Happy birthday to Football Zebras editor Mark Schultz

Happy birthday to Football Zebras senior editor Mark Schultz who turns 50 today!

Mark is in his 10th season writing for the site. He is a high school official and spotter for University of Illinois radio broadcasts. Between all of the football in his life, Mark works in public relations for a local park system.

“Mark joined the site just as the heat of negotiations bubbled up in the league’s lockout with the officials,” said founder and editor-in-chief Ben Austro. “So officiating — and specifically, officials — were getting noticed. I was a rules guy, and Mark added that missing element to fully tell the story of the third team on the field.”

In his first post, Mark posed the question in the headline, “Can replacement [officials] keep up with the pro game?”

Mark lives in Illinois with his wife, daughter, and son. When he’s not a high school or armchair official, Mark enjoys watching Indy Car racing, reading historical biographies, and working outside in his yard. Although in 10 years we have never met in person — a few close calls where the timing didn’t work out — I raise a toast to you and wish a happy birthday to my trusted umpire.