NASHVILLE, Tennessee – When Art Demmas was a senior lineman at Vanderbilt, he played in the Gator Bowl in 1955, the Commodores defeating Auburn 25-13.
Demmas would never have believed it would be over half a century before Vandy would win another bowl game, which came about in December when the Commodores defeated Boston College 16-14 in the Music City Bowl.
Attitudes were much different when Demmas played college football. Players entered college thinking degree and not the National Football League. He did not have a future in the NFL as a player. The league, however, was in his future.
Players not interested in coaching often remained close to the game by becoming officials, which meant that officiating might have been better in days past. Not many former players choose officiating as a vocation today.
As with playing talent, the NFL usually gets its officials from the college ranks, which is how Demmas became one of the league’s foremost umpires for 29 years. Before that, he spent eight years working SEC games.
Art worked four Super Bowl games, which means that he has four rings in his possession. Being chosen to work the ultimate game in pro football is an honor he doesn’t take lightly, but he is a sentimental man and a traditionalist.
It was good pay, and it merged nicely with his job as a financial consultant. He was away from home on the weekends in the fall, but today he enjoys NFL retirement benefits.
Although he didn’t have a lot of time on his hands, Demmas, nonetheless, found time to take on another assignment. Since 1991, he has served as the Southern Regional Director for the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. “You meet the nicest people in college football,” he said.
Over drinks with his wife, Nancy, at his home on Windsor Drive, he reminisced about his officiating experiences, noting that coaches are the nicest guys in the world, too. “Until the game starts,” he smiled. Nancy plugged in a video that showed prominent NFL coaches in smiling, jovial moods as they greeted officials pregame.
When the game started, it was a different matter. It didn’t take long for Dr. Jekyll to instantly transform into Mr. Hyde. “Hyde always takes over at kickoff,” Nancy laughed.
Art recalled an interesting scene with Bill Parcells, the longtime NFL head coach.
“When Bill coached for Steve Sloan at Vandy, he was my tennis partner,” Art said. “We were pretty good friends.”
Now for the rest of the story. When Parcells was with the Patriots, Art was working a game in which New England had a two-point lead with time running out. The Patriots could run out the clock with a first down. On a pass completion, the official spotting the ball didn’t have the best angle, but Art was lined up perfectly. After the initial spot, which Art realized was off the mark “a foot or so,” he went over and moved the ball back where it should have been, causing Parcells to go into a tirade.
“You moved the ball, what is going on?” Parcells protested. Art looked Parcells firmly in the eye and said, “Coach, that’s enough.”
The coach, knowing who held the advantage, turned to one of his assistants and said, “Can you believe that (jerk) was my tennis partner at Vanderbilt?”
Local Sports
Loran Smith: Many good football memories for Demmas
- Local Sports
-
-
VSU's Harris suspended indefinitely
A shortened, diminished roster for the Valdosta State men's basketball team took another blow Thursday following the suspension of senior guard Sidney Harris.
-
Big weekend ahead for Lady Blazers
It might be an understatement to call this weekend’s two home games for the Valdosta State women’s basketball team a big deal, because that is exactly what they are.
-
Blazers fall to Albany State, 7-3
The Valdosta State baseball team was handed a third-straight loss Wednesday night, as the Blazers fell to in-state foe Albany State, 7-3.
The Blazers were held in check for much of the night, despite being aided by nine Golden Ram walks. With runners on base, the Blazers were unable to produce enough offense to score runs, leaving 12 runners stranded in the game. -
Wildcats rally for 50-40 win over Brooks
Valdosta’s boys basketball team came alive in the fourth quarter, and rallied for a 50-40 victory over Brooks County on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats outscored Brooks 24-9 in the fourth quarter, and turned a five-point deficit into a 10-point win. -
VSU soccer announces 2012 signing class
Valdosta State and Head Coach Melissa Heinz announced the signing of Blazer Soccer’s second recruiting class.
After bringing in a large class of 31 in its initial signing day, the now established program that went to the Gulf South Conference Championship match welcomes seven new players with a few more expected. -
Valdosta celebrates 2011 season
On Tuesday night, the 2011 Valdosta High football team was honored at the team’s annual awards banquet for a season that included the program’s first region championship since 2003.
The Wildcats went 8-3 in 2011, won their first Winnersville Classic in eight years and earned their 41st region title. -
Lowndes junior varsity tennis earns two wins
Lowndes High tennis opened up the 2012 season with a JV double-header in Waycross Wednesday afternoon
-
Lady Packers beat Lowndes, 55-48
The Colquitt County Lady Packers handed the Lowndes Vikettes a second straight loss Tuesday night, 55-48.
Jamesia Jones led Lowndes with 10 points, while Courtne Washington had nine. Tasia Brown finished with eight. -
Braves unveil another alternate home uniform
Hank Aaron recognized the look. Just not the feel.
The Atlanta Braves unveiled a new alternate home uniform Monday that is based on the attire worn when the team moved from Milwaukee in 1966, with Aaron as its biggest star. -
Valdosta native Garland named to Armstrong Atlantic HOF
Armstrong Atlantic State University has announced its latest induction class for the Armstrong Atlantic State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Among the six inductees and one Service Citation award winner is Valdosta native Nikki Garland, who ran cross county and track and field with the Pirates.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
VSU's Harris suspended indefinitely
