First Dooowwwnnn . . . and Life to Go!: How an Enthusiastic Approach Changed Everything for the Most Colorful Referee in NFL History

“First dooowwwnnn is a first-rate read by a first-class man.”
–Former Texas A&M and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen

When directed toward you, two of the more humbling words that can ever be uttered are: “You’re fired!” For Red Cashion, however, being fired by both the Southwest and Southland Conferences forced him to make significant attitude changes that took him all the way to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Red’s rise to prominence in the NFL—many sportswriters described him as the most well-known official NFL history—was primarily the result of Cashion adopting a much more enthusiastic approach. He only achieved his dreams when he stopped blending into the background and began passionately asserting his personality with a trademark call that became recognized across the country. First dooowwwnnn…and life to go! is an inspiring, captivating story that accentuates the power of a positive attitude. Cashion also recounts fascinating stories about some of the NFL’s biggest personalities during his 25-year tenure in the league, and he provides strong opinions about the game’s current direction. Cashion’s advice for protecting current players from concussions, for example, is as revolutionary as it is rudimentary. His vision of the NFL’s future is every bit as intriguing as his colorful description of his time in the league.

 

M.L. "Red" Cashion is quite possibly the most colorful and memorable referee in NFL history...or any sport, for that matter. During his 25-year NFL career, Cashion participated in three Super Bowls! He worked XX and XXX and served as an alternate for XXV. He also made 23 playoff appearances, regularly officiated the biggest games each weekend and was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Cashion, a 1953 Texas A&M graduate who was born on campus, was also a very successful businessman in the insurance industry before retiring. Rusty Burson is a Vice President with the 12th Man Foundation and the Associate Editor of 12th Man Magazine, where he has covered all Texas A&M sports since 1996. Burson, a 1990 graduate of Sam Houston State, has authored 12 previous books and is a former sportswriter with the Galveston Daily News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram. He and his wife, Vannessa, live in College Station with their three children: son Payton and daughters Kyleigh and Summer.