Immaculate Reception Plus 50 Years - Franco Harris (1950-2022): "Always Run to the Ball"

In 1972, the Pittsburgh Steelers won an all-time record 11 regular season games thanks to the efforts of many memorable players, several of which would one day be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Rookie running back sensation Franco Harris, named NFL Rookie of the Year, scored eleven touchdowns and carried the ball 188 times for 1,055 yards – an all-time NFL rookie rushing yards record!?His per carry average of 5.61 yards was also an all-time NFL rookie record.?Accolades and awards poured in for No. 32 including being named Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year. ?But Noll, Franco and the entirety of the team realized that the silent stars of the season were the unrecognized stalwarts who played on the Steelers offensive line including five starters - center Ray Mansfield, left guard Sam Davis and right guard Bruce Van Dyke, right tackle Gerry Mullins and left tackle Jon Kolb. That having been said, December 23, 1972 will always be remembered for the incredible miraculous play of one man who pulled victory out of the jaws of bitter defeat - the original Italian Stallion if you will. Son of an African American World War II veteran Cad Harris and his Italian war bride Gina Parenti - Franco Dok Harris. But sadly No. 32 in Black and Gold, about to have his number retired this weekend during the Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers football game, passed away earlier this week December 20th at the age of 72. A fiftieth anniversary celebration of his Immaculate Reception will go forward but without Franco there to smile and provide his thoughtful remembrance of the play that is called the Greatest Play in the History of the National Football League.

Coach Chuck Noll tried his best to prepare the Steelers for the playoffs, with only six days rest before their first contest.?Pittsburgh’s only postseason performances in the past came in 1947 and 1962, both losses, so there was absolutely no precedence for Pittsburgh’s playoff success.?And the Steelers’ opponent was playoff tested - John Madden’s Oakland Raiders, still smarting from their season opening almost consummated comeback loss, 34-28, to Noll’s squad and not intimidated in the least at the prospect of a return matchup at the same venue, Three Rivers Stadium, on Saturday Dec. 23, 1972 with a kickoff time of 1 pm.?This author was one of millions of Americans watching the game on NBC television.

50,327 fans were there, most of whom were pulling for the Steelers in a playoff game they all hoped Pittsburgh could somehow beat the odds and win.?Unlike their season opener in which 62 points were scored by both teams, neither the Steelers nor Raiders scored in the first two quarters of the playoff matchup.?Near the end of the first half, the teams traded punts until the clock clicked 0:00.?Chuck Noll, usually a reserved soft spoken motivator, may have said something to remind his players in the halftime locker room that the Steelers had never won a playoff game and didn’t particularly look like they would this time either.?Whether this happened or not is speculation but there is little doubt that when the Steelers ran onto the field after halftime that they looked determined to change the status quo.?They moved the football mostly thanks to Terry Bradshaw’s passes from their own 22 yard line to the Raiders eleven.?But on third down Fuqua dropped a pass and Roy Gerela came in to kick an 18 yard field goal to put Noll’s team ahead 3-0.?Both teams’ defenses got the third quarter shutout as the Steelers forced John Madden’s team to punt both times they had the ball.?Raiders starting quarterback Daryle Lamonica, who completed only six of 18 passes for a paltry 45 yards was sacked once and threw two interceptions, so Madden replaced him with Ken Stabler.

In the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter, the Raiders gave up the ball three times, once on a punt and Pittsburgh took charge.?Oakland would cough up four turnovers that day, two interceptions and two lost fumbles, as compared to Pittsburgh’s only miscue, an interception.?But critically they never were able to convert any of those into touchdowns.?The Steelers did get a first down on a Franco Harris 11 yard burst, however the Raiders stopped them again but not before Gerela was able to kick a 29 yard field goal and increase Pittsburgh’s lead to 6-0.?Fans of the Steelers were getting more excited as the clock showed only four minutes left in the game, but Raiders signal caller Kenny “The Snake” Stabler wasn’t giving up despite massive defensive line pressure from Joe Greene, Dwight White and other Black and Gold defenders. ?First down, incomplete; second down, Stabler’s pass again was thrown quickly to avoid the sack and it too fell incomplete.?However Steelers fans winced mightily when the Raider quarterback threw complete to the Pittsburgh 30.?Pittsburgh fans crossed their fingers for good luck and fervently hoped for a big Steelers sack as Stabler dropped back to pass.?Reacting to a determined defensive blitz, Stabler did the unexpected, he circled wide around the left end, miraculously avoiding rookie defensive end Craig Hannerman and hustled thirty yards into the end zone.?George Blanda’s extra point kick was good and stunned Steelers faithful cried out “Oh no – not again!”?Oakland led 7-6 and in all likelihood were advancing in the playoffs.

A few observers in the stands that day just felt an uncanny sense that something wonderful, against all odds, may just happen for the Black and Gold.?Seventy three seconds were left on the game clock and Bradshaw triggered more hope when he passed nine yards to Franco, then eleven yards to Fuqua.?But the Raiders made their adjustments and stepped it up on defense.?Bradshaw forced to throw quickly, tossed three desperate incomplete passes.?It was over some fans thought as some began moving to the exits with only 22 seconds left on the clock.?Even if Terry threw underneath against the Raiders field long defensive coverage, the clock would probably run out after two short gains. So, alas, some things never change, some pessimistic fans thought to themselves – “Same Old Steelers!”

Team owner Art Rooney, Sr. had already left his private box on the fifty yard line and got on an elevator to the lower levels of the stadium where the players’ locker room was located.?He would console his team and later shed a tear for what might have been.?On the sidelines, Coach Chuck Noll knew logically that winning against such long odds was a very remote possibility but maybe even he sensed that he might be wrong about that.?He spoke quickly and calmly to rookie receiver Barry Pearson, then sent him into the game with instructions for Bradshaw’s supercritical next play call – Noll’s “sixty-six pass.”

Bradshaw got the center snap from Ray Mansfield at the Steelers 40 yard line and looked to connect with Pearson, but a Raiders defender grabbed, clawed and dived at No. 12 who was just able to squirm from his grasp.?Rolling out quickly to the left there was nothing but silver and black opposing uniforms blocking his path – he suddenly moved back to the right.?“C’mon Terry!” yelled the crowd. In the NBC-TV broadcast booth Curt Gowdy was providing his play by play account of the game on national television to millions of people. However, the official radio voices of the Pittsburgh Steelers football club were color analyst Myron Cope (a University of Pittsburgh graduate) and play by play man Jack Fleming (a West Virginia University graduate and decades-long radio voice of Mountaineer football and basketball games). Gowdy and Fleming's voices would for posterity record a description of the incredible events about to unfold.

While downstairs, Pittsburgh Pirates announcer Bob Prince held the elevator door open for Art Rooney, on the field above the game was playing out.?Barry Pearson was bottled up by Oakland defenders that covered him like a glove.?Bradshaw was forced to scramble around in the backfield looking for another receiver.?He had only a few seconds left before a disastrous tackle was likely by a Raiders defender so he launched a rocket of a pass toward running back Frenchy Fuqua at the Raider 35 yard line.?But Oakland safety No. 31 Jack Tatum sped from where he was covering tight end John McMakin to the spot where Fuqua might catch the ball.?Tatum, Fuqua, and the ball converged simultaneously.?A second later the ball was flying back upfield as Tatum stood where Fuqua was sprawled on the synthetic turf.

No. 32 Franco Harris, commended later by Noll who remarked, “good things happen to those who hustle,” had seen the ball and with the utmost speed he could muster got to it in the nick of time to snag the rock less than a foot above ground and then quickly scrambled full speed down the left sideline to incredibly score an impossible touchdown!?Five seconds were left in the game as a horrendously loud joyous pandemonium engulfed Three Rivers Stadium.?Hundreds of fans stormed the field, some embraced Bradshaw, others just stood flabbergasted, smiling broadly and raising their arms in triumph.?The Immaculate Reception NFL Legend was born!

?The game officials huddled together and after telephoning NFL Official Art McNally, referee Fred Swearingen signaled touchdown and Pittsburgh fans whooped and crowed ever louder.?Gerela’s extra point kick was virtually ignored as the scoreboard read Pittsburgh 13 Oakland 7.?After the kickoff and one incomplete pass, Pittsburgh’s 493rd all-time game ended with the greatest play in franchise history – an unbelievable 60 yard touchdown pass from Terry Bradshaw to Franco Harris. For decades thereafter, Franco and his teammates including Terry Bradshaw, would joyfully reminisce about The Play with No. 32 ultimately explaining how he was so lucky to have scored his most memorable touchdown by reminding everyone something he learned while playing at Penn State University, "Even if the play goes far downfield, don't ever give up, always run to the ball."

In the bowels of Three Rivers Stadium, The Chief – owner Art Rooney had heard quite a commotion coming from upstairs and was overjoyed when he saw Steelers punter Bobby Walden walking into the locker room exclaiming loudly, “We won, we won, we won!”

Terry Bradshaw that day was sacked three times but rushed two times for 19 yards and completed 11 of 25 passes for 175 yards, outdoing two Oakland signal callers who combined only threw for 102 yards.?Franco Harris carried the ball 18 times for 64 yards and caught five passes for 96 yards.?The Steel Curtain defense grabbed four takeaways and sacked Lamonica and Stabler at total of four times surrendering single digit points or less for the seventh time in the 1972 season.

Franco Harris' play epitomized the turnaround of the Steelers from one of the worst ever NFL teams to the best. The remarks of current Steelers President Art Rooney II are spot on, "My grandfather (and founder of the Steelers) was once quoted as saying: 'Before Franco got here, we didn't win much, since he got here, we don't lose.' I think that sums it up pretty good."

Aside from this most popular American sport, Franco should more importantly perhaps be remembered for his charity, kindness, gentlemanly disposition, and immense commitment to community and the individual in need. There are countless stories of people who he went out of the way to counsel, aid, and assist, both financially and otherwise. So, Franco is no longer with us, but we'll always remember him, his deeds, and of course his Immaculate Reception that in the Seventies and beyond helped make his new hometown The City of Champions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYlztRsEYyc

Postscript: Noll versus Madden from 1972 to 1978 was a knock down drag out 50-50 struggle with both coaches winning five games.?Noll took a 3-0 series lead in that seven year period with a tough nasty and tit for tat pushing and shoving match, a 17-9 road win in a regular season game in 1973 that saw the Raiders win the statistical battle while the Steelers grabbed five takeaways, a Mike Wagner fumble recovery and interceptions by Mel Blount, Glen Edwards, and two by Dwight White, all thrown by Raiders signal caller Daryle Lamonica.?Some refer to this Nov 11th matchup in Oakland as “the dirty tricks game.”?After the game, Steelers Vice President Dan Rooney outlined to NFL officials some of the unusual means the Raiders allegedly used to their advantage.?Examples included unexplained lags in running the game clock that allowed the Raiders to kick a field goal right before half.?Another allegation was that Oakland offensive linemen coated their jerseys with a greasy substance to make it especially difficult for Steelers defenders to shed their blocks.?Finally, the Steelers center Ray Mansfield charged that the officials handed him a partially deflated ball that he refused to use during a field goal attempt. However, Oakland finally got their revenge as the Raiders immensely enjoyed a home playoff retribution defeating Noll’s team on Dec. 22, 1973.?Ken Stabler completed 14 of 17 passes and Marv Hubbard scored two running touchdowns. Defender Willie Brown had a 54 yard pick six score and George Blanda kicked four field goals in?the 33-14 rout. In 1974 after Oakland won two games in a row to close the series gap to 3-2 in favor of Noll over Madden, it looked the Raiders were on a roll as they relished this 17-0 demolition of the Steelers.?But when the playoffs rolled around, Coach Madden unwisely referred to Oakland’s 28-26 win over Miami as involving “the two best teams in the NFL.”?After the game, Chuck Noll called a team meeting telling his players that they, not the Raiders, were the best.?Pittsburgh went to the Oakland Coliseum and repaid the Raiders with a dominating 24-13 AFC Championship Game performance on their way to their first Super Bowl win – 16-6 over Minnesota.?The next season, 1975, again as the Steelers won a second consecutive Super Bowl over Dallas, 21-17, they first played Oakland in a hard fought conference championship game at Three Rivers Stadium, winning 16-10 as Noll took a 5-2 lead on Madden’s Raiders.?In a very bumpy 1976 regular season start that saw Pittsburgh win only one of their first five games, the Raiders won one of those four games 31-28 over the Black and Gold.?However in an amazing defensive showing which included five shutout victories and an incredible net point difference of 274 to 42, Pittsburgh went on to win ten consecutive games including a 40-14 playoff win in Baltimore.?However, Oakland finally broke through in ’76 to win their first Super Bowl by first dominating the Steelers 24-7, who unfortunately were without the services of two superb running backs – Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier – both of whom were injured.?This win cut Noll’s margin over Madden to 5-4.?The Raiders made it three consecutive wins in a Sept. 25, 1977 victory, 16-7, at Three Rivers Stadium.?The teams did not play in 1978, a season in which Pittsburgh dominated the NFL winning 14 of 16 regular season games and besting the Cowboys 35-31 in the Big Game. After ’78 Madden had retired, but if you include the Steelers pre-dynasty 1970 regular season 31-14 loss, then Madden won the series versus Noll by a count of 6-5.

Copyright 2022 - by Jeffrey W. Mason

A Special Thanks to Itz Yinzburgh for their video remembrance of Franco's career and for providing footage of The Immaculate Reception