Amanda Sauer's path to midfield at Ohio Stadium, wearing the white hat as referee of Ohio State's spring football game, started in the stands at a high school north of New York City.
Ironically, she complained about a call.
It was late summer in 2011 as Sauer watched a game at a Westchester County high school alongside her husband, Peter. Amanda saw one of the high school players deliver an obvious block in the back, but no flags flew.
Rarely one to bite her tongue, Sauer asked aloud: How could they miss that?
"If you can see that from here," a man sitting near her said, "you should come to our meetings.