[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by Mr. BenchPress
Just a question, and I realize hind sight is 20-20, but wouldn't the Super Bowl official most likely had to have been Ed Hochuli? Here's why: I figure, like many have said, that the NFL wants to use crews that have already worked a playoff game in the first two rounds. But like the regular season, they probably don't want to have referees officiating games involving the same team in a short time period. In otherwords, Carolina advancing to the Super Bowl elminated 3 referees (Coleman, Carey, and, course, Kukar). New England advancing eliminated 1 more referee (Carollo) [Coleman did second game]. That left four officials who worked playoff games that didn't involve a team in the Super Bowl; Jeff Triplette (TEN-BAL), Johnny Grier (DEN-IND), Gerry Austin (KC-IND), and Hochuli (PHI-GB). Now I would contend, as some have on this board, that Grier had a bad year and I was surprised he got a playoff game. Triplette is a relatively inexperienced referee; Austin, while very good, has worked two Super Bowls in the last five or so years. Now while none of this really matters, and I am sure there is no reason a referee who hasn't worked since the regular season couldn't work the Super Bowl, if I were a betting man, Ed Hochuli would have been my choice as soon as Carolina beat Philadelphia.

None of that has anything to do with it, Mr. BP. Before the season even kicked off, it was already determined that the #1 rated crew would work the Super Bowl. Hoculi's crew was rated #1, in spite of having 4 crew members who have less than 5 years of experience in the league. I don't think that's a mistake as there's something to be said for leadership.

It unfortunate that those 4 guys won't get to work the SB. But I wouldn't worry. I'm sure they'll get a chance in another year or two.