It was round to Ed’s on Monday night when a delightful Jodi and Mr. Ed hosted a barbecue in their new home for the two foreigners and Dave, Dave and Sheri. Lots of football talk and jokes, some of the humour losing a little in the translation. We managed to mix in a bit of eating as well.
On the Tuesday, we had an invitation to visit my friend Mike Fabus at the Steelers training complex, on the Southside . The corridor to the training pitch is lined with four poster size photos of the previous weekend’s game. We eagerly assisted Mike in replacing the photos from the Baltimore game with the new Miami victory ones into their frames.
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Photo © Pete Ridley |
Mike gave us a great guided tour of the Steelers facilities. There were two rooms that particularly caught my imagination. As you entered these dimly lit rooms, they were bathed in the sunshine shining brightly from the hidden treasures contained within the rooms.
First, the tape room, where video tapes were being compiled for coaches and players from Sunday’s game. There were more Steelers game tapes than even I have. I did acknowledge the fact that I wouldn’t be able to fit them all into my suitcases so they didn’t have to leave a guard.
The other room that I found particularly interesting was the so-called war room. I thought it would only be used in the build up to each year’s NFL draft. I was certainly wrong about that. Throughout the season they keep details of every player, opponents, free agents, probably everyone in the NFL and those available to the NFL. Fascinating. And with the Steelers’ long-term injury list growing each week, their work is certainly warranted.
While having the tour, I managed to have my photo taken in front of my favourite player’s locker. Well, at the time it seems the done thing. Dan Rooney walked through and Mike introduced us. When I mentioned to Mr. Rooney that I had enjoyed the Lewis and Clark exhibition at the Pittsburgh History Center, Mike said it had earned me a gold star as the project had meant something special to Mr. Rooney. Last year many from the Rooney family retraced the route of that historical expedition.
Several of the Steelers’ coaches, who we were introduced to, mentioned the visits of Chelsea and Manchester United to the complex during the summer. The two soccer teams had played some exhibition games in the U.S.A. and made use of the facilities.
Mike printed the preview of the Browns’ game for us to read while he finished off a few bits and pieces. Football is a game of stats and streaks to fans. As a consequence of the fans’ fascination for facts, Mike handed us 38 pages to read. I gave them to Pete and joked that I would be setting a test for later. One very relevant fact from the preview – Steelers’ Ben Roehlisberger had made the best start for a rookie Steelers' QB since Mike Kruczek went 6-0 in 1976 when he came in for an injured Terry Bradshaw.
Later we went out to dinner with Mike and his charming wife, Linda. During the meal, Mike sprang a surprise on us when he said he would have two field passes put aside for the Steelers’ game. That meant we would be on the field when the players warmed up. Blimey, it doesn’t get better than this.
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Photo © Pete Ridley |
And then, onto New York. With visits to the New York Fire Department Museum, N.Y.P.D. Museum, New York Transport Museum. League of Nations Museum (United Nations.)
We arrived back in Pittsburgh Saturday evening and it was down to the Stardust Lounge for a few pre match beers. Ed, Dave, Dave, Jodi and Helena hosted a superb evening for Pete and myself. Helena, who was visiting from Philadelphia, liked the way we said, “a lot.” So, we had to say that a lot. Not too many beers though, big day to follow. The Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland game day, October 10th:
Another 1300 kick-off, but I was still up at the crack of dawn, keenly anticipating the day ahead. This matchup, with its rivalry and unique history to UK fans, being part of our first football trip, means more than any other fixture. Last year’s debacle, which we had flown 3,500 miles to see, also lingers long in the memory.
We were greeted by beautiful weather as we headed for the stadium, picking up Sheri and Ed’s friend Mike on the way. We parked behind Clark’s bar and I suddenly noticed how cold it had become. The sun had disappeared and the temperature dropped by a few degrees and I was lucky to have Dave’s fleece to keep me warm. I guess we had been spoilt by the sunshine of the previous weekend. This was getting a bit more like real football weather.
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Photo © Pete Ridley |
We left the tailgating early to pay our visit to the field; curious as to which players Pete and I would see. As we walked along the opponents’ sideline, I could see the Browns play books neatly laid out behind the team area. I wondered what stadium security would have done if I had opened one up.
We moved over to the Steelers’ side and spotted Mike who introduced us to his brother and nephew who were also sharing in this unique experience. Dan Rooney was also there enjoying the atmosphere.
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We stood on the green grass set in the middle of the gold bowl of Heinz Field. Well, we did very briefly, before security asked everyone not to tread on the turf.
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Mike Fabus working at his hobby |
A few fans had taken their seats early and a few gathered along the barriers nearest to the field. Keen to get close to their idols.
Ben Roethlisberger was out on the field working with a coach. Mike gave me some advice on what time Big Ben would be leaving the warm up as Ben quite often signed autographs. Hines Ward and Jerome Bettis were quite happy to accommodate their fans, even posing with them for photos.
I almost missed Big Ben coming off, but a good friend tipped me off. Not expecting to have an opportunity like this, I took my game ticket out in anticipation of obtaining Ben’s autograph. He signed quite a few before saying that he had to go. Fortunately, and maybe because I was wearing his shirt, he did sign my ticket before making his way back to the locker room.
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Photo © Pete Ridley |
This had been a Kodak moment and I was lucky to make it onto the Steelers web site amongst the photos from the Browns’ game. It doesn’t get better than this.
There was a guy from Washington on the sideline who made a remark about the England shirt that Pete was wearing. He told us about the fan following that the English soccer team has in Washington and how they were gutted when England were knocked out of Euro 2004. Not half as upset as my daughter and myself as we had vouchers to get tickets for the final - if England had made it!.
Different players came out to warm up before disappearing again to dress for the game. Finally all the players came out to warm up and we thought it prudent to make our way to our seats ready for the start of the game. The Browns were greeted with very loud booing as they made their appearance. Then the towels came out and the fans stood up to greet their black and gold heroes.
Joey Porter was the last Steeler to be introduced to the crowd and he was one pumped up gladiator. Stomping up and down, Porter roared at the the fans encouraging them to reach for the sky with their Terrible Towels. Cleveland failed to heed this visible warning of things to come.
The Pittsburgh Steelers faced the invading Browns army from Cleveland. Winning the coin toss and electing to receive, Steelers' rookie Ricardo Colcough returned the kick-off 48 yards to the Browns' 41. The Steelers had entered the enemy's territory on the first play of the game. It showed their commitment and enthusiasm to force a win put forced the Browns immediately onto the back foot..
Battles never begin like this, surely? You feel your way around gradually, looking for those weak spots that you know you can exploit later when bodies begin to get tired and reactions slow down. That's what is supposed to happen, but this is what actually happened. Two runs and one pass later, the Steelers were seven points up and the crowd were on their feet celebrating, waving those golden towels. It can’t get better than this, surely?
The Browns obviously didn’t feel like rolling over and taking second place to their bitter rivals so soon. On the Steelers’ next possession, Big Ben’s pass was dropped by Randle El and intercepted and run back for a Browns’ defensive score. Game tied 7-7. Oh well, perhaps it can get better than this. And it did.
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Big Ben in action |
The Steelers controlled the game well for the first half. Big Ben showed his impressive poise once again. Rolling right, being chased by the Cleveland defense, off balance and he still managed to launch a 37 yard rocket to Plaxico Burress to make it 24-10.
The Steelers went in at half time with a lead of 27-13. Restricting their opponents to just two field goals, Big Ben had marched his Steel army on the rampage, seemingly with ease at times. Big Ben ran it in from 6 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter before connecting with a 37 yard touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the second.
On the Browns’ opening possession of the second half the Steel defense scaled the wall of Cleveland’s offensive line to sack their QB Garcia twice, forcing the Browns to punt. Roethlisberger took the helm using his new battering ram of Duce Staley to hammer Cleveland’s defense into submission. Five runs for forty yards, complemented by runs from the Bus that included a 3 yard touchdown run. The Steelers were now 34-13 ahead and the roars of “Cleveland Sucks!” echoed around the stadium.
Cleveland were just being humiliated and the Steelers’ fans were enjoying the rout. The few Browny fans that were dotted around in the seats were now looking very sheepish and appeared ready to embark on the long journey home.
With such a big lead, the Steelers began to get conservative, in an attempt to see the clock out. On one third and short situation, even I predicted they would give the ball to Bettis. They did and he was stopped!
The
Browns took some heart from this cautious approach and began to find new
a new spirit. They reduced the deficit to 34-23 before the steel defense
showed the team the way to victory. It doesn’t get any better than
this.
We
slowly wound our way out of the stadium. A defeat of the Browns, oh so
sweet. This definitely made up for last year. We met back in the parking
lot to say some farewells before moving onto Primanti’s again. Ed
presented me with a “F*** Cleveland T-shirt, which now hangs in
my conservatory, sadly – along with Roethlisberger’s shirt.
The headline in the Tribune-Review the next day was “Raising the
bar? Steelers play ‘best game yet.’ It doesn’t get better
than this. It didn’t, but having said that, there’s always
next year.