Originally just a convenient way to earn some cash during the school year while also staying involved in sports, officiating became a major part of Jeff Triplette’s life, serving 22 years as an NFL referee and leading a company that helps assign officials to events all across the country.
A 1973 Wake Forest graduate who majored in economics, Triplette first became acclimated with the campus during a visit in the summer of 1968.
“I actually went to Wake Forest for the first time in the summer of 1968 with the American Legion Boys State,” he explained. “I just enjoyed it and ended up applying and getting accepted and so ended there in the fall of 1969.”
Although he didn’t compete in intercollegiate athletics, Triplette was involved in the intramural programs and came out to support all of the Demon Deacons programs while a student.
“I actually played on several intramural teams, but also started officiating the flag football league there on campus, and then started working high School, JV and Pop Warner football and basketball my sophomore year in college,” he said. “It was a great way to earn some extra money and still be involved in sports.
“I continued to officiate football and basketball for another five-or-six years, and finally gave up basketball to just concentrate on football because basketball got to be too much travel and too many nights of the week to keep a job and keep a career.”
As he began what became a 32-year career post-graduation with Duke Energy, Triplette remained active in officiating.
“I enjoy being around young people and enjoy seeing the young athletes that I’ve worked with in high school and even Pop Warner ultimately make it in college and even the pros,” he said. “The other part was just being part of the game that I couldn’t play anymore. I wanted to be part of the action and be down on the field, rather than in the stands and watching it on TV.”
He got his first shot in the NFL in 1996, working his way up to a referee and crew chief position just three years later.
“I will tell you the biggest thrill of mine was I grew up there in North Carolina, watching Washington and Philadelphia, which were the two closest teams to us,” Triplette said. “So I grew up loving those teams. My first regular season game in the NFL in September of 1996 was the Eagles at Washington opening weekend…
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