Officials for Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII announced

Thursday July 17, 2008

NEW YORK – The Arena Football League today announced the officials for Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII at New Orleans Arena on Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. ET (ABC HD).
 
Referee BILL LEMONNIER, in addition to his Arena Football League duties, is a USA Football Officiating Consultant and Big Ten referee. LeMonnier began officiating for the Gateway Conference in 1989 and was an official in the 1993 Division I-AA National Championship Game. In 1994, LeMonnier began working as an official for the Big Ten Conference and has officiated eight bowl games, including the Cotton, Fiesta, GMAC, Holiday, Independence and Orange bowls. Officiating in the AFL since 2000, this will be his second ArenaBowl (XVII).
 
Umpire PAUL KING has been an Arena Football League official for eight seasons but will be making his ArenaBowl debut on July 27. King has served as an official for the Big East Conference for eight years and has officiated six bowl games, including the 2008 Rose Bowl.
 
Head Linesman BILL WARD currently serves as the ECAC Supervisor of Football Officials. Ward has served as an NCAA official for 28 years and worked the Division I-AA National Championship Game in 2002. This will be Ward’s second ArenaBowl (XVIII).
 
Line Judge R.G. DETILLIER began his football officiating career at the high school level in 1970. Detillier, who has served as a Division I official since 1987, has been an AFL official for 15 years and is working his second ArenaBowl (IX). He also serves as an official for the Big East Conference and Conference USA and has worked 18 bowl games in his career.
 
Back Judge JAMES COLE, in his seventh year as an AFL official, will be making his ArenaBowl debut. Cole served as an official in the 2002 ArenaCup in af2. Now in his 15th year as an official, Cole has worked in the ACC, Atlantic 10 and CIAA Conferences.
 
Alternate RILEY JOHNSON began working as an AFL official in 2002 after a two-year stint in af2. Johnson has served as an official for 16 years and officiates collegiately for the Sun Belt Conference, Big South Conference and Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.