Hochuli refs in the Big 12, working games from Iowa to Texas. But on weekdays the 30-year-old is a financial adviser at Morgan Stanley.

Hochuli now invests money for about 200 clients, including college and professional football officials, with assets ranging from $200,000 to $3 million. As a referee, three of the seven people on his officiating crew work in the financial industry. He said the two jobs are surprisingly similar.

“Whether you are working with a coach in a big game, or an investor getting close to retirement, the stakes are high,” Hochuli said. “There’s fear; it’s an emotional time. My job is to keep calm amid the madness so I can make the right call.”

I'm guessing that, even though he talks like an investment commercial, he doesn't get a lot of business in San Diego.

Football Ref Says Managing Money Prepares Him for Fans Catcalls [Bloomberg.com]

It was Hochuli's crew who somehow missed the very visible violation. And now that everyone knows his email address from previous incidents, The Hoch is getting email about it. And, apparently, he's responding.

From SaintsReport.com:

from EDWARD HOCHULI
to Jonathan XXXXXXX
date Tue, Oct 7, 2008 at 10:46 AM
subject RE: How did you miss these?

hide details 10:46 AM (1 hour ago)

You are certainly free to have your opinions, but if you were a knowledgeable fan, you would understand that there are 7 officials out there, and you would not attribute all errors to the Referee. The face mask, for example, is no where near anything I'm looking at or supposed to be looking at when it happened.

It's popular right now to pile on Hochuli, because I blew the San Diego call. And there is certainly no requirement that anyone have any real knowledge of officiating in order to have an opinion. Fortunately, the NFL and my boss don't agree with you. You are free to have your own opinions, and since you took the time to write me, I figured I owed you
the time to respond.

His call or not, the poll numbers are way down for Eddie Pipes these days, and the magnifying glass he's under isn't going away anytime soon. In my opinion he's going to have to get tougher with these email responses; put on the heels and take of the gloves, as it were. You've got to go negative, Ed. It's the only way to save yourself.

Saints Call Attention To Blown Call [Pro Football Talk]

"That particular official gets a lot of criticism. He's a highly criticized official in the NFL," Jones told the AP.

That particular official. Chilly, Mr. Jones. This is an overly cruel remark when you consider how hard Ed is taking all of this criticism. Don't the guns fool you — Ed Hochuli is a hyper-sensitive soul, who craves positive reinforcement. I mean, look at the type of music the man listens to when he goes running:

Runner's World: Is there one thing you listen to if you really want to kick-start your run?

ED: If I'm really looking for a pump from music ... I'll setup my iPod with different playlists. I'll listen to the electronic. I got a lot of electronic or trance. That kind of music that has a heavy beat with no lyrics. That's what would be the motivating music, if you will.

Trippy. Maybe Hochuli screwed up that call (and many others) because he's suffering from the long-term side effects of MDMA abuse?

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones On Ed Hochuli: 'He's a Highly Criticized Official' [MDS' Fanhouse]

I'm getting hundreds of emails – hate mail – but I'm responding to it all. People deserve a response.

You can rest assured that nothing anyone can say can make me feel worse than I already feel about my mistake on the fumble play. You have no idea . . .

Affecting the outcome of a game is a devastating feeling. Officials strive for perfection – I failed miserably. Although it does no good to say it, I am very, very sorry.

Ed Hochuli

If that's true, that's kind of disturbing. It's also a little creepy given all of the reports about Hochuli being "devastated" by this to such a degree. I picture him quietly sitting in his law office, hugging a dumbbell, whistle around his neck, waiting for the next angry email to come through.

NFL Graded Down After Blown Call in Denver [AP]
Chargers fans still looking to throw flag on NFL [San Diego Tribune]

Well, someone sent us the official biography of Hochuli on his law firm's Web site, and it's crammed to the gills with excellent information. Did you know that he actually founded his law firm? Or that one of his specialties is "Trucking and Transportation Industry Defense?" Or that he was named one of the Best Lawyers in America for 2003-2004 and 2005-2006? (Ed, what happened in 04-05? Work harder, dude!) And, most of all, that he, in fact, has hair?

Oh, and they publish his email address too. But don't get any ideas!

Partner Ed Hochuli [Jones, Skelton & Hochuli]
Jacked Up Ref Will Not Be Taunted Online [Deadspin]
Phil Simms Homoerotic Comments [OutSports]

Well, apparently Hochuli spends his off-seasons sitting at home, Googling himself. Witness this post from The World According To TMC, which contains a joke in the headline about Hochuli being on steroids. Three months after the post, Hochuli showed up in the comments — blog writer Tom McAllister confirmed Hochuli's identity by tracing the IP address to the law firm Hochuli works for — and started punching.

It shows how little you know about steroids to suggest that I use them. Anyone with any knowledge could tell by lookiing at me that I don t use anything like that. But you obviously don t concern yourself with the truth. You are only interested in advancing your own interests, even if that means falsely accusing someone of steriod use. I have never used steroids, growth hormones, or anything like them. I work very hard at mainting my physique, and it offends me when someone like you doesn t concern himself with finding the truth. Pretty sad on your part.

In case Hochuli Googles himself again over the next couple of months, let us note now that we do not believe Hochuli is on steroids. We bet he's bald under that little hat, though.

Why Steroids Are Not An Issue In the NFL Unless You Count Ed Hochuli [The World According To TMC]
Homoerotic Comments From Phil Simms [OutSports]