The enduring reminiscence for me is the noise. That, and the usually forgotten confusion over an obscure N.F.L. rule that just about annulled the “Immaculate Reception.”
The announcement of Franco Harris’s loss of life on Wednesday, simply two days earlier than the fiftieth anniversary of the unforgettable play, calls up a swirl of reminiscences for me, some as a result of I used to be in the stands at the sport, some from having been in the Pittsburgh universe then.
Back then, the Steelers’ historic ineptitude was a notable backdrop to that 1972 playoff sport. The staff had beforehand made it to the postseason solely as soon as in its 40-year historical past — and that had been in 1947. The Steelers have been the Houston Texans of their day.
Luckily for me, my father had seen promise on this model of the staff and purchased season tickets, which means we might be amongst the lucky 50,000 folks in Pittsburgh who may watch the sport because it occurred.
In these days earlier than the N.F.L. absolutely boomed in reputation, the league believed reside broadcasts in the house staff’s metropolis would deter ticket gross sales — and the rule weirdly utilized even to a sold-out playoff sport.
The sport was a brutal defensive battle in the December chilly, with a scoreless first half. The Steelers constructed a 6-0 lead on two area objectives, however then what had appeared inevitable lastly occurred: The favored Raiders scored a landing with simply over a minute left.
Remembering Franco Harris
The Hall of Fame working again for the Pittsburgh Steelers who caught the “Immaculate Reception” died on Dec. 21. He was 72.
Things seemed grim. Friends who got here with us left to beat the crowd. (Regrets? They have just a few.)
Thankfully, my father is an enormous believer in staying to the finish. You by no means know what is going to occur, he says — a lesson he discovered after as soon as lacking an unlikely end to a basketball sport.
So there we have been, standing at our seats in the finish zone behind the play and, like all the different Steelers followers, holding solely the faintest hope as that determined fourth-down play unfolded.
Our hopes collapsed when Terry Bradshaw’s lengthy go bounced away from John “Frenchy” Fuqua and into the air. In my reminiscence, there was a shared groan all through the stadium.
And then!
Bedlam. Harris was working, the crowd was roaring, the referees have been huddling. Had the ball touched a Raider after it bounced off Fuqua, or had it bounced from one Steeler to the subsequent? The guidelines at the time didn’t enable a participant to deflect a go to his personal teammate, even inadvertently.
It would have taken a daring official to rule the play unlawful with a jubilant crowd spilling into the finish zone round him, and after all the play stood.
Hours later, the broadcaster Myron Cope, himself a beloved Pittsburgh character, took a name from a listener whose pal had christened the play “The Immaculate Reception.” The legend had its essential luster.
In a blink, Harris had turn out to be the prince of Pittsburgh. His followers, taking part in off his mom’s heritage, labeled themselves “Franco’s Italian Army” and even Frank Sinatra joined their ranks.
The Steelers misplaced to the Dolphins in the subsequent spherical, however received 4 Super Bowls in the subsequent eight years. Harris went on to turn out to be the second-leading rusher in league historical past, earn induction into the Hall of Fame and see his statue positioned subsequent to George Washington’s in Pittsburgh International Airport.
He remained humble, whilst a 22-year-old in the delirious second of his most well-known landing. That grace and good will made him all the extra beloved. His military of followers stays, if in surprising mourning as we put together to honor the anniversary of the catch that also conjures the considered divine intervention.
Discussion about this post