M.L. "Red" Cashion is a former American football official. He started officiating in 1952 while attending Texas A&M University, and then worked for various high school and college football conferences. From 1972 to 1997, he officiated in the National Football League (NFL), and was the referee in Super Bowl XX and Super Bowl XXX. National Football League referee Ed Hochuli signals a touchdown. ... It has been suggested that Texas A&M University College of Medicine be merged into this article or section. ... A college football game between Colorado State University and the Air Force Academy. ... The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions. ... Date January 26, 1986 Stadium Louisiana Superdome City New Orleans, Louisiana MVP Richard Dent, Defensive end Favorite Bears by 10 National Anthem Wynton Marsalis Coin toss Bart Starr representing previous Super Bowl MVPs Halftime show Up with People presents Beat of the Future Attendance 73,818 TV in the United... Date January 28, 1996 Stadium Sun Devil Stadium City Tempe, Arizona MVP Larry Brown, Cornerback Favorite Cowboys by 13 1/2 National anthem Vanessa Williams Coin toss Joe Montana representing previous Super Bowl MVPs Referee Red Cashion Halftime show Diana Ross Attendance 76,347 TV in the United States Network...

Cashion is known by NFL players, coaches, and fans for his signature first down call in which he would enthusiastically drawl "First dowwwwwn!" out to the crowd. In a 1997 interview with The Sporting News, he said, "I don't know of any time that started it or stopped it. It was just something that sort of evolved and been there ever since". ^[1] In American and Canadian football, a down refers to a period in which a play transpires. ... The Sporting News (TSN) is an American-based sports newspaper. ...

Cashion was inducteed into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1999. He also provided the voice of the referee for several versions of the Madden NFL video game. Cover of the GameCube version of Madden 06. ... For the list, see list of computer and video games. ...

Notes

• ^  "Last call for … 'first dowwwnnn!' - football referee Red Cashion" by Dennis Dillon, The Sporting News, January 6, 1997.

The Sporting News (TSN) is an American-based sports newspaper. ...

References

• The height of Cashion by Robert Cessna. The Bryan-College Station Eagle. November 21, 2002. (Last retrieved February 3, 2006)
• Texas Sports Hall of Fame inductees