Ted Valentine showcases the person behind the referee during unique moment with fans at NCAA Tournament

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Referee Ted Valentine has seen and done it all in college basketball. The veteran official has called games in almost 30 NCAA Tournaments, 10 Final Fours, and four NCAA championship games since starting his career in the Division I ranks in 1981.

Dubbed “TV Teddy” by fans for his officiating style and long history of working the biggest games in the sport, Valentine has become a recognizable figure to college basketball fans across the country.

After two seasons away from the NCAA Tournament – stemming from a COVID-19 contact tracing incident in 2021 – Valentine returned to the March Madness floor on Sunday in Memphis.

Ted Valentine shares moment with fans

During the second half of 1-seed Houston’s 86-46 win over 16-seed Longwood, there was a television timeout which left plenty of time to be filled as fans slowly shuffled out the exits.

Ted Valentine headed for the sideline where he would be positioned for the upcoming play, then took some time to acknowledge the fans calling his name.

“Teddy! Teddy! Are you going to ref the Final Four?” asked a group of Nebraska fans.

The official looked toward the men sitting front row and raised his eyebrows.

“Will you be at the Final Four this year?” they asked again.

“I’ve been there enough,” Valentine said with a smile. “When you’ve been to the mountain top, you don’t care anymore.”

Now enjoying the dialogue they created, one of the fans informed the former Naismith College Official of the Year winner that he too officiated games back home, a switch from his days coaching youth basketball.

Valentine once worked his way up the ranks from youth basketball to the big stage, and as he let them know, he shared even more in common.

“That’s good,” Valentine responded, happy to hear the group respected the work officials do. “I used to be a coach too.”

As the final seconds of the timeout ticked away, Valentine took one last chance to acknowledge the fans for staying through the final minutes of a late night. Then got back to work making calls in an NCAA Tournament game, just like he has done so many times before.

The moment was small, and perhaps to Valentine it meant little more than a chance to waste away the extended timeout in a largely empty arena. But to those fans it meant something. Even as the game ended, there was quiet chatter about the conversation the fans had with “TV Teddy.”