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Current Video:Gautreaux, Pereira talk officiating|
NFL referee Greg Gautreaux discusses his Super Bowl appearance and more with Mike Pereira.
Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)
In my career here in New Orleans -- Being here at the super ball fantastic. You with boxes even better. And it gives me a chance that sometimes reflect back on some decisions that I made. In the league office when I worked like in 2002. I found out guy that was the main goals. It is that a lot yet at least in my goal troll a great gold pro took over to Europe. Adam worked out with a little bit there and in 2002 I've decided to hire that guy and bring him in the National Football League ladies and gentlemen this is great. Go throw up heavily. In super all veterans Super Bowl Mitchell. Great to have you with me good to be you might those of things did you learn. -- -- -- -- -- -- But he really 2000 -- -- there there's some of the things that I had to apologize for the people but you beat him privately with now. -- Oh you are always. Talk but. But I -- -- -- -- about. What you work. The Super Bowl forty and it was an amazing game and one call. Talk about it second but. What was it like it's an official how much how much. Pressure that you feel when you actually walked out of. Well it just to the -- was tremendous but I was just so excited to be there first -- excited about being an NFL official. I never thought one day -- in the National Football -- Super Bowl game and you know the biggest football game. Areas have the opportunity to work it. Which you know he has a lot of pressure you excited it was a wonderful week the week before the simple. But getting to the game. You got to treat it like nobody. If he don't he get tickets. Involved in the you know it is the atmosphere the Super Bowl can't -- -- that -- Can't be heated with depression. You know. To me like a regular Sunday once the games don't come before the game I was to. And I had spoken like true crystal ignoring the fact that there's a 110 million people watching you on the football field and a M I think back to about. All of your wife Betsy she's season after the sweetheart and in the call that you got when you've got the game can you relive that moment for me. Well you know you just so excited about being Super Bowl you know you have a good game. You know that the competition's competitive game and get the opportunity to get the game deciding call. -- more importantly it is your height you know that's an opportunity I know they have in my life. But you know having my family there my life in on my children -- well in Tampa. That was exciting thing to meet as we suffered enough so that that was sacrificed a lot in my career going out but for having everybody there. Having that opportunity. Is such it is like a dream come true actually having a dream that you know I don't think comedy it would five most of the ovals which is not likely. But. You know right now I like it. But I mean by the way it's not gonna happen and I know that Judy you know history at it if it. But then having that opportunity was well you know it's really haven't spectacles. I was part certainly you know not on the field but that's if it's. One of my favorite memories walking off after that and see him use it in there and and to me. When I saw that play that -- that -- on the ground Santonio Holmes because it's Super Bowl determines who wins and and when I watched you make it all on the field. You followed every mechanic that you were supposed to followed you followed it through to the and you watched him program and -- -- Thrust up your hand signaling touchdown and it goes to replay and replay shows that there's just. Two holes. Just barely on the ground when I walked in the locker room I've looked at you and look in your eyes. And I believe it's that something like you know your career will be remembered by falls like that and and you actually nailed all the emotion and it. Got to me. And I think that you. Definitely definitely -- all the years of officiating in this is my 41 year back to full -- officiating. Everything I've learned in those 4441. Years that need to make that call correctly and just to dean is to be successful you know us as players they compete. Officials compete to get every call right as you know in when you get that call right the biggest game in your career. He just can't help with -- high such a natural high that when you came and. You know you are supervisors. Looked at that on your face you were pleased I was pleased is just something that you know emotionally. And emotionally by the way led the years -- -- -- there were tears on both sides because my thought is and I got mine -- art world and that's how much. Me and in the end by the way. You know people talk about you know why do you appreciate it and what's the significance of football of a Super Bowl and people say well. The officials yet a lot more money working in more work in Super Bowl and the answer is really it's not about the money. But it is about what is that on your finger there. -- -- -- 43 another ring it's not just the players that get there and that that you that you get stopped a few times. With the right attitude about surprise. Yeah now to me you know this hand Espinoza and anybody that they look at Benson and with countering. And you -- -- up probably and I can't say how many pictures people ask me he's taken it to -- between entering. You know an airplane and just whatever you know and -- classic the future you know. Well it's the up what might appear to let you know that call right back. I had no NC I have a long illustrious -- year career on the field and then I was so bad they say that they invented the job for me in the office which is -- There'll never be one of those on my hand by the way. It's just it's just so grateful -- you if you. You could slip in the locker room on Sunday and sit with -- -- and it's true. What would they do before they leave the locker room on the field. I do -- say guys this isn't a regular game in joy -- work hard do the best because you only be remembered by your last home and just have fun. You don't have fun is enough stress in the NFL working every Sunday in in putting for the great to come back you know Wednesday's. But he enjoyed the moment because human and it happened again you know just have fun. And -- judge had an opportunity. Well part of me with it hired guys like you and -- success you had. -- have had and will continue to have on your -- -- 36 I caught him at third and honestly I don't either way it. Not at 58 in -- -- -- it's been a record and -- Monitor these years and with your home state of that and you know here but in the world rates as the need to like thinking.