Whistle While You Work: Amanda SWANK Sauer '94
The rules of the game may be complex, but as far as Amanda SWANK Sauer ’94 is concerned, her role as a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I (NCAA D-I) football official is pretty straightforward. She speaks with authority and carries a loud whistle. After all, when you’re dealing with 300-pound linebackers, you have to stand your ground. “I walk out on that field like a state trooper,” Sauer asserts. “I make it clear I won’t take any you-know-what. Period.”
Although there are less than a handful of women referees at this level, Sauer’s job as an umpire—yes, there are umpires in football— makes her one of a kind. (Considered the powerhouse league of intercollegiate athletics, D-I is known as the Football Bowl division. D-I schools have larger budgets and expansive facilities, and they offer more athletic scholarships than their Division II and III counterparts.)
On any given Saturday during the season, you’ll find her right in the middle of the action. She’s the one who places the ball on the turf to start each down. She’s the one who throws the flag on those linemen caught holding or throwing illegal blocks. And she wouldn’t want it any other way.
“These are huge guys and they’re always a little stunned to see me at first,” Sauer says. That’s why she makes it a point to work the sidelines—introducing herself to the players and learning their names, their majors, and their hometowns—before the opening kick-off.
They may be surprised to find her wearing the stripes, but as far as she’s concerned, it’s a natural fit.
A Steelers fan born and raised, Sauer pursued her passion for athletics at Ellis where she played lacrosse, basketball, and tennis. But it was while living in New York with her husband, Peter (a standout basketball player in his own right), and their three girls, that she heard the whistle.
Actually, the whistle never sounded, and that’s what got her attention. Under the Friday-night lights, the family was enjoying a high school football game when, from her seat in the bleachers, Sauer could see that the ref had completely missed a call.
So she did what anyone steeped in the tradition and rules of the game would do: she applied for officiating jobs.
To say the initial response from Pop Warner and high school teams was less than enthusiastic would be a bit of an understatement.
“Don’t tell me I can’t do something because I’m a woman,” Sauer says. “Are you kidding me? That just fuels the fire. I had no doubt I could do it.”
It didn’t take long before she won over the skeptics and began working her way through the JV, Varsity, and college ranks to her current D-I status. Then in 2012, just as her family was preparing to return home to Pittsburgh, her husband died.
With the help of family, friends, the Ellis community, and of course, time, Sauer not only regained her footing, but kept moving forward. Now that she’s settled in her Oakmont home and her daughters (Cate, Class of 2023; Charlotte, Class of 2024; and Cassandra, Class of 2026) are attending Ellis’ Lower School, she can finally catch her breath, but not for too long. She’s fired up to graduate from college officiating to the National Football League.
“Football saved my life, it really did,” Sauer says. “I’m passionate about it and my kids think it’s the coolest thing.”
The NFL will be even cooler, she affirms.
Back
On any given Saturday during the season, you’ll find her right in the middle of the action. She’s the one who places the ball on the turf to start each down. She’s the one who throws the flag on those linemen caught holding or throwing illegal blocks. And she wouldn’t want it any other way.
“These are huge guys and they’re always a little stunned to see me at first,” Sauer says. That’s why she makes it a point to work the sidelines—introducing herself to the players and learning their names, their majors, and their hometowns—before the opening kick-off.
They may be surprised to find her wearing the stripes, but as far as she’s concerned, it’s a natural fit.
A Steelers fan born and raised, Sauer pursued her passion for athletics at Ellis where she played lacrosse, basketball, and tennis. But it was while living in New York with her husband, Peter (a standout basketball player in his own right), and their three girls, that she heard the whistle.
Actually, the whistle never sounded, and that’s what got her attention. Under the Friday-night lights, the family was enjoying a high school football game when, from her seat in the bleachers, Sauer could see that the ref had completely missed a call.
So she did what anyone steeped in the tradition and rules of the game would do: she applied for officiating jobs.
To say the initial response from Pop Warner and high school teams was less than enthusiastic would be a bit of an understatement.
“Don’t tell me I can’t do something because I’m a woman,” Sauer says. “Are you kidding me? That just fuels the fire. I had no doubt I could do it.”
It didn’t take long before she won over the skeptics and began working her way through the JV, Varsity, and college ranks to her current D-I status. Then in 2012, just as her family was preparing to return home to Pittsburgh, her husband died.
With the help of family, friends, the Ellis community, and of course, time, Sauer not only regained her footing, but kept moving forward. Now that she’s settled in her Oakmont home and her daughters (Cate, Class of 2023; Charlotte, Class of 2024; and Cassandra, Class of 2026) are attending Ellis’ Lower School, she can finally catch her breath, but not for too long. She’s fired up to graduate from college officiating to the National Football League.
“Football saved my life, it really did,” Sauer says. “I’m passionate about it and my kids think it’s the coolest thing.”
The NFL will be even cooler, she affirms.
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