[adrotate group=”1″] [wpcdt-countdown id=”15138″] 🏈Super Bowl LVIII is just around the corner, and millions of fansare eagerly waiting to see the Kansas City CHIEFS and the San Francisco 49’ERS battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. But while the spotlight will be on the players and coaches, there is another group of people who willplay a crucial role in the outcome of the game: the officials. The NFL has announced the officiating crew for the biggest game of the year, led by veteran referee Bill Vinovich. Vinovich, who has 18 years of experience in the league, will work his third Super Bowl as the crew chief, joining an elite club of only eight officials who have done so in NFL history. He previously officiated Super Bowl XLIX, when the New England PATRIOTS defeated the Seattle SEAHAWKS and Super Bowl LIV, when the Chiefs beat the 49’ERS Vinovich is no stranger to controversy, as he was also the referee for the infamous 2018 NFC championship game, when the Los Angeles RAMS edged the New Orleans SAINTS with the help of a no-call on an obvious pass interference by RAMS CB: Nickell Robey-Coleman against SAINTS WR: Tommylee Lewis. Vinovich later admitted that the call was missed, but said he did not see it on the field. The rest of the officiating crew for Super Bowl LVIII consists of: UMPIRE: Terry Killens, who will make history as the first person to play in one Super Bowl and officiate in another. Killens was a linebacker for the Tennessee TITANS in Super Bowl XXXIV, when they lost to the St. Louis Rams by one yard. DOWN JUDGE: Patrick Holt, who will work his first Super Bowl after six seasons in the NFL. Holt was a college football player at Cal State Northridge and a high school coach before becoming an official. LINE JUDGE: Mark Perlman, who will also work his first Super Bowl after 20 seasons in the NFL. Perlman has officiated in 17 playoff games, including four conference championships. FIELD JUDGE: Tom Hill, who will work his second Super Bowl after 22 seasons in the NFL. Hill previously officiated Super Bowl XLII, when the New York GIANTS upset the undefeated Patriots. SIDE JUDGE: Allen Baynes, who will work his second Super Bowl after 14 seasons in the NFL. Baynes previously officiated Super Bowl LII, when the Philadelphia EAGLES beat the PATRIOTS. BACK JUDGE: Brad Freeman, who will work his first Super Bowl after seven seasons in the NFL. Freeman is the son of former NFL referee Steve Freeman, who officiated Super Bowl XXXIV. REPLAY OFFICIAL: Mike Chase, who will work his first Super Bowl after 10 seasons in the NFL. Chase is a former college football player at Arizona State and a former high school coach. The Super Bowl officials were selected from the pool of 28 officials who worked the divisional round of the playoffs, based on their performance, accuracy, and professionalism throughout the season. Officials are not allowed to work more than two postseason assignments. The NFL has also assigned alternate officials for each position, in case of injury or illness. The alternates are: REFEREE: Shawn Hochuli, was promoted to Referee following the retirement of his father Ed Hochuli. Hochuli has previously worked as HEAD REFEREE: for ARENABOWL XXIV. He also worked as HR: during the 2022 NFC divisional playoff games. Shawn was the first to give an UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT penalty to Tom Brady. UMPIRE: Ramon George. We could not find much about him. Apparently he was involved in the controversial ending of a wild card game between the COWBOYS and 49’ERS. Because an official has to touch the ball before each down can start. Prescot tried to spike the ball to stop the clock, BUT, (Because an official has to touch the ball before each down can start). Umpire George ran into C: Tyler Biadasz, as tried to spot the ball, and the clock kept running. Ending game with the 49’ERS leading 23-17. DOWN JUDGE: Sarah Thomas, is the first female NFL official. She was the first woman to officiate at the college level. she became the first woman to earn an on-field assignment for an NFL playoff game. In February 2021, she became the first woman to officiate in a Super Bowl. Thomas has officiated United Football League games, and in 2010 worked the league championship game. Her NFL regular season debut in a game between the Kansas City CHIEFS and the Houston TEXANS at NRG Stadium on September 13, 2015, Thomas was selected for the Super Bowl LV LINE JUDGE: Rusty Baynes, NFL officiatin is a family tradition. He served as the line judge in Super Bowl LV, Baynes also worked as line judge in Super Bowl 50. His father, Ronnie Baynes, Ronnie worked as an NFL official. He refereed in Super Bowls XXIX in 1995 and XXXIII in 1999. He also served a stint as the NFL’s supervisor of officials. Brother, Allen, has been working as an NFL official since the 2008 season and most recently worked the 2021 Divisional Round. FIELD JUDGE: Eugene Hall, Has been an NFL official since 2014. Other than his day job as a special agent IRS, (Internal Revenue Service). This is all we could find on him. SIDE JUDGE: James Coleman, is in his 18th year as an NFL official. He was an official in Super Bowl LX. Sorry, this is all we could find on his NFL career BACK JUDGE: Greg Steed, officiated is in his 21st NFL season. Officiated in Super Bowl LIV (54). Other assignments were to Super Bowl XLII (42) as an alternate, Super Bowl XLIV (44), and an on-field official and Super Bowl XLIV as the on-field back judge. REPLAY OFFICIAL: Mike Chase. Unaable to find any information on Chase, other than he has worked as SENIOR REPLAY OFFICIAL. The officials will have a lot of pressure and scrutiny on them, as every call they make or… Continue reading MEET the OFFICIALS for SUPER BOWL LVIII
Tag: Super Bowl XLIV
SUPER BOWL XLIX FEB. 01, 2015
UPDATE: NFL has found 11 of the 12 balls used Sunday against the Colts, were indeed under inflated. I guess the Patriots were afraid of the Colts beating them. Not that they had to as it turned out. What punishment would be appropriate? We know the answer. FORFEIT TO THE COLTS. But they won’t go that far. Any thing less will be merely a slap on the wrist. After all the MARKETING MONIES, and PUBLICITY for advancing to the Super Bowl will way out weigh any other punishment. Suspension of William Stephen “Bill” Belichick. No problem. Given the teams history, they will most likely find a way for him to watch and get plays to the other coaches. Speaking of the other coaches, who have been with Belichick long enough to know how he would call the game any way. Maybe suspending QB Tom Brady, TE Rob Gronkowski, Place Kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Punter Ryan Allen, and of course RB LaGarrette Blount. But suspending players would not really be fair to those players or the rest of the team. What ever punishment handed should have a HUGE impact on the Patriots bottom line. HOW ABOUT Forfeiture of all income springing from their advancement to and including Their SUPER BOWL appearance. (excluding the players pay. Of Course). Plus any sanctions NFL chooses to place on Future Draft Picks, etc.etc. We all know MONEY is what PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IS ALL ABOUT! We have now reached the BIGGEST game of the season….. “SUPER BOWL” !!!!!. Two great teams, Two great Quarter Backs, with a great supporting cast. Yes the QB’s usually take the praise when his team wins. But he is also called upon to bear the burden when his team gets beat. Just like the Pitcher on a Baseball team. BUT, in FOOTBALL. There are many teams. Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Back up Player, Practice Teams, Coaching Team, and lets not forget that all important team……the 12 th man team. Everyone of these teams are just as important as the other. The OFFENSE, plays its game to MOVE the ball down field, and SCORE points. The DEFENSE, plays its game to STOP the movement down the field, and if the opportunity arises, STEAL the ball away. (Just like in Basketball). Then in semi-rare occasions SCORE points. Kind of makes it seem like the DEFENSE does most of the work and gets a passing note of praise, for a win. The SPECIAL TEAMS. Are a combination of OFFENSE and DEFENSE. They are the SPECIALISTS, as the name implies. They can return kickoffs, or receive punts, or play for the onside kick. They include the KICKERS, SETTERS, RETURNERS, and anything else they may be asked to do. The PRACTICE TEAM, is that unknown group, which plays one of the most important roles on the team. They don’t make the big money, the game time players make. (Perhaps $100,000.00 a a year). What many people don’t realize is the Practice Team must mimic every opponent their team may face in a season. After all, how would the Patriots practice against the Seahawks, and vice-versa. If you think that is easy, try being a different team every week. The BACK UP Team. The Subs, the Bench warmers. The men who sit on the sidelines hoping to someday get into a real game. They must be ready at any moment to enter the game and play up to the same standards as the starters. While on the sidelines they must be cheerleaders, spirit lifters, if you will. It can’t be easy waiting to get in a game, (most likely; even if un-concioiusly hoping for something to happen to the starter to afford them their chance), to be that support group. The Coaching Team. Held together by the HEAD COACH. Each coach has his speciality. They are the ones who decides the plays, trains the players, and inspires them to succeed. Of course if you ask any one of them HIS job is the most important coaching position on the team. But the Head coach is the one who acts as referee, and maintains the peace among this group. I’m sure the Offensive Co-ordinator, makes most of the offensive play calls, just as the Defensive Co-Ordinator, makes the decisions on defensive plays. Etc.Etc. on down the line. But the Head Coach is the ultimate decision maker. NOW. We come to that all important 12 th MAN TEAM. They are sometimes called the “Boosters”, because that is what they do. They give the team that extra BOOST. Cheering them on to work harder, Applauding them when they make good plays. Supporting the team by buying the game tickets, concessions, and the various souvenirs, and Team apparel. They make noise to drown out the opposing teams signals, and hush up so their team can be heard and on the same wavelength. On one hand you have the seasoned veteran, TOM BRADY. On the other hand you have that “undersized” QB, RUSSEL WILSON, who is in his THRD year. BUT…. by the way already has one Super Bowl Championship under his belt. HUH? Can that be right. The QB most teams thought was to short to play that position effectively? YEP. That be him. (Not to brag or anything. But if you check my post of Jan. 13, 2012. Colts 1st Round Draft Pick Is…. I had Wilson as a TOP 3 Pick: in my eyes the most capable of the three). Can he be the QB with 2 Super Bowl Championships in a career of 3 years. This should be the BEST Super Bowl in MANY years. But there is always that unknown phantom that can come in and just make the game a blow out. As my Dad, always said. “HOPE FOR THE BEST, AND EXPECT THE WORSE”. As of this writing the odds makers in Las Vegas, have made no move as to odds and who they think will win. Right now it is just… Continue reading SUPER BOWL XLIX FEB. 01, 2015
