Football | 1/18/2025 3:24:00 PM

WASHINGTON (January 18, 2025) - When the MLK Holiday weekend starts with two of the biggest sporting events of the season, Howard University will be well represented on a large stage.
 
HU alums Greg Yette and Keith Parham will serve as gameday officials for the upcoming NFL Divisional Playoffs and the College Football Playoffs, respectively.
 
Both were introduced to officiating by Greg Steed (another NFL official and HU alum). Both were encouraged to join the local officiating group, Eastern Board of Officials. The Eastern Board of Officials has a long and stellar reputation for producing outstanding officials. Some notable officials that came through the Eastern Board of Officials ranks are Leo Miles, former Howard University Athletic Director, Johnny Grier, Larry Hill, Sr., Larry Upson, Boris Cheek, James Duke and David Coleman, all of whom served as MEAC officials.
 
GREG YETTE
 
Yette will serve as Back Judge for the Houston Texans at the Kansas City Chiefs game Saturday (Jan. 18). Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. (ET), live on ESPN/ABC.
 
Yette was raised in Knoxville, Tenn., before coming to Howard and ultimately became a member of the Bison football team that won its first MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) title in 1987 under legendary coach Willie Jeffries.
 
After graduating from Howard, Yette was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army Infantry. Once he was discharged from the Army, he began working as a government contractor and ultimately in 2002 founded his company, Acquisition, Research & Logistics, Inc., a professional services company that has worked for the Department of Navy, DoD, DHS, DoE, Dept of Education and National Science Foundation for 23 years.
 
In 2010, after several years officiating football in the MEAC and Big XII, Yette was hired by the NFL as a back judge and has worked there since.
 
KEITH PARHAM
 
Parham will serve as Back Judge in the prestigious College Football Playoffs, featuring perennials Notre Dame and Ohio State that will be played Monday (Jan. 20) at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. (ET) on ESPN.
 
In 1991, Parham graduated from Howard with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism.
 
After joining the Eastern Board of Officials, Keith began working his way up the food chain, officiating youth leagues, middle schools and high schools in the DMV area. At the urging of veteran officials, Keith was encouraged to apply to the MEAC.
 
In 2005, Keith was hired as a full-time official in the MEAC. From there, Keith was quickly promoted to the Big East Conference after spending two and a half years in the MEAC.
 
After spending three years in the Big East, in 2011, Keith was hired by the NFL as a Side Judge. He spent three years in the NFL before returning to the collegiate ranks. He was hired by the American Athletic Conference (AAC) as a Back Judge and after spending several years in the AAC, Keith was hired away by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).
 
Keith worked back-to-back ACC Championships (2020 & 2021). After those successful seasons in 2022, Keith worked the first of his two National Championships between Alabama and Georgia.
 
After a change in leadership in the ACC, Keith landed on his feet in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Again, Keith found success in the SEC. In his first two seasons in the SEC, he worked back-to-back SEC Championship games (2023 & 2024) and the first-ever Quarterfinal CFP game between Boise State and Penn State. Furthermore, in his second season, he was assigned to work the second of his two National Championships between Notre Dame and Ohio State.
 
It must be noted that Keith also serves as one of the top high school basketball officials in the DMV.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.