Now for the Zebras...

Their identities will be kept secret until 48 hours before the Super Bowl kickoff. If they are lucky, no one will remember a single one of the six when the game is over. They are the game officials, part-timers, in real life accountants, schoolteachers, salesmen and executives, whose only claim to football fame can be infamy. This year's Super Bowl officiating crew will be operating in the unwelcome glare of a spotlight created by two highly debatable, and debated, calls made by their colleagues in two crucial games--most notably the A.F.C. title match. Both calls involved plays that when viewed--and viewed, viewed, viewed--in instant replay, appeared to be goal-line fumbles. The combination of televised second-guessing, N.F.L. stonewalling and coaches complaining, perhaps alibiing, has brought the striped-shirt arbiters a notoriety they would just as soon had passed them by.

This year's Super Bowl zebras will, as always, be an all-star cast, chosen by N.F.L. Supervisor of Officials Art Mc-Nally and his staff after watching game films and grading performances. The referee, linesman, head linesman, umpire, field judge and back judge who rate number one will get to call the big one this Sunday. Two retired N.F.L. referees who have been there before, Norm Schachter (three Super Bowls) and Tommy Bell (two Super Bowls), last week reflected on the techniques and pratfalls of the official's craft: Schachter on Super Bowl preparation On the Friday before the game, the crew meets with McNally and goes over all the mechanics, just like a pregame conference. They will go over what each guy does in certain situations, the things they have to be careful about. But not the teams; we never discuss the teams. We never say, "Watch Dallas' right tackle or Denver's tight end." However, if you have been around any length of time, nobody has to tell you about the players. I know them as well as their coaches --their mannerisms, their problems, their strengths. Bell on the pros and cons of instant replay I've always contended that it's the greatest thing that ever happened to the pro officials. Whereas before the fans just knew the official was cheating their team, now they run the instant replay and they say, "By gosh, he's right." You can't beat the old human eye. If the Government was right that many times, the country would be in a lot better shape. Schachter I have no hangup about getting help on a call. But I wouldn't like to see an official say, "Hey, that was a tough call; let me see the instant replay." Schachter on the disputed calls I saw one of them while I was in the hospital. I told the nurse that the official probably wished he was in the hospital with me. Bell on the boo birds Sure, it's a tendency for the home team; any time a tough call goes against their team, they are going to boo. That's natural. That's what they pay their money for.

Schachter I told my nine-year-old son after a game that I didn't take booing personally and I didn't want him to take it personally, either. He said, "Wait a minute. I was booing, too. You blew that call. I do take it personally." From then on, he brought his own ticket.

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