.

Rogers Redding, Chem 65, vice chancellor of academic affairs and a physics professor at the University of Colorado, has been hired to succeed Gaston.

Gaston, a Tech halfback in 1942 and 1943, joined the SEC as a head linesman in 1957, throwing yellow flags until he retired from active officiating in 1981 to work as an officials' observer. In 1988, he was appointed to the coordinator's post.

"It has been a rewarding experience to be a part of the Southeastern Conference for 50 years," Gaston said. "We developed an officiating program that has been the leader in college football. It has been a great ride, but I'm ready to play some golf."

Redding, 63, joined the SEC as a referee in 1994 and called eight bowl games, including three with national championships on the line. In 1999, he called the SEC championship game. Since retiring from the field in 2003, he has evaluated officials and became an instant replay official in 2005.

Redding told the Birmingham News he wants to build on the technological tools that Gaston utilized such as sending officials' game evaluations over the Internet rather than waiting three or four days for tape to arrive through the mail. The concept also will be applied when coaches send specific plays to the SEC office for review, he said.

"We are extremely excited to have someone of Rogers' experience and knowledge to help direct our football officiating," SEC commissioner Mike Slive said in a statement. "The lineage of officiating philosophies between Bobby and Rogers has developed through the years and will give the SEC strong leadership in our officiating program for years to come."