Super Bowl XL Referee Admits Errors Impacted the Game
Super Bowl XL may forever live in the nightmares of the Seattle Seahawks. In the franchise’s only appearance in a Super Bowl, several questionable calls were made that went against Seattle. Now four years later, the referee of that game has admitted he made two incorrect calls that had an impact on the game.
Bill Leavy, the official of that game, reopened a wound in the Seahawks history that will forever remain with the team.
"It was a tough thing for me. I kicked two calls in the fourth quarter and I impacted the game, and as an official you never want to do that," said the veteran of 15 NFL seasons and two Super Bowls.
The Seahawks enjoyed the franchise’s best record in that 2005 season. The team went 14-2 and had the league’s best offence. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and running back Shaun Alexander both had career seasons, with Alexander breaking a league record that year with 28 rushing touchdowns.
The Seahawks played a disappointing game in the Super Bowl considering the talent they had, but it shouldn’t have mattered. They made several plays that should’ve stood and would have won them the game, but the officiating errors made in the 4th quarter ended up costing them the game.
“It left me with a lot of sleepless nights, and I think about it constantly," Leavy said of the game in February 2006. "I'll go to my grave wishing that I'd been better."
The Seahawks went on to lose that game 21-10 as their usually potent offence was stagnant. However, a couple of correct calls would have changed the game and likely would have given the Seahawks all the momentum they needed to secure the victory.
Leavy was in Seattle recently giving a presentation on new league rules for the season when he told Seattle media that he made those crucial mistakes. He didn’t specify which calls he blew but many can guess which 4th quarter plays he was talking about.
First, early in the 4th quarter, Seattle offensive lineman Sean Locklear was called for holding on a play where the Seahawks had reached the Steelers one-yard line. That would have put them in position for a go-ahead touchdown, but the call forced the Seahawks back. Hasselbeck threw an interception on the next play.
That same play in which Hasselbeck threw the interception, he was inexplicably called for a mysterious low block when he tackled Ike Taylor. Now, how can there be a low block on a tackle?
The call moved Pittsburgh 15 yards further and with the good field position, the Steelers went on to seal the game with a gadget play in which receiver Antwaan Randel-El tossed a touchdown to Hines Ward to bring the score to 21-10.
Many felt there were several other blown calls made throughout the game against Seattle and Mike Holmgrem, the Seahawks coach at that time, fueled the fire when he spoke to Seattle reporters after the game. At a gathering with the media and fans at Qwest Field in Seattle, he stated: "I knew it was going to be tough going up against the Pittsburgh Steelers. I didn't know we were going to have to play the guys in the striped shirts, as well."
Leavy says he has not gotten over those errors and feels he never will.
"I know that I did my best at that time, but it wasn't good enough," said Leavy. "When we make mistakes, you got to step up and own them. It's something that all officials have to deal with, but unfortunately when you have to deal with it in the Super Bowl it's difficult."
It seemed in that game every big call went against Seattle and Seahawks fans will likely never get over it. A Super Bowl loss haunts any franchise forever and even more for one who has yet to win one.
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