Professor of Informatics and American football referee, Jim Briggs, has been recognised for his support of the game since the 1980s.
A university professor who juggles lecturing in computing with his other passion, refereeing American football, has been inducted into the 2023 British American football Hall of Fame.
Professor Jim Briggs, from the University of Portsmouth’s School of Computing, is an American football referee who also sets the rules for the sport in Britain and internationally.
He has been recognised by national governing body, the British American Football Association (BAFA), for his tireless support of the game since the 1980s.
Professor Briggs said: “In 1982, I started watching NFL games on TV on the then-new Channel 4. In 1984, I saw an advert for a new referees' association and decided to join to get a rulebook that would enable me to follow the games on TV better. Within a week, I went to watch my first game and was told I was helping referee it - I haven’t been able to escape since!
“I feel proud that the sport I've been involved with for nearly 40 years has recognised my contributions.”
Although Professor Briggs retired from international officiating in 2016, after 29 years, he still officiates around 20 games a year in the UK.
Before that, he regularly refereed games in European and World championships, including in the US.
Professor Briggs leading crew from the field at halftime during a game
In his role as chair of the BAFA Rules Committee, he has been responsible for the production of the BAFA rulebook for many years.
He also chaired the British American Football Referees Association (BAFRA) Rules & Mechanics committee which produced a manual complimentary to the rules. It's the textbook for officials on where to stand, what to look for and how to respond to what happens during the game.
The manual has become so successful it has been adopted globally by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) as the mechanics manual for all of their games and is also used domestically in at least 20 countries.
Professor Briggs was one of nine people selected to join the Hall of Fame by a committee of respected figures within the British game.
The BAFA website says: “His substantial administrative contributions have ensured that British American Football as a whole, and its officiating arm in particular, has continued to develop in a positive way and to gain respect for its officiating internationally. He remains active as a much-respected zebra.”