Steelers Home Opener Photos

Some photos from the Steelers home opener on Thursday, Sept. 10th, 2009

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.

Steelers Win Home Opener in Overtime

What a day.

I started the day getting up at 5am, eating breakfast, checking email and heading out on the road to Pittsburgh. I arrived at my Dad’s house around 1pm and was on the road to the game by 2:30. We got to our spot in the parking lot around 3:30.

We headed into the stadium around 6:30, walked through the Great Hall to see the new Super Bowl XLIII trophy (it was awesome and I’ll post a photo here in a while). We headed to Club West early for some food and and were in our seats early. It’s not every year, you open the season as the reigning Super Bowl Champions. I knew they would have a great opening ceremony and I was right. They started with a video montage of the Super Bowl, raised a giant 6 time champs flag and fireworks. The crowd was loud, proud and ready for some football.

Leading up to the game there were many activities going on around the stadium. Tim McGraw was live in Point state park, The Black Eyed Peas were there as well and they both played songs for the beginning of the game. I’m not a big fan of either, so it was ok for me. The excitement and enthusiasm of the crowd was great though.

Kickoff!

This is a good place to start the critique of the game, ladies and gentleman, we have a kick/punt returner and probably the best since Randle El left. Logan started off with a 40 yd kickoff return and did a great job all game. He’s going to be a big help this year.

The Offense was a little flat at first but Ben hooked up on a few nice passing plays. He also proved to me that he needs the pressure of the clock to make him very good. He was exceptional at the end of the half, the end of regulation and the OT. He is cool as a cucumber when the clock is ticking.

We are going to be in trouble unless Tomlin gets this running game in shape and that starts with the offensive line. We have 4 healthy running backs and need to take advantage of this now. Total Offense Grade = C (the running game brings this average way down) Big Ben and the WR crew Grade = B+

The Defense… wow. Troy came out and took control of the game early. He was in on every play, made some great tackles and a highlight reel interception. That one hand grab was incredible. We stopped the run and until Troy went out hurt, we dominated the Titans. After Troy went out, the Titans took advantage and did very well. Defensive Overall – Grade B+

The punter… Sepulveda was a stud and I am glad he is back. He backed the Titans up several times and bailed us out of some situations with his leg. Special Teams Grade = A

We played well when we needed to and walked away with a big overtime win but it cost us Troy Polamalu and the O Line is going to be criticized for a week. I think they are down playing Troy’s injury, the official report is MCL ’sprain’ and after seeing that injury on tape, he is going to be out 8-12 weeks (in my opinion) and that will hurt us.

A great day and I’m glad I went to the game, it was a great time.

Go Steelers.

Pat

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.

Steelers Release Players to Adjust Roster to 53

Steelers reduce roster to 53
Saturday, September 5, 2009

PITTSBURGH ? The Steelers finalized their regular season roster today by releasing 21 players and placing another on the Reserve/Injured List to reach the NFL-mandated 53-player limit.

The team’s final roster includes three quarterbacks, four running backs, six wide receivers, three tight ends, nine offensive linemen, seven defensive linemen, eight linebackers, 10 defensive backs and three specialists (kicker, punter and long snapper).

The Steelers released the following players to reach their 53-man roster limit: quarterback Mike Reilly; running backs Carey Davis, Isaac Redman and Justin Vincent; wide receivers Dallas Baker, Tyler Grisham and Brandon Williams; tight end Dezmond Sherrod; offensive linemen Jason Capizzi, Jeremy Parquet and A.Q. Shipley; defensive linemen Sonny Harris, Steve McClendon and Scott Paxson; linebackers Bruce Davis, Tom Korte, Andy Schantz and Donovan Woods; defensive backs Roy Lewis and Anthony Madison; and kicker Piotr Czech.

Sixth-year veteran tight end Sean McHugh was placed on the team’s Reserve/Injured List and will miss the entire 2009 season after injuring his knee during training camp.

All NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by 6 p.m. (ET) Saturday, September 5. Clubs may establish a practice squad of up to eight players after noon (ET) Sunday, Sept. 6.

The Steelers will kick off the NFL season at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 when they host the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field.

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.

Founder of Terrible Towel and My Favorite Announcer Dies…

Myron Cope, the legendary voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers who pioneered the club’s Terrible Towel, died Wednesday morning. He was 79.

In declining health even before his retirement prior to the 2005 season after a record 35 years of Steelers broadcasts, Cope died of respiratory failure at a nursing home in a Pittsburgh suburb.

“Myron touched the hearts of Steelers fans for 35 years and became one of the true legends in broadcasting history,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said. “His memorable voice and unique broadcasting style became synonymous with Steelers football. They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery and no Pittsburgh broadcaster was impersonated more than Myron.”

Cope, whose screechy voice was a staple of Steelers football from 1970-2004 as a color analyst on the club’s radio network, is best known for creating the Terrible Towel, the yellow cloth twirled by fans as a good-luck charm at Steelers games since the mid-1970s. His tenure is the longest in NFL history for a broadcaster with a single team.

“His contributions and dedication to Steelers football were incredible,” Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said. “His creation of the Terrible Towel has developed into a worldwide symbol that is synonymous with Steelers football.”

Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2005, Cope also is known for his many catch-phrases including Bee-uti-ful!, “Okel-dokel,” and “Double Yoi.”

When Cope retired, the Steelers opted not to replace the popular broadcaster, instead downsizing from a three-man announcing team to a two-man booth.

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.

The Steeler Fanatic is Here, Are you Ready for some Football?

Well, here we are getting ready for another Season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, so I decided it was time to put my passion onto the web. I realize most of you may not know me, but I am a Steeler Fanatic. I have been following the Pittsburgh Steelers faithfully since I was a little kid and the just about all my family are Steeler fans. In fact, the area I grew up in is the half way point between Pittsburgh and Cleveland so there are a lot of Browns fans in our area as well.

The best part is going to the games with my Dad, we have been going to games for as long as I can remember. I have memories from when I was very young, once we waited in the area where the team buses brought the players to the games to see Joe Namath. I remember that like it was yesterday.

It’s something we both look forward to each year, I know I will remember these games and the time we spend together for as long as I live. I love going back and seeing friends and family that go to the games and arrive at the ‘tailgating’ areas as early as 8am.

I’ve been through the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the good years and the horrible years. I’ve seen Bradshaw, Lambert, Franco, Bubby, Malone, Kordell (those years were tough), Greg Lloyd, Kevin Greene, Merril Hodge, The Bus, and almost every opposing team and their star players, and after all this, I remain a loyal fan. I still get chills when the players run onto the field, fans waving terrible and cheering “Here we go Steelers, Here we go”. I love the atmosphere in the Stadium.

You might not think that’s a big deal, but I live 7 hours from the Stadium and go to almost all the home games! I was born and raised not very far from ‘The Burgh’ in a small town that claims Bill Mazeroski as our most famous Resident. Couple that with a Steel Mill nearly in my back yard and a Father that worked his entire life in the Mills, and it very easy to be a Steeler fan. Being a Steeler Fan in the 70’s REALLY made it easy. Remember the Glory Years of 4 Super Bowl wins in 6 years?

My Mom and Dad still live in the house I grew up in but I moved to Bloomington, Indiana about 16 years ago for bigger and better things. Well, I found bigger and better things, I call them My Wife and Kids . We love it in Bloomington and have a great life here, but during Football Season it gets rather hectic trying to plan everything around my trips back to Pittsburgh. Thankfully, my wife is very understanding and knew I was like this Before we were married.

So, that’s my ‘brief’ story and the reason for this Blog. I’m going to take a lot of time during the early stages to put up as many ‘old’ photos and stories as I can while keeping up with the current season. Now that I think about this, I probably should have started this in the Off Season, nah…….what fun would that be.

Thanks for stopping by and if you are a STEELER FANATIC like me, get ready for a fun ride this year!

Here we go Steelers – Here we Go!

Written by Pat Lovell - The Steeler Fanatic
Pat has been following the Pittsburgh Steelers for over 30 years and is known worldwide as "The Steeler Fanatic". If you are interested in contributing to this website or would like Pat to contribute to your Blog, Website or Publication, Click Here.