Ron Torbert is a 12-year-old veteran NFL official and will be handling his first Super Bowl.
Torbert, 58, is a Harvard Law School graduate who was a former lawyer. He will serve as the third Black referee in a Super Bowl. Mike Carey was the referee in 2008, and Jerome Boger in 2013. Torbert served as a back and side judge for four years before being promoted to referee.
The postseason assignments are determined using the same league grading system that was used during the regular season.
He said, “I have been preparing for this moment since more than 30 years.” “I didn’t always know what I was doing. But every game, every clinic and every practice, every workout, every training camp or practice, every moment at work, every training video and every scouting video I’ve ever seen, helped me prepare for this game.
Torbert’s umpire Bryan Neale will join him, along with Derick Bowers, down judge, Carl Johnson, line judge Carl Johnson and Rick Patterson. Side judge Keith Washington, back Judge Scott Helverson, replay official Roddy Asmes, and Sean McKee, the replay assistant.
COIN TOSS
Billie Jean King and team captains from California School for Deaf Riverside Cubs will join Billie Jean King, members of high school girls flag league champions, and youth tackle football players for the Inglewood Chargers or Watts Rams in support of Billie Jean King.
The NFL will recognize the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which was enacted in 1972 as part the Education Amendments. It provided equal funding for women and men at all federally funded high schools, colleges, and universities.
King stated, “It’s an honor to stand alongside these outstanding student athletes and commemorate the 50th anniversary Title IX on one the world’s largest stages.” “It is difficult to understand inclusion unless you have been excluded. I am proud to participate in this year’s Super Bowl coin toss, as well as the NFL’s commitment of bringing us together and making us stronger.
High school honorary captains include Nadirah Mayrena from Rise Kohyang and Elisheva Ferszt, of Yula Kaylin Harris, Kaylin Harphill, Tamaya Hexthill, of Inglewood. Youth football honorary Captains are Andrea Castillo, of the Watts Rams, and Giselle Lopez, of the Inglewood Chargers.
Trevin Enrique Adam, Christian Anakin Jimenez and Jory Valencia are the California School for the Deaf Riverside Cubs’ team captains.
COUNTERING KUPP
Mike Hilton, the Bengals cornerback, knows all about playing against great receivers. Now, he has to line up Sunday alongside Cooper Kupp. Kupp led the NFL with 1,829 yards receiving, 138 receptions and 15 touchdown catches, while leading Los Angeles to its NFC West title.
“Absolutely. Hilton spoke about Kupp’s defense Friday, saying that he felt like he and Hilton were “two of the best slots in the game”. It’s better to show it than Super Bowl Sunday.
Hilton stated that Kupp’s ability pick up yards after a catch is exceptional and stressed the importance to get him to the ground quickly in order to minimize the damage.
Hilton stated that he and the Bengals’ secondary were comfortable with the task of defending great passing teams after beating Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC championship.
HOT TICKET
The ticket demand for Sunday’s Super Bowl between Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals has started to rise, with Thursday seeing the largest single-day spike: almost twice the daily sales StubHub had recorded in the past week.
California buyers are the most interested, with 30% more tickets purchased in one day than usual. StubHub reported that they have been responsible for almost 75% of all new tickets sold in the last three days and 31% total sales.
The sales to Kentucky and Ohio consumers have been almost identical over the past three days. Ohio is second in demand at 9.9%, followed closely by Florida (4%), Illinois (4%), and Kentucky (3%).
On Thursday, the secondary market “get-in price” fell 9% to $3,000
StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli stated that “as we had anticipated, we are beginning to see the last minute surge in sales,” Adam Budelli said.
