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By HENRY DUVALL
Special To The Review
By name, Leo F. Miles may be better
known as Howard University's athletic
director even though millions of football
fans would recogntee him as a National
Football League official.
Miles has worn an NFL official's
familiar black-and-white stripes for 17
years and is believed to be the first
black to officiate a Super Bowl.
"i enjoy it. it Keeps me part ot the
game," says the former New York
football* I probably wouldn't have gotten
a college education."
The Washington, D.C., native indicates
that it would have been difficult
for him to go to college as the youngest
of41 children with his-father working
as a janitor.
But his high school football coach,
who later coached him at Virginia State
College, not only helped him become
an outstanding athlete but he also emphasized
education, Miles recalls.
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career for Miles when he played in 1953
with the New York Giants. Earning a
degree helped him venture out into
another profession. He chose teaching
combined with coaching.
As Howard University's athletic
director for 16 years, Miles has been
charged with building a competitive
sports program at a school that has
prided itself more on its academics
than its athletics.
Although credited with improving
the overall athletics program, Miles has
succeeded on a bumpy road, encountering
critics along the way.
He says he may be viewed as controversial
because "I stand for
something. I know how to modify, adjust
to change, but I don't compromise
basic principles. I don't cheat, and I
don't bend the rules."
Anderson calls him a man of "complete
integrity."
That virtue is important to the 107
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in the National Football League.
In 1969, Miles became one of four
black pro football officials, actually
starting in the former American Football
League. Later that year, he was
one of six officials chosen to serve as a
member of a joint NFL-AFL ex?perimental
officiating xrew.
Since then, Miles has been in
numerous post-season games and has
received two inscribed watches and a
ring representing his officiating in
three Super.Bowls.
Art McNally, supervisor of NFL officials,
says Miles has been "a top-'
rard AD wa?
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When Leo F. Miles is not directing
official, and he is believed to be the
flight official since he came into the
league.*'
Asked how he views NFL games on
television on the one weekend he's off
during the season, Miles says he looks
at them from the perspective of an official*
"I'm conscious of this because
I'm always trying to get better," he
says. "If you're going to officiate, you
can't spectate."
He declined to discuss the use of
television instant replays in officiating,
noting that NFL officials have been advised
not to comment on the issue at
U1U UIUC.
But on the topic of why there aren't
any black head coaches in the NFL,
Miles replies, "It's beyond my comprehension
..., especially since there
have been blacks managing baseball
and basketball teams. You have
general managers in basketball and
even assistant general managers in
football."
Miles is one of 10 black NFL officials
today, but is looked upon as a
pioneer since he is believed to be the
first black to officiate a Super Bowl.
He remembers well the excitement.
It was Super Bowl VIII on Jan. 13,
1974, and the Miami Dolphins were
battling the Minnesota Vikings.
But another memorable game was
, when he made his debut as a pro football
official. There was a fight on the
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Howard University's athletics program
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field that he was trying to break up.
"I kind of looked around and didn't
see the other officials breaking up the
fight," he says. "I asked what do you'
do when there's a fight. I was told to
stand back and take numbers."
This was certainly different from
when he officiated high school and college
football games. NFL players are
much bigger and stronger.
Miles has been injured as an official
on several occasions and had to be
removed from the field in at leact twn
games in 17 years of pro officiating, he
says.
His most embarrassing moment as
an NFL official came in Atlanta when
he missed a play because of a blinding
glare on the field.
He was moving from the sunny to
the shady side of the field when the ball
carrier was hit by oncoming defenders.
But in the process, the player fumbled
the ball and Miles didn't see it. He had
blown the play dead even though the
ball had sailed some 35 yards away.
Miles notes that officiating makes
him alert, increases his concentration
and has sharpened his decision-making
skills when he wears the hat of athletic
director. And it's "a form of relaxation
for me." he raw.
What has been accomplished under
his administration at Howard?
An athletic tutorial program has
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, he is a National Football League
helped produce a "constant increase"
of student-athletes graduating, he says.
More than 175 scholarships are now
offered in Howard's 15 sports, up
from some 35 to 40 in football, basketball
and soccer available in the early
*70s~ ~~
More women are active in intercollegiate
sports thanks to the develop'
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meni 01 a women's program.
The level of competition has grown
since the Howard athletics program
has been elevated to NCAA Division 1
status.
The Bison soccer team won the
NCAA national title in 1971 (later
stripped) and in 1974, giving Howard
the distinction of being the first
historically black university to win an
NCAA national title.
The men's and women's basketball
teams in 1981 went on to participate in
the NCAA post-season playoffs.
The Bison track teams have produced
49 all-Americas and two Olympians
in the past 12 years.
l ne Howard stadium is currently
being renovated while there's talk of
building a 30,000-seat, multipurpose
domed complex.
Now that he is stepping down as
Howard athletic director, what are his
retirement plans? Miles hopes to do
some consulting work, and he has been
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