Referee Ron Cherry recovering from surgery to remove blood clot

Atlantic Coast Conference referee Ron Cherry is recovering from surgery this week to remove a blood clot which apparently was caused by an on-field injury last month.

After complaining of headaches and weakness in his foot, Cherry was admitted to Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville, Ga., when a CT scan revealed a clot that required surgery. He was placed in the neurological intensive care unit and has since been upgraded to intermediate care.

The injury that Cherry sustained was during the third quarter of the Notre Dame–USC game on Nov. 26. USC linebacker Michael Hutchings was running around a sack at the end of the play, when he swung out slightly off balance to where Cherry was signaling the play dead. Hutchings’ helmet inadvertently contacted Cherry in the head, who fell directly to the turf. He apparently was knocked unconscious by the hit. He was evaluated at a Los Angeles hospital for a concussion and was released that night to return home for care.

The video from ESPN is below.

Cherry has been recuperating from the hit for the past month. As part of his intermediate care following the surgery, Cherry is undergoing occupational and physical therapy.

Cherry has been an official with the ACC for over ten years. He achieved a bit of viral celebrity when he channeled NFL referee Ben Dreith when calling a personal foul for “giving him the business.”

We wish Cherry a speedy and complete recovery.

h/t Tony Pegler and Dale Keneipp