VIDEO: D3 Referee Gets Shot in the Face by a Cannon at Homecoming Football Game
By Scott Rogust
College football fans are a passionate bunch, but one individual in this case got a little too carried away-- and caused harm to a Division III referee. During the 47th annual Admiral's Cup between Maine Maritime Academy and Massachusetts Maritime Academy this past Saturday, an on-field official got shot in the head by a cannon brought to the game by a Maine Maritime alum.
Referee hit in head by a cannon blast while working the 47th Admiral’s Cup between D3s Maine Maritime Academy & Mass. Maritime Academy (latter won, 42-21); a Maine Maritime alum brought his own cannon that used black powder & wad; via @newscentermaine: https://t.co/FlFKrK78EM pic.twitter.com/ijZIGlPdRj
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 26, 2019
When Maine Maritime scores a touchdown, it's a tradition for the school to shoot off a cannon, which normally contains a blank shotgun shell. However, the cannon brought by the alum contained black powder and substances made into what news organizations have described as a "wad."
The referee instantly fell to the ground and had to be attended by his fellow officials and coaches. He was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Referee injured after being hit by cannon blast during college football game https://t.co/2ZoUGNjMM3 via @CBSSports
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 26, 2019
The Hancock County Sheriff's Department is currently investigating the incident. As for cannons, the president of Maine Maritime Academy officially banned them from games for here on out.
Probably the correct call.