The howls of laughter never really stopped that night, at least not until it was time to go home. If you didn't know better, you'd simply attribute it to the open bar. But then, the postseason banquet of the Eastern Board of Approved Football Officials was like every other Friday night they spent in the fall: fun.

It was just like any postgame, really, at Mr. G's or another establishment in the region, where impersonations, comedy routines and inside jokes contributed to good natured ribbing that's as much a part of their Friday nights as false starts, holds and blocks in the back. No one is spared. No one wants to be.

And this is what they want you to know. After the coaches bark and fans holler at them, time spent as a football official around here is about the camaraderie. Why is this relevant? Because the stripes are looking for a few good men (women, too) who want to spend Fridays in the fall with their friends on the fields.

"On our board, we have younger guys in the 30-35 range with less than five years' experience and a lot of guys 55-60 with 25 years' experience," official Ken Haner said, "but not so much in the middle. We did a questionnaire and learned that in the five years, a quarter of the membership is thinking about maybe hanging them up. It was kind of startling. We've got to get on the ball, even the demographics and get some new blood."

And so this is directed at all of you who like to stand along the fences and opine about what constitutes pass interference. Here is your chance to get involved.

"We need some young guys that know the game, played the game, are still in the area and want to stay involved," official Kevin Moreland said. "None of us are in it for the money. It's being still involved in the game. You look forward at the end of the week to throwing the bag in the car and getting in the locker room and having a good time again. We're the third team on the field."

Football officiating is not easy. Especially in high school, where some of the rules differ from college and professional. Moreland's not kidding when he says the "third team on the field." There's constant communication among them, all with prolonged sermons raining on them like hailstones from the sidelines.

It's all part of the fun. Plus, it makes for better stories over pizza.

"I've done baseball 50 years longer than I've done football," Haner said. "I like football better. There's a crew. You talk before the game, during the game. We go out after."

Moreland: "In baseball, after the pregame conference at home plate, the term is 'see you in seven.' There's not really much communication, because there doesn't have to be. Not in football. I need ear plugs the second game working with Joe (umpire Joe Salimeno)."

Then there's Jim Butler, who can bust a few stones better than anybody in the history of the world. They should make him the ambassador. A good time seems to trail him like the blanket did Linus.

Butler said there's a meet and greet set for Feb. 24 at the Montville Firehouse at 7 p.m. All the officials will be there to answer questions, from the cost of a uniform to a potential schedule for next year. Anyone interested can visit the web site at ecfo.org.

"It's the camaraderie we have around it," Salimeno said. "This is not based on coaches screaming and yelling at you. It's about a good group of guys who get together every Friday and Saturday."

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius