Remembering Franco Harris and the Immaculate Reception

The enduring reminiscence for me is the noise. That, and the customarily forgotten confusion over an obscure N.F.L. rule that nearly annulled the “Immaculate Reception.”

The announcement of Franco Harris’s dying on Wednesday, simply two days earlier than the fiftieth anniversary of the unforgettable play, calls up a swirl of reminiscences for me, some as a result of I used to be within the stands on the recreation, some from having been within the Pittsburgh universe then.

Again then, the Steelers’ historic ineptitude was a notable backdrop to that 1972 playoff recreation. The staff had beforehand made it to the postseason solely as soon as in its 40-year historical past — and that had been in 1947. The Steelers had been the Houston Texans of their day.

Fortunately for me, my father had seen promise on this model of the staff and purchased season tickets, which means we might be among the many lucky 50,000 individuals in Pittsburgh who might watch the sport because it occurred.

In these days earlier than the N.F.L. absolutely boomed in recognition, the league believed dwell broadcasts within the house staff’s metropolis would deter ticket gross sales — and the rule weirdly utilized even to a sold-out playoff recreation.

The sport was a brutal defensive battle within the December chilly, with a scoreless first half. The Steelers constructed a 6-0 lead on two subject objectives, however then what had appeared inevitable lastly occurred: The favored Raiders scored a landing with simply over a minute left.

Issues regarded grim. Associates who got here with us left to beat the group. (Regrets? They’ve a couple of.)

Fortunately, my father is a giant believer in staying to the tip. You by no means know what is going to occur, he says — a lesson he discovered after as soon as lacking an unlikely end to a basketball recreation.

So there we had been, standing at our seats in the long run zone behind the play and, like all the opposite Steelers followers, holding solely the faintest hope as that determined fourth-down play unfolded.

Our hopes collapsed when Terry Bradshaw’s lengthy move bounced away from John “Frenchy” Fuqua and into the air. In my reminiscence, there was a shared groan all through the stadium.

After which!

Bedlam. Harris was operating, the group was roaring, the referees had been huddling. Had the ball touched a Raider after it bounced off Fuqua, or had it bounced from one Steeler to the subsequent? The foundations on the time didn’t permit a participant to deflect a move to his personal teammate, even inadvertently.

It will have taken a daring official to rule the play unlawful with a jubilant crowd spilling into the tip zone round him, and naturally the play stood.

Hours later, the broadcaster Myron Cope, himself a beloved Pittsburgh character, took a name from a listener whose buddy had christened the play “The Immaculate Reception.” The legend had its vital luster.

In a blink, Harris had change into the prince of Pittsburgh. His followers, taking part in off his mom’s heritage, labeled themselves “Franco’s Italian Military” and even Frank Sinatra joined their ranks.

The Steelers misplaced to the Dolphins within the subsequent spherical, however gained 4 Tremendous Bowls within the subsequent eight years. Harris went on to change into the second-leading rusher in league historical past, earn induction into the Corridor of Fame and see his statue positioned subsequent to George Washington’s in Pittsburgh Worldwide Airport.

He remained humble, at the same time as a 22-year-old within the delirious second of his most well-known landing. That grace and good will made him all of the extra beloved. His military of followers stays, if in sudden mourning as we put together to honor the anniversary of the catch that also conjures the considered divine intervention.