Big Ten Basketball Official May Be Difficult to Overlook

Many basketball officials live by the rule, “if no one notices you, you’re doing your job well.” But when Steve Welmer takes the court, it’s hard not to notice.

Welmer can’t stay in the background by calling a smooth and efficient game, because much of the time he’s the largest man on the court.

A 6-foot-10, 250-pound former star at the University of Evansville, Welmer will break into big time officiating this season, when he’s scheduled to work six games involving Big Ten teams.

Welmer, who lives in Columbus, Ind., says Indiana Coach Bob Knight and Purdue Coach Gene Keady helped him on his way to the Big Ten.

“It’s good to have a couple of guys like them on your side,” said Welmer, 35, who worked high school games and Mid-American and Midwestern City Conference college games last season.

“Then you have to be lucky, and a good official. I know the Big Ten had 1,536 applications from officials last year and took three. I don’t know how many they had this year but I was the only one chosen from Indiana.”

In the Midwest, officiating Big Ten games is the pinnacle of the profession. The going rate for Big Ten officials is $350 per game, plus 50 cents per mile for travel and $75 a day for any layovers.

Calling ballgames hasn’t always been that profitable, Welmer said.

“I called a lot of high school games with Jerry Newsom, the big guy who played at Indiana State,” Welmer said. “By the time we stopped and ate, we didn’t have much left of the $35 and $40 checks we got for officiating.

“But I enjoyed the kids, liked to talk to them. I never had a lot of trouble,” he said. “I was noted as a ref who would let’em play. If the kids will listen to you, you help them and they help you. They know what they can and can’t get by with.