As a Steeler fan, or maybe for all football fans for that
matter, the start of the season means your team has a chance. Wait ‘til next
year is now THIS year. We may even look back at rituals we performed during
successful seasons to emulate them and allow for another run at a championship.
In 2008, every Sunday I cooked something that was Black and
Gold…and we brought home the Lombardi. This year I’ve decided the food spin
would be the local flavor of the opposing team’s town. Last week it was
Cincinnati Chili. It was devoured like A.J. Green was in the Steelers
secondary. This week, well Philly, will be an easy one. Cheesesteaks anyone? In
some cases I will prepare the fare myself. But in this instance I went straight
to the source. Jim’s of South St. was my first foray into the siren call of the
steaks…so this would be the place. The advent of shipping local favorites to
far off places has even come to this little establishment. I will be ready with
my foe’s food. We can’t lose.
Oh wait! What’s this. The talking heads on the NFL Network
said the Steelers have not won in Philly since 1965. That would mean they are 0
and my lifetime in the city of brotherly love. But how could that be? I went to
college in the liberty town…how did I not know this. I did attend a Steeler
victory over the Birds in 1994 at Three Rivers in Pittsburgh and a Steeler loss
at Veteran’s Stadium in 1997…but to have not won at any stadium in Philly while
I’ve been a sentient being? It was time to do a little googling. They were
right. The Steelers had not won in Philadelphia since October 24, 1965. Now, the only solace is that the Steelers did not seem to
play the Eagles in Philly a whole lot over the last 50 years. In a twist of NFL
scheduling it only totals 8 games. You would have to go back to the 9th game to
their last victory. The day was won for the Steelers with big plays from
Bradshaw. Wait, not that Bradshaw, he did not win in Philly either. This was
JIM Bradshaw who led the defense with 3 interceptions returning one for a touchdown.
This was at least one Bradshaw ago. Terry Bradshaw though did get one, and only
one, crack at bringing home a W along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Eagles
were an upcoming team with the likes of Ron Jaworksi and Wilbert Montgomery.
The Steelers came in undefeated and the current Superbowl champs. The Eagles
would walk away with a victory making a statement to the NFL. The following
year the Eagles would be in the Superbowl.
It would be another 12 years, in 1991, before the Steelers
would head to the eastern part of the state. I remember it well. It was the 4th
game of the season and my friends who were still attending Drexel did not
return to campus until late September. The college started later than most due to its
quarterly academic schedule. It would be too much of a challenge to plan a
trip down. However at that time, I would watch all the Steeler games at Mulcahey’s
pub. And on this first Sunday of fall, summer hung on with all its might. The
bar put the game on at the outside bar, which was never open for football. But
the abundant sunshine allowed for us Sunday dark cave dwellers out into the daylight.
This had to be a good omen. Terry Bradshaw was a distant memory and the QB now
was Bubby Brister. A brash upstart, he took the Steelers on a magical ride in
the 1989 playoffs. Now, two years latter there was an excitement again with
this team. The Steelers were 2-1 and got off to a great start in the first half
of the game. Then the game, and the season fell apart. Brister threw three
second half interceptions and the Eagles took the lead…which they would never relinquish.
Tensions grew between Brister and his All Pro TE Eric Green. The Steelers would
go on to lose 7 of their next 10 games. Brister would eventually be benched
effectively ending his career in Pittsburgh.
1997 the schedule makers would have the Steelers pack their
bags for Philly once again. This time I was going too. The
Eagles were coming off a 10-6 season in 1996 where they had finished first in
the division. The fans were full of hope that 1997 would be THEIR year to
win it all. A slow start and a losing record created unrest among the
fans. An already unruly crowd turned worse. Alcohol was banned
after half time…that didn’t work. Security was enhanced…no impact.
The city of Philadelphia needed a radical idea to turn the tide of
trouble. Their idea was to deal with the perpetrators with swift and
immediate justice. They would install a sanctioned courtroom right on the
premises. They chose Nov 23, 1997 to
implement it. It would be the same game against the Steelers I would be
going to. The Steelers came in as big
favorites. They were 8-3 and among the
best in the AFC. After the bad beginning the Eagles began to steady the ship. A second year QB from Ohio State
would be getting his second start. He was fresh off leading the Eagles to a tie
game in the waning moments against Baltimore. There was an excitement in the stands as this would be Bobby
Hoying’s first home game. This time it would be Kordell Stewart throwing three
interceptions and the Eagles jumped out to a 20-6 lead. The Steelers would
never recover. However, this year the Steelers would make it to the AFC Championship
game. Unfortunately the Steelers would lose, as Stewart would throw three
interceptions in that contest too.
2008 would be the next, and last
time the Steelers would be in Philly. But this time it would be at the new
stadium, The Linc, Lincoln Financial Stadium. I decided not to attend, as now I
was out further east on the Island. I was now married and a bit of a homebody.
I had the NFL package and Max, why would I need anything more. I considered
going as it was said the crowd at the new stadium was more subdued than their
counterparts from a raucous Vet Stadium. However, the Eagles play on the field
brought the crowd to life. Ben Roethlisberger led this incarnation of the
Steeler team. Much like Bradshaw in 1979, he came into the game having a
Supebowl under his belt. The Steelers were among the elite in the AFC, but this
time so were the Eagles. It was no contest. The Eagles treated Ben like he said
something bad about their mother. Ben was sacked 8 times and hit numerous more.
He was eventually pulled from the game to protect him from getting hurt. It was
said recently by Ben that he contemplated retirement after this game. I
couldn’t blame him. Eventually the Steelers would put this travisty behind
them. Ben would go on to win the
Superbowl that year with a last second TD pass. On the victorious podium, Ben
held the Lomardi high and said, “Who’s laughing now O-Line!” I can only imagine
he was thinking back to the Eagles game.
Now it is 2016 and it is the
Steelers 9th try in my lifetime to win in Philadelphia. While the
last two losses have developed into successful seasons for the Black and Gold,
this time I’d prefer they come out with a victory.
It will make my Cheesesteak
taste all the better…
Happy Thanksgiving 2016 Turkey Images
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