Clete Blakeman

Cletus W. "Clete" Blakeman (born June 23, 1964) is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL); former backup quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers (1984-1987); and partner in the law firm of Carlson & Burnett in Omaha. His uniform number is 34.

Blakeman began his American football officiating career in the Big 12 Conference, moving to the NFL in 2008 as a field judge for the first two seasons of his pro football officiating career, and subsequently refereeing for the 2010 NFL season, after Don Carey returned to the back judge position.

Selected in 2013 as the alternate referee for Super Bowl XLVIII, Blakeman officiated Super Bowl 50 in 2016.

College football career

Blakeman attended the University of Nebraska from 1984 to 1987, serving primarily as a backup quarterback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, including the 1986 and 1987 seasons behind starter Steve Taylor.

During Nebraska's game against the unranked Colorado Buffaloes on October 25, 1986, head coach Tom Osborne replaced an Taylor with Blakeman in the fourth quarter. Colorado still limited Blakeman to 4 out of 6 completions for 37 yards, and held on to upset the Huskers, 20-10, their first win over Nebraska since 1967 and the Buffaloes' first win over Nebraska at home since 1960.