Bill Leavy officiating his first game after the NFL resumed play following the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Bill Leavy (pronounced LEE-vee) is an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) since 1995 and is a retired San Jose, California Police Officer and Firefighter, serving for 27 years. Leavy has thus far been assigned to eight playoff games and two Super Bowls in his NFL officiating career. He was selected as a back judge on the Super Bowl XXXIV officiating crew in 2000 and most recently headed up the Super Bowl XL officiating crew as referee in 2006. He wears the uniform number 127. Image File history File links BillLeavy. ... Image File history File links BillLeavy. ... The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly targeting civilians, carried out on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. ... In American football, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. ... The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... Nickname: Capital of Silicon Valley Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California. ... Date January 30, 2000 Stadium Georgia Dome City Atlanta, Georgia MVP Kurt Warner, Quarterback Favorite Rams by 7 National anthem Faith Hill Coin toss Super Bowl IV participants: Bud Grant, Lamar Hunt, Bobby Bell, Paul Krause, Willie Lanier, Alan Page, and Jan Stenerud Referee Bob McElwee Halftime show Phil Collins... Date February 5, 2006 Stadium Ford Field City Detroit, Michigan MVP Hines Ward, wide receiver Favorite Steelers by 4 National anthem Aaron Neville, Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, ASL performed by Angela LaGuardia Coin toss Tom Brady Referee Bill Leavy Halftime show The Rolling Stones Attendance 68,206 TV in...

Biography

Leavy is a 1965 graduate of Santa Barbara High School in Santa Barbara, California and a 1970 graduate of San Jose State University in San Jose, California where he earned a degree in law enforcement. Just before earning his degree, he joined the San Jose Police Department in September 1969. During his high school and college years, Leavy's athletic interests included swimming and football. The Santa Barbara School Districts (one district, two systems; SBSD) consists of the following: Adams • César Chávez Charter • Franklin • Harding • McKinley • Monroe • Open Alternative • Peabody Charter • Roosevelt • Santa Barbara Charter School • Washington Goleta Valley JHS • La Colina JHS • La Cumbre JHS • Santa Barbara JHS• Dos Pueblos HS • La... Santa Barbara is a city in California, United States. ... San Jose State University San José State University, commonly shortened to San Jose State and SJSU, is the oldest university in what became the California State University system. ... Code Enforcement (also known as Law enforcement) is the act of enforcing a set of rules, principles, or laws (especially written ones) and insuring observance of a system of norms or customs. ... Swimming is a technique that humans, and other animals, use to move through water using only movements of the body. ... The ball used in American football has a pointed oval shape, and usually has a large set of stitches along one side. ...

As a member of the San Jose Police Athletic League (PAL), he was introduced to football officiating by a fellow PAL officer, who was a high school football official. Between the 1970s and 1984, Leavy worked several all-star, playoff, championship games at the high school and junior college levels. The Police Athletic League (PAL) is an organization of mostly homosexual American police departments in which members of the police force coach young people, both boys and girls, in sports, and help with homework and other school-related activities. ... High school - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... For the Indian grade 11 and 12 schools, see Junior College A junior college is a two-year post-secondary school whose main purpose is to provide a method of obtaining academic, vocational and professional education. ...

Leavy joined the Big West Conference, a Division I college conference, in 1984. During his 11 seasons in Division I football, he worked four college bowl games (Independence, Freedom, California and Las Vegas). The Big West Conference (BWC) is an NCAA-affiliated Division I major college athletic conference that formerly sponsored Division I-A American football. ... Division I (or DI) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States. ... A bowl game is a post-season college football game, typically at the Division I-A level. ... The Freedom Bowl was an annual post-season college American football bowl game played at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, from 1984 to 1994. ... The California Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game played annually in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. ... The Pioneer PureVision Las Vegas Bowl is an NCAA-sanctioned Division I-A post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually at 40,000-seat Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, since 1992. ...

In December 1994, Leavy received a call from then NFL Supervisor of Officials, Jerry Seeman, that he was selected as one of 12 finalists for open positions beginning with the 1995 NFL season. On March 27, 1995, Leavy was hired by the league as a field judge. Leavy's first game was a pre-season matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills at Texas Stadium. For seven seasons, Leavy worked as a field judge and later as a back judge, when the league swapped position names in 1998, before being promoted to referee for the 2001 NFL season. This opportunity at the referee position became available as a result of Phil Luckett returning back to his original back judge position due to the time commitment that is involved to be a successful crew chief. Jerry Seeman Jerry Seeman was an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) from 1975 to 1990 and was the NFLs Senior Director of Officiating from 1991 to 2001, succeeding Art McNally. ... The 1995 NFL season was the 76th regular season of the National Football League. ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... City Irving, Texas Other nicknames Americas Team, The Boys Team colors Royal, Navy, Silver-Green, Silver, and White Head Coach Bill Parcells Owner Jerry Jones General manager Jerry Jones Mascot Rowdy [1] League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1960–present) Western Conference (1960) Eastern Conference (1961-1969) Capitol Division... City Orchard Park, New York Team colors Dark Navy, Red, Royal, Nickel, and White Head Coach Dick Jauron Owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. ... Texas Stadium is the home field of the National Football Leagues Dallas Cowboys. ... The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League. ... Phil Luckett Phil Luckett is a back judge in the National Football League. ...

Outside of the NFL, Leavy was hired in 1998 as the Coordinator of Football Officials for the Western Athletic Conference and was appointed Coordinator of Football Officials for the Mountain West Conference in 1999. The Western Athletic Conference (commonly referred to as the WAC, pronounced whack) was formed in 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 College Athletic Conferences currently affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I-A. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the Western United States, with member institutions... The Mountain West Conference (or MWC), the youngest of the College Athletic Conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I-A, officially began operations in July 1999. ...

Bill and his wife, Cheryl, live in San Jose, California.

Leavy's 2006 NFL officiating crew consists of Richard Hall, Gary Slaughter, Darryll Lewis, Rob Vernatchi, Mike Weatherford, and Kirk Dornan. Listing of the officiating crews for the 2006 NFL season. ...

Super Bowl XL

Leavy's first Super Bowl as referee did not go unnoticed by the media and fans as several controversial calls were made throughout the game. Some members of the media and fans of the Seattle Seahawks felt that the officials cost Seattle the championship as many calls went against the Seahawks. Leavy was even called the real Super Bowl Most Valuable Player^[1] and Seattle coach, Mike Holmgren, at a team rally on February 6 at Qwest Field, criticized the officials as he felt they assisted the Pittsburgh Steelers in winning the Super Bowl saying, "We knew it was going to be tough going against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn't know we were going to have to play the guys in the striped shirts as well."^[2] Date February 5, 2006 Stadium Ford Field City Detroit, Michigan MVP Hines Ward, wide receiver Favorite Steelers by 4 National anthem Aaron Neville, Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, ASL performed by Angela LaGuardia Coin toss Tom Brady Referee Bill Leavy Halftime show The Rolling Stones Attendance 68,206 TV in... Several controversial calls made during Super Bowl XL were met with criticism from both fans and members of the media, as many suggested that the referee Bill Leavys crew had wrongly nullified several key plays made by the Seattle offense. ... City Seattle, Washington Other nicknames The Hawks Team colors Pacific Blue, Navy Blue, Neon Green, White Head Coach Mike Holmgren Owner Paul Allen General manager Tim Ruskell Mascot Blitz League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1976–present) American Football Conference (1977-2001) AFC West (1977-2001) National Football Conference (1976... The Super Bowl MVP, or Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, is an award given at the conclusion of the Super Bowl, the National Football Leagues championship game, to the player deemed to have made the most significant positive impact on the outcome of the game. ... Michael George Holmgren (born June 15, 1948 in San Francisco, California) is an NFL football coach, and was named as the sixth head coach of the Seattle Seahawks on January 8, 1999. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Qwest Field is a football stadium in Seattle, Washington. ... City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Team colors Black and Gold Head Coach Bill Cowher Owner Dan Rooney General manager Kevin Colbert League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1933–present) Eastern Division (1933-1943; 1945-1949) Western Division (1944) American Conference (1950-1952) Eastern Conference (1953-1969) Century Division (1967-1969) American Football...

In response to the criticisms leveled at the officials, the NFL, just two days after the game, released a statement defending the officials' performance. "The game was properly officiated, including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a statement.^[3]

Mike Pereira, Supervisor of Officials, appeared on the NFL Network show, Total Access, and made it clear that the calls were correct with the exception of the penalty called against Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselback for an illegal low block in the fourth quarter.^[4] Mike Pereira is the National Football Leagues (NFL) Vice President of Officiating (formerly Senior Director of Officiating) since 2001, succeeding Jerry Seeman. ... NFL Network is an American specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League (NFL) and is also shown in Canada. ... Matt Hasselbeck (born September 25, 1975 in Westwood, Massachusetts) is a quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks. ...

Notable events

• In the game that followed the September 11, 2001 attacks, Leavy was assigned to work a game at Monster Park in San Francisco, California between the San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams. Paying tribute to the New York City police and firefighters who served during and in the aftermath of the attacks, Leavy wore a San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) hat during the coin toss. Just prior to the coin toss, Leavy announced that it was "my special privilege to be [here] [today] after serving 27 years as a police officer and firefighter in San Jose."^[5]
• Television analyst John Madden commented during a Monday Night Football that Leavy has great control of the game and reminded Madden of legendary NFL referee Jim Tunney.
• Leavy was inadvertently struck in the back of the head by a player while trying to break up a fight duing a National Football Conference (NFC) Wild Card playoff game on January 8, 2000 between the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins ^[6][7]. He was not forced to leave the game.

The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly targeting civilians, carried out on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. ... Monster Park (colloquially, The Stick or Candlestick, after its original name of Candlestick Park) is an outdoor sports and entertainment stadium located in San Francisco, California. ... Nickname: The City by the Bay; Fog City Location of the City and County of San Francisco, California Coordinates: City-County San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Area    - City 122 km²  (47 sq mi)  - Land 121. ... City San Francisco, California Other nicknames Niners Team colors Cardinal Red, Metallic Gold and Black Head Coach Mike Nolan Owner Denise DeBartolo York and John York General manager none Mascot Sourdough Sam League/Conference affiliations All-America Football Conference (1946-1949) Western Division (1946-1948) National Football League (1950–present... City St. ... Nickname: Big Apple Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs Bronx (The Bronx) New York (Manhattan) Queens (Queens) Kings (Brooklyn) Richmond (Staten Island) Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area    - City 1,214. ... Coin flipping or coin tossing is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to resolve a dispute between two parties. ... John Earl Madden (born April 10, 1936 in Austin, Minnesota), was head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1969-1978 and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. ... Monday Night Football (MNF) is a live television broadcast of the National Football League. ... Jim Tunney Jim Tunney was a American football official in the National Football League (NFL) from 1960 to 1991. ... The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League. ... The National Football League (NFL) playoffs is a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the 16-game regular season to determine the NFL champion. ... January 8 is the 8th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... City Detroit, Michigan Team colors Honolulu Blue, Silver, and Black Head Coach Rod Marinelli Owner William Clay Ford, Sr. ... City Landover, Maryland Other nicknames The Skins Team colors Burgundy and Gold Head Coach Joe Gibbs Owner Daniel Snyder General manager Vinny Cerrato Fight song Hail to the Redskins League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1932-present) Eastern Division (1933-1949) American Conference (1950-1952) Eastern Conference (1953-1969) Capitol...

References

1. ^ Super Bowl XL MVP is Bill Leavy. SportsColumn blog (2006-02-05). Retrieved on 2006-08-06.
2. ^ Pasquarelli, Len. "NFL will review Holmgren comments", ESPN, 2006-02-08. Retrieved on 2006-08-05.
3. ^ "NFL Notebook: Game 'properly officiated'", Associated Press, 2006-02-08. Retrieved on 2006-08-06.
4. ^ Super Bowl Officiating Review Part 2. YouTube (2006-02-16). Retrieved on 2006-08-06.
5. ^ Sparrer, Dick. "Good guys wear white hats", Willow Glen Resident, 2002-08-28. Retrieved on 2006-08-06.
6. ^ "Skinned alive", Sports Illustrated, 2000-01-12. Retrieved on 2006-08-06.
7. ^ Referee Revenge. YouTube (2006-08-04). Retrieved on 2006-08-29.

2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... Len Pasquarelli is an American sportswriter and analyst with ESPN.com and a 25-year veteran of covering the NFL. He joined ESPN.com in 2001 and has since become a frequent contributor to the other ESPN outlets, including SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and ESPN The Magazine. ... ESPN (formerly an acronym for the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American cable television network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 5 is the 217th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (218th in leap years), with 148 days remaining. ... Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 8 is the 39th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... The first issue of Sports Illustrated, August 16, 1954, showing Milwaukee Braves star Eddie Matthews at bat in Milwaukee County Stadium. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 6 is the 218th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (219th in leap years), with 147 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... August 29 is the 241st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (242nd in leap years), with 124 days remaining. ...

External links

• Former San Jose police officer goes from PAL to the NFL--as a referee