McNeese State University President Dr. Daryl Burckel is a man of many hats. He has been at the forefront of guiding the restoration and repair of the McNeese campus after damage caused by Hurricanes Laura and Delta, which made direct hits on Southwest Louisiana just six weeks apart in the late summer. 

In addition to hurricane damage, McNeese, like all other institutions of higher education, is dealing with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty and students have had to transform and adjust the way they teach and learn by transitioning to virtual learning. 

But with everything that's on his plate, Burckel still takes time to continue to participate in something he has a passion for – officiating high school football games. 

"In 1992, Bernie Burns, who was the assignment secretary, asked me when I moved back to town if I would be interested in doing it," says Burckel. "I had a young family and we used Friday nights as family nights, so I passed on the offer. As my children were growing up, I had friends who continued to invite me to join. I kept forgetting that I had to start in July, and I would miss the date and just let it go. 

"Finally, a friend called me a week before the July meeting, and I finally committed to go and have been doing this for over 10 years. I love the challenge of being a referee and regret not starting earlier." 

Assignments for a beginning official start out with working freshmen and junior varsity games, and every official goes through rigorous rules and field mechanics training.

"The mechanics manual explains for each position on the field what, when and how you're supposed to do it," he says, adding that it takes a few years for new officials to feel comfortable with processing rules and fouls in real time while they execute the mechanics for their position.

This makes watching a game as a fan not as enjoyable. "I'm looking at the official action," Burckel says, laughing. "I'm not looking at the game anymore. I look at it from a whole different perspective now." 

As a veteran official, Burckel has worked his way into being a crew leader and the white hat, and he officiates every week of the season unless there's a McNeese function that requires his attendance. 

Burckel has seen thousands of players during his time in the stripes but, because he's focused on his position responsibilities, he generally does not see the performances of many top athletes on the field. "You're not watching the game, you're doing your job," he says. But there's one player that was hard to miss. " [Jennings and Clemson standout running back] Travis Etienne was pretty special."

After being named McNeese president in 2017, Burckel was able to keep giving back to the sport he loves.  

"The good thing is, football is a season," he says. "Our association meetings gather once a week starting in July and then we work our way through the rules, mechanics and all those things that prepare you to step on the field. As a crew, we don't practice like teams do every day. There is a great deal of individual work. Then, all of a sudden your crew has a scrimmage in August and it's the first time we're on the field in seven or eight months." 

In August 2020, Hurricane Laura, a Category 4 storm, slammed into Southwest Louisiana with 150 mph sustained winds, ripping through most of the region and affecting every building on the McNeese campus.  

Burckel, members of his staff and law enforcement rode out the storm in one of the academic buildings. When the crew emerged from the building later that morning, he says, no sound was made as they stood in awe of the destruction the storm left behind.

Six weeks later, Hurricane Delta, another strong storm, closely followed Laura's path, causing extensive water damage to campus. 

Officiating has been an escape from the chaos, Burckel says, even if it's only for a few hours. 

"You're able to put everything else aside. This has some sense of normalcy to it. In the fall we play football. For a few hours a night, one afternoon or one evening a week, you're doing something that you like doing at a high level," he says.

Burckel, an All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana linebacker for the Cowboys who helped guide the team to two league titles, wrapped up his 2020 officiating season as the head official of the Louisiana Division IV State Championship between Calvary Baptist and Ouachita Christian in Natchitoches.