Yes, that was a female on the Super Bowl field.

If you watched from the comfort of home and are a Kansas City Chiefs fan, it was miserable. But, it was a great night for the ladies.

You could not miss the female official. CBS kept its cameras on former University of Mobile basketball player Sarah Thomas.

In face mask, black cap and striped shirt, Thomas became the 1st female to o fficiate in a Super Bowl.

She worked as the down judge in Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and Tampa Bay.

Blame your team

Chiefs’ fans won’t like the Sports Grouch saying this but they can’t blame her or other officials for their team’s dismal play.

The officials called a tight game, but if you can’t play by the rules, what kind of professional are you?

Lining up offside is the dumbest thing you can do on a football field.

Taunting is something else. If you can’t control your emotions, you need to be on the bench.

Thomas is in her 6th season since becoming the first woman hired by the NFL as a full-time official.

“I have a precious little girl who is watching her mom not just on the football field but daily at home,” Thomas said. “I just spoke with her this morning.

“She said, ‘Mom, they asked what I wanted to do in the future and I told them I wanted to be a mom, a teacher and a ref like you.’”

Sideline ladies

With Tampa Bay’s 31-9 win over Kansas City, Lori Locust and Maral Javadifar become the 1st female assistant coaches to win with a Super Bowl team.

“It was time to knock those doors down,” said Bucs coach Bruce Arians, who made a conscious decision to seek qualified minorities for his staff.

Locust, who took up semiprofessional football at age 40 and interned with the Baltimore Ravens, was hired last year as the Bucs’ assistant defensive line coach.

Javadifar, a former Pace University basketball player with a doctorate in physical therapy, was hired as assistant strength and conditioning coach/physical therapist.

3 of Coach Arians’ coaches – offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and special-teams coordinator Keith Armstrong along with run game coordinator/assistant head coach Harold Goodwin – are all black.

The low light

I guess it had to happen but a 1960s-style streaker took the field.

It was a publicity stunt and the streaker was arrested.

Other than that, Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and the Bucs played like pros.

Take that Bill Belichick and Bob Kraft.

How do you feel about diversity in sports? The Grouch wants to hear from you. Please email him at Chroniclesports@yahoo.com .