Perry Hudspeth
Perry Hudspeth, an Appalachian State graduate and former defensive lineman for the Mountaineers, has retired after a 38-year career as a football official.
His final game was last Saturday, when he was head linesman in the Outback Bowl in Tampa.
“I always wanted to go out at the top of my game, not being slowed down by injury or other problems,” said Hudspeth, 62, from Winston-Salem. “I feel like I finished at the top of my game. I went out with my boots on, as they say.”
Hudspeth had been part of an ACC officiating crew since 1993.
He began refereeing Pop Warner games in 1972, the year after graduating from ASU, and moved up to calling high school and eventually college games. His “other” career has been in insurance and banking, and he began an investment firm in 2002.
Singling out a highlight through his long officiating career would be a challenge, but Hudspeth said: “The most rewarding game to me was the Army-Navy game, just because of the nature of those young men are going. They’re soldiers first and athletes second.”
Next season, he said he’ll welcome the opportunity to sit in the stands and be an ASU fan.
“I bought club seats when they first did the new expansion,” Hudspeth said. “I haven’t had a chance to even sit in them yet. So this year will my first year to be able to sit in those seats.”
He said that he’ll probably wind up focusing on the officials, but probably won’t join fans in verbal criticism of them. He’s been on the receiving end of that often.
“I’ve really roused the crowds many times,” Hudspeth said. “The biggest adjustment I’m going to have to make is standing in line, getting in with a ticket, listening to all the fans and the opinions in the stands. We’re used to being whisked in with a police escort three hours before kickoff and taking off immediately after the game. I’m just going to be a fan now.”