Franco Harris RIP
- Thread starter NYShoreGuy
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R.I.P. Franco. He’s probably my most favorite non-giant NFL player. I always rooted hard for him. My local sporting goods store only had a few Pittsburgh Steeler jerseys at the time so I bought a Franco Harris jersey.
Very sad. Great player and person. My son and I had pleasure of meeting him earlier this year and got photo with him. Couldn’t have been much nicer and down to earth guy. He was excited to talk about upcoming 50th anniversary of Immaculate Reception. Sad he passed before game this Saturday vs. Raiders for anniversary recognition. As a Steelers fan, he was my favorite player growing up. Tough news.
I remember where I was when this happened. In a shopping mall with Hallrox bored to death so I went to the area that had the TVs and watched the play.
NFL legend Franco Harris dead at 72
Steelers and NFL legend Franco Harris has died at 72, according to multiple reports.
nypost.com
NFL legend Franco Harris dead at 72
By Jeremy LaytonSteelers and NFL legend Franco Harris has died at 72, according to multiple reports.
Harris, who played fullback for Pittsburgh for over a decade in the 1970s and early ’80s, was a four-time Super Bowl champion and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He made the Pro Bowl nine times and was the NFL’s rushing touchdown leader in 1976.
Harris was perhaps most famous for being the recipient of the “Immaculate Reception” in 1972, one of the most famous plays in NFL history, catching a ball thrown by Terry Bradshaw that appeared to bounce off a Raiders defender and running it for a game-winning touchdown. His death comes just two days before the 50th anniversary of the play, which will be commemorated on Saturday as the Steelers and Raiders play each other.
On Saturday, Harris was set to be just the third player in Steelers history to have his number retired, after Joe Greene and Ernie Stautner.
A cause of death was not immediately known.
Very sad. Great player and a true class act too.
I was 9 years old and was a Giants fan and for some reason I also liked the Raiders (I think I liked their helmet and colors). I was watching the game with my Dad and was yelling that ball hit the ground. I was wrong of course and it took me years to appreciate the greatness of that play and how great of a player Franco was. Sad day in football as we lost a great one.
I was 9 years old and was a Giants fan and for some reason I also liked the Raiders (I think I liked their helmet and colors). I was watching the game with my Dad and was yelling that ball hit the ground. I was wrong of course and it took me years to appreciate the greatness of that play and how great of a player Franco was. Sad day in football as we lost a great one.
I was 11 years old and a Giant fan but a huge Raider fan at the time. Our family was on vacation in Florida and I remember watching that ending in complete shock. Couldn't believe it happened.
I loved watching George Atkinson, Willie Brown & Jack Tatum play deep, Otis Sistrunk on D-line with backers Mendenhall and Villapiano. Art Shell and Gene Upshaw opening holes for bruising back Marv Hubbard and quick Clearance Davis with reliable TE Raymond Chester and outside quick Cliff Branch and catch anything Fred Biletnikoff. The snake, Kenny Stabler at QB & reliable kicker George Blanda. They were mesmerizing and the best I'd ever seen.
Great match-up with the Steelers.
I loved the Raiders for their colors and attitude, but LB Phil Villapiano (who really could have tackled Franco Harris (see endzone clip) if it wasn't for a key block on him. Phil Villapiano was from my town, Ocean Twp, where I grew up. I played football for Ocean as well.
I loved watching George Atkinson, Willie Brown & Jack Tatum play deep, Otis Sistrunk on D-line with backers Mendenhall and Villapiano. Art Shell and Gene Upshaw opening holes for bruising back Marv Hubbard and quick Clearance Davis with reliable TE Raymond Chester and outside quick Cliff Branch and catch anything Fred Biletnikoff. The snake, Kenny Stabler at QB & reliable kicker George Blanda. They were mesmerizing and the best I'd ever seen.
Great match-up with the Steelers.
I loved the Raiders for their colors and attitude, but LB Phil Villapiano (who really could have tackled Franco Harris (see endzone clip) if it wasn't for a key block on him. Phil Villapiano was from my town, Ocean Twp, where I grew up. I played football for Ocean as well.
That was one hellava team. My first yr after college I lived in an animal house in Belmar that fall and winter. A buddy and I worked together, and another friend slept on the couch. Every morning, when we went to work, the guy would yell "An dy Russell, run down the stairs and dive on the guy on the couch. (RIP Bubba and Myron...) Such a great and colorful defense, Terry and Franco and Swann...
RIP Franco.
I was playing in a foursome behind him in a Celebrity Pro Am 10 years ago. I put one on the green 10 feet from the pin on a Par 3. As I drove up to the green he was on the next tee and I gestured at him celebrating my shot. He yelled back, "let's see you make the putt!"
I sunk the putt and again gestured.
After the round we were on the terrace having a beer and talking. He made me feel like a million bucks saying something to the effect that a little bravado is OK as long you deliver.
I was playing in a foursome behind him in a Celebrity Pro Am 10 years ago. I put one on the green 10 feet from the pin on a Par 3. As I drove up to the green he was on the next tee and I gestured at him celebrating my shot. He yelled back, "let's see you make the putt!"
I sunk the putt and again gestured.
After the round we were on the terrace having a beer and talking. He made me feel like a million bucks saying something to the effect that a little bravado is OK as long you deliver.
After the Front Office dinner a couple of weeks ago, Danny Callandrillo was relating a story to the few stragglers left about getting a call from some group wanting to give him an Italian-American of the Year award or something along those lines. Danny, being a North Jersey guy, thought he might be getting scammed but eventually they convinced him to fly to Houston to accept this award.
Much to his surprise, the awards banquet was in a large hotel ballroom filled to capacity. And the person presenting the award was none other than Franco Harris.
BTW, the biggest controversy surrounding the Immaculate Reception is not whether Franco caught the ball -- it's pretty clear on replay he did. It's whether his teammate Frenchy Fuqua touched the ball first. In those days, an offensive player couldn't deflect a ball to a teammate unless it was touched by a defensive player. Even if Jack Tatum touched the ball first, as he likely did, another Raider would have needed to touch it if it went off of Fuqua.
Rest in peace Franco. It's sad you couldn't be there for your long overdue jersey retirement.
Much to his surprise, the awards banquet was in a large hotel ballroom filled to capacity. And the person presenting the award was none other than Franco Harris.
BTW, the biggest controversy surrounding the Immaculate Reception is not whether Franco caught the ball -- it's pretty clear on replay he did. It's whether his teammate Frenchy Fuqua touched the ball first. In those days, an offensive player couldn't deflect a ball to a teammate unless it was touched by a defensive player. Even if Jack Tatum touched the ball first, as he likely did, another Raider would have needed to touch it if it went off of Fuqua.
Rest in peace Franco. It's sad you couldn't be there for your long overdue jersey retirement.
I am a Pittsburgh boy, born and bred.
The Steelers ARE Pittsburgh, but that was not always the case. There were 40 losing years before Franco. In the ‘50s we had Bobby Layne and Tom Tracey. In the ‘60s we had Big Daddy, Jimmy Orr, Ernie Stautner, and John Henry, but we never won anything. Then came Chuck Noll, then Mean Joe, Terry , L C and Mel, but as the chief, Art Rooney, said: “we never won before Franco got here, and it seems we never lost after he arrived.”
The only sports loss that resonates with me like the loss of Franco Harris, was the death of Roberto Clemente, which occurred just 8 days after the immaculate reception.
This is a New York-New Jersey board and to be honest, the only comparison I might draw would be how our Yankee fans felt when Mickey Mantle died or how Giants fans will feel when Willie Mays passes away. The football Giants were so great so early that even people my age have only stories that their fathers told them about their early winning years. Even the overtime clash with the Baltimore Colts was in the ‘50s. So I don’t know which New York Giant – – or which New York Jet – – – might be comparable to Franco in Pittsburgh. But whoever that person is, that’s the person Franco was for us yinzers.
The Steelers ARE Pittsburgh, but that was not always the case. There were 40 losing years before Franco. In the ‘50s we had Bobby Layne and Tom Tracey. In the ‘60s we had Big Daddy, Jimmy Orr, Ernie Stautner, and John Henry, but we never won anything. Then came Chuck Noll, then Mean Joe, Terry , L C and Mel, but as the chief, Art Rooney, said: “we never won before Franco got here, and it seems we never lost after he arrived.”
The only sports loss that resonates with me like the loss of Franco Harris, was the death of Roberto Clemente, which occurred just 8 days after the immaculate reception.
This is a New York-New Jersey board and to be honest, the only comparison I might draw would be how our Yankee fans felt when Mickey Mantle died or how Giants fans will feel when Willie Mays passes away. The football Giants were so great so early that even people my age have only stories that their fathers told them about their early winning years. Even the overtime clash with the Baltimore Colts was in the ‘50s. So I don’t know which New York Giant – – or which New York Jet – – – might be comparable to Franco in Pittsburgh. But whoever that person is, that’s the person Franco was for us yinzers.
Awesome post OA. And what a wonderful quote from Rooney.
John Henry Johnson, havent tought of him in a while...
And just add that Franco Harris was a Penn State guy that is really one of the most respected and beloved alumni.
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