Referee from Cumming Prepares for Hawaii Bowl

This Christmas Eve the Eck family will be apart because husband and dad, Alan is in sunny and warm Honolulu. No he's not frolicking on the beaches, but rather preparing for Saturday's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.

Eck, 42, who lives in Cumming with his wife, Michelle and their two children, Danielle and Cameron, is the head referee in this year's game.

Michelle told Cumming Patch that he's, "The guy that wears the white hat."

Eck works full time as a tax manager for MedAssets in nearby Alpharetta and has been refereeing on the side for 17 plus years. And sports runs deep in his blood having played football, basketball and baseball since he was 5-years-old.

During his senior year in high school, he led his team to a state championship. He attended Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania, a NCAA Division II school,  and was the starting quarterback. 

It was after graduating from college that a friend got him interested in officiating and as Michelle said, "the rest is history."

During his sports career, Eck has worked for Pop Warner Football, the Mountain West Conference and he was chosen as the alternate referee in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Eck also remains active as a referee for the Georgia High School Association and Southern Indoor Football League during the spring.

But what about being apart over Christmas weekend? Michelle said she did have the opportunity to travel with her husband, but made the decision to stay due to family reasons. In June her mother passed away and she didn't feel she should leave her father and children behind over the holiday period.

"My family is my life and I could not have enjoyed myself knowing that my dad and kids were back here (even though they wanted me to go)," Michelle said. "And with my mom's illness, it has been a horrible year. Her dream was to always go to Hawaii–so I think it's pretty cool that he was chosen to go."

Watch for Eck at this year’s game on Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. (EST) televised nationally on ESPN, featuring Southern Miss against Nevada.

"Honestly, I am just helping Alan fulfill his dream," said Michelle. "I wanted him to have the time of his life and just take everything in while he was in Hawaii."

As it turns out Eck will be home for Christmas afterall. Following the game he'll hop on a red-eye flight to Atlanta.