The Whistleblowers podcast

It's been 10 months since our last episode, so just a brief update from John and Luke on where we've been and how long The Whistleblowers will be on hiatus. We'll have a new conversation coming to the N&O's ACC Now podcast next week.

*THE EMERGENCY WHISTLEBLOWERS* In the wake of six officials being sent home from the NCAA tournament, John and Luke reunite to discuss the impact of their departure on the tournament, officiating during the pandemic and answer a few listener questions.

John and Luke are joined by the McGee family -- Jerry, Ryan and Sam -- to talk about their new book, Sidelines and Bloodlines. And with college basketball's return imminent, we discuss the intricacies of officiating in a COVID environment. Send any questions to ldecock@newsobserver.com and leave a review if you enjoy the podcast.

Longtime listener Ken Pomeroy joins The Whistleblowers to discuss his referee ratings at kenpom.com and John offers some advice for getting into officiating, in any sport, in the 28th episode of The Whistleblowers. As always, send questions and comments to ldecock@newsobserver.com and leave a review if you enjoy the podcast.

After a few (unexpected) months off, The Whistleblowers returns with a special (appropriately distanced) coronavirus edition in Episode 27, including the SEC hiring Mike Eades and college officials who tested positive for COVID-19. We'll be doing more podcasts over the extended offseason, so send questions and comments to ldecock@newsobserver.com.

Listener-submitted questions dominate the first 45 minutes or so of the 26th episode of The Whistleblowers, including notes from a Federal judge, how to deal with abusive fans, what plays qualify for late-game replays and the concept of a coach's challenge. Got questions? ldecock@newsobserver.com or @LukeDeCock, we'll get to 'em.

What's the craziest object a fan ever threw at John Clougherty? How about a switchblade. John goes back into the archives to talk about a crazy night at Memphis and we discuss Mike Brey's fine and J.D. Collins' watchful eye in the 25th episode of The Whistleblowers.

Technical fouls and ejections dominate the conversation in the 24th episode of The Whistleblowers, touching on the Kansas-Kansas State brawl, John Calipari at Arkansas, Dean Smith in the Final Four and *that* Karl Hess technical on Mark Gottfried.

After a 10-month sabbatical, John and Luke are back with a robust debate over the state of basketball and Jay Bilas' blog on officiating (and how it is supervised) being part of the problem. Meanwhile, John pines for the old days and Luke gets fired up about charges. Again.

ESPN broadcaster Mike Couzens joins John and Luke to discuss Ron Groover's Apple Watch (really) and the relationship between announcers and officials. Luke loses his mind on block/charge stuff and we discuss Fran McCaffery losing his as well, again.

Tim Nestor joins us for a discussion of how his day job eventually ended his ACC officiating career after 22 years in the league. We go over Duke-North Carolina fallout, the Georgia-Mississippi State technical (with bonus Dwayne Schintzius cameo), NBA All-Star referee David Guthrie checks in and John says Tim Donaghy absolutely could change the result of a game -- as could any rogue referee.

In the 20th episode of The Whistleblowers, we try to get our minds around the issues in the NFC and AFC championship games, deal with the double ejection of Frank Haith and Danny Hurley, discuss the dynamics of injured officials and pay tribute to Dee Kantner.

Officiating Zion Williamson (with Tyler Hansbrough cameo), the return of Karl Hess (for the umpteenth time), listener questions and SEND IT IN JEROME! all discussed on the latest episode of The Whistleblowers with John Clougherty and Luke DeCock.

ACC supervisor of basketball officiating Bryan Kersey joins us in this action-packed second episode of the 2018-19 season before we go over the end of the Charlotte-Oklahoma State game, Tom Izzo's complaints and other stuff. Want us to take a look at a play? Email clips to ldecock@newsobserver.com or tweet us at @LukeDeCock.

The third season of The Whistleblowers begins with a discussion of this year's points of emphasis, changes in the officiating landscape and the Federal investigation into college-basketball corruption. Want us to take a look at a play? Email clips to ldecock@newsobserver.com or tweet us at @LukeDeCock.

In a special offseason episode of The Whistleblowers, Raleigh's first family of officiating sits down to discuss growing up sons of a referee and how two of his sons ended up following in his footsteps: co-host John Clougherty is joined by his son Tim, a Big East/ACC/A10 basketball official and his son Conor, an ACC football official.

In Episode 15, we answer reader questions about the NCAA tournament and put a bow on a crazy season of college basketball. Thanks for listening and please leave a rating on iTunes if you enjoy the podcast!

In Episode 14, we discuss a few NCAA tournament issues -- including the final seconds of the Xavier-Florida State game -- and a few ACC officials departing the scene, one permanently, one temporarily. If you're enjoying our podcast, please leave a rating on iTunes!

In Episode 13, we talk conference tournament assignments and John tells the story of how Dean Smith helped him get his old job as supervisor of ACC basketball officials.

In Episode 12, we take a trip down memory lane as John reviews his favorite Final Four games, correct errors from past Whistleblowers and get scouting reports on some of the new names in the ACC.

Our second try at Episode 11 after last week's (much better, honestly) first take of Episode 11 was eaten by my phone. We assess N.C. State fans' officiating gripes, accountability for officials and the media, and John calls out one of his own sons in the unquestioned highlight of the series so far.

In this torn-from-the-headlines episode of The Whistleblowers, we examine the Ted Valentine/Joel Berry incident, answer listener questions and go off on the usual tangents.

The Whistleblowers returns for the 2017-18 season with a look at some of the rules changes for this year, the near-tragedy and heroism at the NC State-SC State game and the usual nonsense.

Episode 8 of the Whistleblowers -- the Final Four episode -- recaps the NCAA tournament so far and looks ahead to the Final Four before debating some of the proposed changes to the rules.

In Episode 7 of The Whistleblowers, a special postseason edition of this News & Observer podcast, John Clougherty and Luke DeCock discuss the ACC tournament, how officials are selected for and advance through the NCAA tournament and when John first got that call.

In Episode 6 of The Whistleblowers, a News & Observer podcast, John Clougherty and Luke DeCock discuss when fans cross lines with officials (and how officials respond), how officials deal with mental fatigue at this point in the season and, because everyone else is, the coaching situation at N.C. State.

John Clougherty and Luke DeCock discuss the Duke-North Carolina game, some of this season's new ACC officials and the "blarge" double foul in the Indiana-Purdue game. Links to plays mentioned Wes McCauley: https://twitter.com/ScoutingTheRefs/status/830958683542659072 The Indiana-Purdue double foul: https://twitter.com/cdotharrison/status/829871814159560704

In Episode 4 of The Whistleblowers, a News & Observer podcast, Luke DeCock and John Clougherty discuss officials' workloads, including games John worked that he probably shouldn't have, and two memorable Final Four encounters with current Wake Forest coach Danny Manning.

In Episode 3 of The Whistleblowers, a News & Observer podcast, Luke DeCock and John Clougherty discuss the blown call at the end of the N.C. State-Wake Forest game, dealing with officials' errors and the 1985 Villanova-Georgetown game.

Episode 2 of The Whistleblowers, a News & Observer podcast, features host Luke DeCock and former ACC head of officiating John Clougherty discussing the havoc of winter travel, accountability and transparency and the time John T'd up Mike Krzyzewski.

Episode 1 of The Whistleblowers, a News & Observer podcast, features host Luke DeCock and former ACC head of officiating John Clougherty discussing the block/charge conundrum, Grayson Allen's serial tripping and the most famous foul ever called in an NCAA championship game.