Big Ten Reportedly Fires Six Basketball Officials

The Big Ten Conference has dismissed six basketball officials, a newspaper reported today.

The officials, who had a combined 45 years of experience in the conference, will be replaced by officials from other leagues, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

The newspaper said the dismissed officials are Fred Jaspers, Gil Haggart, Darwin Brown, Terry Kuhl, Art Willard and Paul Graham.

It said Bob Wortman, supervisor of basketball officials for the conference, refused to confirm or deny the figures.

The newspaper said these officials would be hired as replacements: Joe Sylvester, Tim Higgins and Jim Burr, all of the Big East Conference; Rich Bichorst of the Metro and Missouri Valley conferences; Ralph Pickett of the Big Eight and Metro conferences; and Ted Valentine of the Southern Conference.