That huge sigh of relief you may have heard or felt today was from dozens of parents, students, teachers and coaches across Hampton Roads following National Signing Day. Imagine having the next 4 or 5 years of your college education payed for free of charge! In these tough economic times, its hard to put a price tag on that.

Football players across the area signed National Letters of Intent today and quickly sent them thru the fax machine to their college choice. It’s a ritual played out each year across the country. It’s the final process of years of hard work on both the field of play, the weight room and in the classroom.

As a highly recruited athlete myself, I remember signing day like it was yesterday. It was one of the biggest days of my young life and the sense of relief was enormous. The long and frustrating recruiting process was finally over and the next chapter of my life was clearly ahead of me. Not only was I proud of my accomplishments, I felt a great sense of pride for being able to help out my parents. Yes I know how these players are feeling today and when I see the smiles on the parents faces, I can recall the joy felt by my mother and father who were at my side the day I signed with Virginia Tech.

National signing day marks both the end and beginning of a long journey. These players have put in countless hours to get to this point in their career. Now with their high school career almost behind them, it’s time to focus on the future and where their next challenge lies. While all of these kids were stars in high school, they will quickly find out that it will be tougher to distinguish themselves at the next level. These players will quickly find out that everybody on the field of play is an All-Something player. And if they thought they got hit in high school, wait until a seasoned college senior gets a running start and welcomes them to the college game!

But that’s a lesson to be learned tomorrow. These college bound student athletes can enjoy what they have earned today and for each player who signed to play college football, enjoy the day and feeling because you earned it.

Let us not forget that the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees will be announced tomorrow afternoon.

 

One of the finalists is Bruce Smith, who grew up in Norfolk and has lived in Virginia Beach the past 20 years or so.

 

Bruce of course the all-time sack leader, he went to four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills before ending his career with the Redskins, and I think Bruce is a shoe in this his first year of eligibility for the Hall of Fame.

Anyone else troubled by this trend?  College football coach interviews with an NFL team and then gets fired by the university.  It happened to Boston College’s last coach.  And, this week, it happened at Hampton University to Jerry Holmes.

Holmes told HU that he was going to interview for some NFL jobs at this year’s Senior Bowl.  HU was not cool with it.  When he interviewed anyway, they fired him. 

HU says the timing was the issue.  Other schools were telling recruits not to go to Hampton because their coach may not be around.

Maybe I just don’t get it, but why can’t you tell that same recruit that Holmes is interested in NFL jobs and the NFL is interested in him.  He could go if the job is right.  If it’s not, he will stay and teach these young kids how to one day get to the NFL.  Every college athlete hopes to improve enough to play professionally.  Jerry Holmes knows what it takes to do that.  But Hampton didn’t want him.

I just don’t get it.  You fire Jerry Holmes and promote an assistant.  How is that any different than keeping Holmes?  You have basically the same staff, except now you don’t have a guy who is NFL qualify.

I hope it works out for Hampton.  Their new coach is a Norfolk guy and seems motivated to put the Pirates back in the playoffs.  I just don’t think high aspirations is a fireable offense.

 

“Hang onto your hats.  Here come the Steelers out of the huddle.  Terry Bradshaw at the controls.  22 seconds remaining; and this crowd is standing.  Bradshaw back and looking again.  Bradshaw runs out of the pocket…looking for somebody to throw to…fires it downfield…and there’s a collision…IT’S CAUGHT OUT OF THE AIR!  THE BALL IS PULLED IN BY FRANCO HARRIS!  HARRIS IS GOING FOR A TOUCHDOWN FOR PITTSBURGH!”   

Jack Fleming,  WTAE Radio December 23rd, 1972

 

The words crackled through the darkness of my father’s basement.  The old clock radio sitting on Dad’s workbench; our only connection to NFL history in a pre-cable TV world.  In 1972, playoff games were blacked-out in local TV markets.  So long-suffering fans of the Steelers had to reach back to the days when great moments were painted by artists of audio; masters of language, who drew images of competition,  and sent them over the air to big screens that existed only in the mind.  Radio invited the fertile imagination of the dedicated sports fan, and before 1972, there weren’t many as loyal, or more patient, than those who put up with the Steelers.  Nearly every Sunday, they wound up on the short end; a perpetual doormat for other NFL teams–a trend that continued for 40 years. 

But by 1972, the ingredients of greatness came together, like coal, limestone and iron ore mixed in one of Pittsburgh’s blast furnaces; a young coach named Chuck Noll molded a team of heavy metal which terrorized the AFC Central Division with an 11-3 record.  Rookie running back Franco Harris began a decade of dominance behind an offensive line worthy of the city’s blue-collar pride.   That season also saw a brash young quarterback from Louisiana Tech fill the air with pigskin bullets; the final shot hitting an unlikely target and cementing a place in football lore.  Terry Bradshaw was showing mustard seeds of leadership that would blossom into a Hall-of-Famer career in the Steel City.

But on this cloudy Sunday, in my father’s dark  basement.  I stood with Dad as we watched the radio and hung on the play-by-play description of Jack Fleming.  It was the Steelers first post-season appearance since 1947, when the Philadelphia Eagles took them out to the woodshed for an embarassing 21-0 thrashing.   On this cold December afternoon, the Oakland Raiders descended on Three Rivers Stadium.  It was the first of many clashes on green battlefields throughout the decade. 

Dad didn’t care much for NFL football.  He followed the college game.  Notre Dame and Pitt were his two teams.  He worked as a carpenter at the University of Pittsburgh during this time.  In 1972, the Pitt Panthers, like the Steelers,  were on the cusp of greatness.  The legs of Tony Dorsett, another proud warrior from Western Pennsylvania,  would carry the Panthers to the National Championship in 1976.  But two days before Christmas four years earlier, we listened, father and son, to the Steelers.  Dad’s cigarette gave off a faint orange glow in our unfinished basement.  His weathered face listening to Fleming’s electronic description of the action behind a faint blue veil of tobacco smoke.

The Steelers already had the reputation of a bone-crunching defense.   Joe Greene,  Jack Ham, and Mel Blount  were just starting Hall of Fame careers.  Future members of the Hall on offense, Bradshaw and Harris, were quiet on this afternoon.  The first half ended:  Steelers 0 Raiders 0.

Dad didn’t say much.  I was a 10 year old boy with shaggy hair who daydreamed about making the “big play” in all sports.  When I got together with the guys, we would play baseball, wiffle ball, street hockey, basketball, and football.  If we didn’t have enough for a game, imaginations flourished with re-creations of the Baltimore Colts, Dallas Cowboys or Green Bay Packers.   I would announce highlights that came straight out of those iconic slow-motion football ballets that put NFL Films on the map.   But in 1972, we all wanted to be Steelers! 

“Bradshaw back to throw…complete to Ron Shanklin who gets away from two defenders down the sideline TOUCHDOWN…Steelers win the Super Bowl!  (This is followed by all of us mimicking the roaring crowds who shower us with adoration)  

This was “Fantasy Football” to a 10 year old in 1972 Pittsburgh.

But the Raiders were real and giving the Steelers fits.  In the second half, Pittsburgh kicker Roy Gerela managed two short field goals, and the  Steelers looked like they were on their way to their first ever playoff win.  But Oakland, had mounted a last minute touchdown drive and had suddenly gone ahead, 7-6. Ken Stabler, the quarterback who had replaced Daryle Lamonica the start of the final quarter, had run 30 yards down the sideline for the Raider touchdown with only 1 minute 13 seconds left to play. 

Dad looked at me and said, “Well, there’s always the river.” 

I was angry and moaned about going this far only to blow it.  I pouted about how the Steelers were supposed to lose.  

“Pipe down, will yah?”  shhhhh.  “We have another shot at it.  Take it easy.”

Bradshaw started at his own 20, and threw five straight passes.  Then the Steelers found themselves with fourth down on their own 40.  Just 22 seconds left.  That basement was quiet except for the thin AM sound  from that old clock radio.   Bradshaw’s pass ricocheted off Oakland safety Jack Tatum as he collided with Steeler running back Frenchy Fuqa.  Franco Harris just happened to be at the right place at the right time.  He scooped up the ball before it hit the ground and sprinted the down the sideline with what was later dubbed, “The Immaculate Reception.” 

The Steelers had their first ever playoff win, and I ran up the wooden steps from the basement to the kitchen door, and ran outside to meet the rest of the guys!   We re-created what we heard on the radio two days before Christmas in 1972.  Pittsburgh would lose the AFC title game to the fabled Miami Dolphins, who went 17-0 that year.  But that magic moment on a cold Sunday in Pittsburgh triggered a tidal wave of excellence that formed the Steeler Nation!

Chesapeake native, Indian River grad, NBA star, and my old friend,
Alonzo Mourning ,announced his retirement today.

He’s had quite an impressive 16 year career as a professional basketball player, but for those of us who know him- he’s more than just a basketball player.  I met Zo years ago at a RUN D.M.C. concert at the Norfolk Scope.   I was with some buddies and he was with some buddies and we all quickly became friends.   Zo has always been approachable and willing to help the less fortunate.  He didn’t have a rich upbringing when it comes to money and material things, but he will tell you his immediate and extended family provided him with an experience that positively shaped his life,  and made him the strong person that he is today.

Although Zo and his wife Tracey and kids live in Miami- he still visits Hampton Roads often and knows where his roots are.  Up until a few years ago, he held a charity softball tournament to benefit the free clinic in Chesapeake.    I was honored to be asked to attempt to play on the media team two years in a row.

He now holds a golf tournament in Hampton Roads to benefit the clinic.

His “Zo’s Summer Groove” event in Miami has grown leaps and bounds over the years and there are several other things he does to help people that he doesn’t seek the media’s attention for.

Zo has suffered from kidney disease, received a transplant, played again after that, then suffered a knee injury.

Now, retired at the age of 38,  he will have more time to spend with his wife, children, extended family and friends- and continue to make a difference and make Hampton Roads proud.   Good Luck, Zo!

Bill Dee leaves Phoebus football?  Can’t say I saw this one coming.  I kinda invisioned a grey bearded Bill Dee coaching the Phantoms in 2019.  But, as WAVY.com reported earlier today, he’s gone.  Back to school.  Well, sort of.  He’ll be helping out his friend Matt Kelchner at Christopher Newport University.  He will be on the football staff there.

I’ve known Coach Dee for three years now.  A super nice and accessible guy in the off-season.  Key words “in the off-season.”  But, that’s what made him so good.  When it was time for football, it was not time for anything else.  Including interviews with his players.  If we didn’t get there by Tuesday, it was too late and too close to gametime.

So, you can see why a job that was “just football” would appeal to Coach Dee.  I’m sure he enjoyed his time at Pheobus, but now he can just focus on football. 

He’ll go down as one of the greatest coaches in Virginia high school history.  In any sport.

Good luck to Bill Dee.  A new opportunity.  I know it wasn’t easy.  He told us today the hardest part was saying goodbye to his kids.  They will miss him.

A team with a long standing tradition of winning championships will take on a team that some think may be one of the worst franchises in NFL history on Feb. 1^st when the AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers take on the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals down in Tampa in Super Bowl 43.

 

The Cardinals will be looking to win a league championship for the first time in 61 mainly woeful seasons. They hung on and defeated the favored Eagles, 32-25 yesterday in front of a packed house

 

And I have to tell you if anyone still thinks the Cardinals are a fluke, I’m not sure you know much about football.

 

Quarterback Kurt Warner is the perfect leader for this team. 

               

He wasn’t good enough to stick with the Rams or Giants, but yesterday threw four touchdown passes against a defense that hadn’t allowed a TD pass in its five previous games.

 

But it wasn’t easy by any means. The Eagles came back and scored 19 points in 8 and half minutes to take a one point lead.  But the Philadelphia defense couldn’t finish. 

 

Warner calmly led the Cardinals 72 yards in 14 plays including a 4^th and 1 conversion that the Giants could get against that Eagles defense last week.

 

Donovan McNabb had one last chance to drive the Eagles into overtime. But he misfired, as he often did in the first half, and the Eagles got no farther than the Arizona 47, where a fourth-and-10 pass to Kevin Curtis fell incomplete.

 

Wide Receiver Larry Fitzgerald was spectacular as he surpassed Jerry Rice’s single postseason yardage record by catching nine passes for 152. Three went for first-half touchdowns. 

 

The Eagles blitzed play after play and that put Fitzgerald in single coverage and he and Warner took advantage of it.

 

And my favorite play of the game, was that flee flicker that went for 62 yards, offensive coordinator Todd Haley called it “Philly Special,” because the same play had worked against the Eagles when he was on Bill Parcells’ staff in Dallas.

 

Now the question, can Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt go back for his second Super Bowl and beat his old team the Pittsburgh Steelers where was the offensive coordinator when they won the Super Bowl.

 

The Cardinals, are often called “Pittsburgh West” because of their many connections to the city and the Steelers, and of course Arizona will be playing in its first Super Bowl.

 

AFC Championship game

 

It was a cold and snowy night at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh last night, but the Pittsburgh Steelers once again relied on their outstanding defense to get them back into the Super Bowl again.

It was finally settled when Steelers Safety Troy Polamalu ended a rolling Baltimore comeback.

 

Polamalu intercepted rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown with 4 and a half minutes left in the game.

 

And that sealed the Steelers’ 23-14 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

 

 

The victory lifted the Steelers into their seventh Super Bowl and a chance to become the first team to win six. Their seven championships are an AFC record.

 

The two big keys in this game, one of course the Steelers defense, which might be one of the best defensives we’ve seen in the NFL in a long time.

 

They really did a job on Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, forcing him to throw three interceptions he only hit on 13 of his 30 passes for less than 150 yards.

 

The other key was the play of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 255 yards and did not throw an interception, a very mature performance for a guy who has played in plenty of big games.

 

And this is going to be intriguing as we head to the Super Bowl, this quarterback match up between Rothlisberger and Warner. 

 

Obviously Warner has some years on Ben, Warner’s 37-years old and was a Super Bowl MVP almost a decade ago with the St. Louis Rams.

 

Rothlisberger won a Super Bowl in only his second year; both guys know how to play in the big game.

 

And you’ll hear plenty about the coaching match ups, Ken Wisenhunt wanted to be head coach of the Steelers after Bill Cowher left, but he was passed over for the job in favor of Mike Tomlin from Newport News. Russ Grim a former Steelers coach is in Arizona now

 

And remember, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitgerald played at Pitt when he was in college, so a big Pittsburgh connection there with the Cardinals.

 

               

               

 

               

 

 

 

 

Looking for a team to root for during Super Bowl 43?

On the fence for the biggest game of the season?

Let me help you decide a team to kick back and cheer for.

Why not follow the team with a local connection. That would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. Newport News native Mike Tomlin took over the team just 17 months after they won their 5th Super Bowl against Seattle. Tomlin made a quick leap up the coaching ladder and has done nothing but produced since taking over the team.

Tomlin played his high school football at Denbigh and then went on to play at William & Mary. Soon after accepting the the head coaching position in Pittsburgh, Tomlin told his mother that he was going to hoist the Lombardi trophy one day. That day could come very soon.

Tomlin is your local connection at the Super Bowl.

But wait! There’s more reason to cheer.

While the Cardinals official color is red, it might as well be brown! As in Levi Brown and Elton Brown. Two of the Cardinals starting lineman are from the 757. Elton Brown grew up in Hampton and played for Mike Smith at Hampton. He had a great career at UVa before moving west.

Same story for Levi Brown. He roughed up players in the Eastern District at Granby high school before being named All-American at Penn State. Kurt Warner can thank a pair of local guys for his protection.

So I hope that helps you decide on which team to root for. Local stars on both sides of the ball.

As of the writing of this blog, Florida receiver Percy Harvin has yet to make his decision on whether to turn pro.  I get the feeling he’s going to the NFL.  So, that means in a matter of hours, I’ll probably be proven wrong.

Anyway, here’s what I think.  Percy should go.  And I think that is the consensus outside of Gainsville.  Harvin is projected to be a mid to late first rounder.  However, his stock could go up after the NFL combine.  He has amazing talent and will “wow” the scouts with some of his numbers.

This is the time to take the money.  Esepcially because the money may not be there next year.  You see, the NFL is considering capping rookie pay.  The pay for rookies in the NFL has gotten out of hand.  After being the number 1 pick last year, Miami’s Jake Long instantly became the NFL’s highest paid lineman.  Fair?  Probably not.  Commissioner Roger Goodell could cap rookie pay as early as next year.  So, that means if you want to get paid, you better come out now.

Also, there are injury concerns with Percy.  In two seasons, Harvin has missed some time with various bumps and bruises.  That’s even more reason to take the money now and not let another chance injury end your career before it starts.

Harvin is only 3 classes short of graduation.   He was planning to spend just 3 years at Florida from the start.  And, as of right now, I see no reason for him to change his mind.  He has two national championship trophies.  Now, it’s time to get an NFL one.

Contact Sports Director Bruce.Rader@wavy.com

 

 I  don’t know what the rest of you did this weekend, but I spent the past two days watching four football games.

 

 As we all expected at the beginning of the season, it will be the Arizona Cardinals against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship game next week.

 

 Is that unbelievable?  Either the Cardinals are the Eagles are going to be in the Super Bowl this year.

 

 Talk about how crazy the NFL is this season, the Redskins played the Cardinals once and the Eagles twice and the Redskins won all three games.

 

 But, both teams very deserving, but I was enormously impressed by Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, and very embarrassed that I even made note of the fact that the Cardinals did not play well when they came to the east coast, which they didn’t before Saturday night, but still that was ridiculous to even talk about that last week, because that doesn’t mean anything.            

 

The Carolina Panthers were certainly the biggest disappointment of the playoffs, although we’ll get to Eli Manning in a moment, and with four interceptions and a fumble recovery hats off to the Arizona defense, and an excellent Cardinals offense, with Larry Fitzgerald hauling in those Warner passes, I really think Larry Fitzgerald is one of the best receivers in football, I thought he was when he played in college.

 

The Cardinals crushed the Panthers 33 to 13, Carolina playing one of the worst playoff games I have seen in a long time.

 

I have to give the Cardinals the edge this weekend in the NFC championship game.

 

 Although I am sure the Eagles fans aren’t going to agree with me after their impressive 23 to 11 victory over the Giants yesterday.

 

Just 11 months ago the Giants shocked us all by winning the Super Bowl; yesterday they shocked us again, wasting a 12-4 season, home-field advantage and the No. 1 seed with a flat performance, to say the least.

 

The Giants defense played pretty well, but Eli Manning’s offense blew opportunity after opportunity.

 

 Eli threw two costly interceptions, while Donovan McNabb had another outstanding game he did throw two interceptions, but finished with 217 yards, a touchdown and a big throw on a third-and-20 conversion on a third-quarter field goal drive that gave the Eagles the lead for good.

               

By the way, I picked both the Panthers and Giants to win.

 

AFC

 

It will be the Baltimore Ravens against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game, I did pick these two teams, and I think this is going to be a great football game, I think the game they played in the regular season was one of the best games I saw all year.

 

Baltimore went on the road and beat the top seed Tennessee Titans 13 to 10.  Unlike the top seeded Giants, the Titans played a very good game in my opinion, but Baltimore’s great defense and the amazing play of their rookie quarterback Joe Flacco took the game down to the wire, where Matt Stover nailed a game winning field goal in the final minute.

 

Matt Stover’s 40 years old.

 

The Ravens defense forced 3 fumbles and picked off a pass, and their offense never turned the ball over once.

 

But, it is not going to be easy beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last night Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a 35-24 win over the Chargers at Heinz Field. The Steelers will remain at home for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the wild-card Ravens. (6:30) I know you Steelers fans were a little worried there down 7 nothing early, and then what 10-7, but the Steelers seemed to play better as the game went on, while the other teams in the playoffs that had byes last week did not seem to play well, did you notice that.

I thought Ben Rothlisberger had a good game, but I think was Willie Parker that for me put the Steelers offense over the top, it was certainly the best game Willie has played this year, and maybe it was the best game in his career considering the stage.  146 yards and two touchdowns.

The Steelers were the only home team to win this weekend. 

And it was the first playoff win for Coach Mike Tomlin who is from Newport News, and who is a great guy, and I am so happy for him, and I really want to see Mike Tomlin in the Super Bowl, so I am going to be rooting for the Steelers this weekend against the Ravens, but the Ravens are tough.