Red Cashion
Encyclopedia
Mason 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, most notably the Southwest Conference. From 1972 to 1997, he officiated in the National Football League
(NFL), and was the referee in Super Bowl XX
and Super Bowl XXX
. Cashion began his career as a line judge in 1972 before being promoted to referee in 1976 upon the retirement of long-time referee Norm Schachter
. He wore uniform number 43 for most of his career. During the 1979-1981 seasons, when officials were numbered separately by positions instead of having one number assigned to each official, he wore number 8.
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". Ironically, Cashion's promotion to referee came just one season after the NFL began equipping referees with wireless microphones to explain penalty calls and complex rulings to fans in the stadium, members of the media, and the television audience at home.
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.
Official (American football)
In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field...
. He started officiating in 1952 while attending Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, and then worked for various high school and college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
conferences, most notably the Southwest Conference. From 1972 to 1997, he officiated in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL), and was the referee in Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
and Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX
Super Bowl XXX was an American football game played on January 28, 1996 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona to decide the National Football League champion following the 1995 regular season...
. Cashion began his career as a line judge in 1972 before being promoted to referee in 1976 upon the retirement of long-time referee Norm Schachter
Norm Schachter
Dr. Norm Schachter in Brooklyn, New York was an American football official in the National Football League for 22 years from 1954 to 1975. Over his career in the NFL, he worked three Super Bowls , 11 conference championship games, and was the referee for the first Monday Night Football game in...
. He wore uniform number 43 for most of his career. During the 1979-1981 seasons, when officials were numbered separately by positions instead of having one number assigned to each official, he wore number 8.
Cashion is known by NFL players, coaches, and fans for his signature first down
Down (football)
A down is a period in which a play transpires in American and Canadian football.-Description:A down begins with a snap or free kick , and ends when the ball or the player in possession of it is declared down by an official, a team scores, or the ball or player in possession of it leaves the field...
call in which he would enthusiastically drawl "First dowwwwwn!" out to the crowd. In a 1997 interview with The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
, 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". Ironically, Cashion's promotion to referee came just one season after the NFL began equipping referees with wireless microphones to explain penalty calls and complex rulings to fans in the stadium, members of the media, and the television audience at home.
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
Madden NFL
Madden NFL is an American football video game series developed by Electronic Arts Tiburon for EA Sports. The game series is named after Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, a well-known former Super Bowl-winning coach of the Oakland Raiders and color commentator...
video game.