Officials selected for Super Bowl XLI

MIAMI, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Tony Corrente, a 12-year NFL veteran, has been selected to be the referee for Sunday's Super Bowl pitting the Chicago Bears against the Indianapolis Colts.

It is Corrente's first Super Bowl assignment as referee. The La Miranda, Calif., high school social sciences teacher was the alternate referee for last year's Super Bowl XL in Detroit.

The NFL also said Carl Paganelli will be the umpire, George Hayward head linesman, Ron Marinucci the line judge, Jim Saracino the field judge, John Parry the side judge and Perry Paganelli the back judge. The Paganellis are brothers.

Mark Burns will be the replay assistant while Jeff Triplette, Butch Hannah, Carl Johnson, Buddy Horton, and Rich Reels will serve as alternate officials.

Under the NFL officiating program's evaluation system, the highest-rated officials at each position with the appropriate experience earn the right to work the Super Bowl. They also must have five years of NFL experience and have called previous playoff games.