Longtime College Football Referee Dead Tuesday At 97

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A longtime college football referee is dead at 97 years old.

Eddie Conyers, a longtime Alabama Crimson Tide practice referee, has passed away. He had been officiating practices and scrimmages for the Alabama football program since the 1950s. He will be missed.

Alabama director of sports medicine Jeff Allen announced the news.

“We lost a true Alabama legend today. Eddie Conyers was a remarkable man who was a part of this program from Coach Bryant’s first years until this season,” Allen wrote in a social media post Tuesday. “I will always cherish the conversations we had at practice for the past 19 seasons. He loved Alabama and he loved our players.”

Conyers had been part of the Alabama football program since 1957. He joined the Crimson Tide one year before legendary head coach Paul "Bear" Bryant took over in 1958.

In total, he worked for the school for 63 seasons.

The 2025 season was actually the first year that Conyers didn't line up on the field during practice. Instead, he patrolled the sidelines, making sure the refs on the field were doing their job correctly.

"This is the first year in 60 years I've not done this," he told NPR earlier this season.

Former Alabama stars loved him, too.

"Eddie's the man. He's the legend," said Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram. "You the GOAT man."

"Eddie was the constant, constant," says Ingram. "Always happy, always joyful. Made all of us happy to see him."

Our thoughts are with his friends and family members during this difficult time.

May he rest in peace.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Jan 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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