• Please be aware we've switched the forums to their own URL. (again) You'll find the new website address to be www.steelernationforum.com Thanks
  • Please clear your private messages. Your inbox is close to being full.

Franco Harris has died

One of my all-time favorites. I am a child of the 70's and those guys were my hero's. It sucks when your hero's pass as it also feels like your childhood is being wiped away. Rest in Peace Franco.
 
Holly smokes....I wake up to this. I am a little shocked. He seemed invincible. Condolences to family and friends,and for that matter all of the Steeler Nation world wide. Franco,for some reason,was for me my first hero when I was a kid for the Steelers. I think it was the name. Then as I grew older,obviously his football abilities.
Franco,to me,was the ultimate Steeler. He represented the Steelers long ,long after retirement,with such class and dignity.
Even if you were barely a football fan you damn well knew what team Franco represented. Man.
Rest In Peace Franco. You will be greatly missed.
 
Like many here, the death of Franco hits hard considering I never met the man but witnessed his and the Steelers rise in the 70s. He just seemed to be such a humble but cool cat and a good man. Condolences to his family, they must be devastated. Just a sad day.
 
One of the greats. So many good memories. A key cog for the dynasty teams of that era.

I never met him personally, but my wife did, back in 2003, as he was touring the detention center where my wife worked in the medical department. He autographed a few items. Salt of the earth, she said.

You will be missed in Steeler Nation.
 
Lambert58 said:
One of my all-time favorites. I am a child of the 70's and those guys were my hero's. It sucks when your hero's pass as it also feels like your childhood is being wiped away. Rest in Peace Franco.
Click to expand...
I scored a lot of TD's in my back yard with my nerf football pretending to be 32, 88, 12.
 
bermudasteel said:
I've been quite somber since reading the news this morning and all of the excellent posts here as well.

I don't know if anyone here has the 'connection' but if we do...I would like to suggest that EVERY Steelers player wear "32" for the game on Saturday night...
Click to expand...

They're already wearing the iconic patch of the immaculate reception catch on their throwback jerseys.

I'd say it's highly probably they could add his number to the helmets for Saturday night.

It's going to be a special evening that will now be elevated to a life celebration of Franco Harris.
 
This is just as sad if not sadder than the day Roberto died...

I worked at Vento's while in high school a couple of years (77-79), right across Highland Ave from Peabody High.....knew alot of the Franco Italian Army crew because of working there...
Went to Sacred Heart grade school with some of their children...

Met him by happenstance outside Heinz a couple years back...It was just him, me and my wife...It was a surreal moment.
Took a couple of pics with him shook his hand and thanked him for helping get us Pittsburghers through some tough times in the 70's...
What a gracious, humble, and great man.

This one hits hard men...
 
I've never felt more heartache from hearing of a person's passing who I never knew. I know he was a great football player but an even better human being. I'm actually sittin here with tears in my eyes crying and my wife can't understand why. He was my childhood idol......this just absolutely sucks. Unbelieveable! It feels like he was part of my family! I'm Heartbroken!
 
Turd Ferguson said:
This needs to be flying again in the stadium Saturday night.

francositalianarmy_02_2002-0020.jpg
Click to expand...
Frank Vento Jr, Mike Stagno, and Cappy got tickets to the game...
You could very well see it again...I hope so!
 
thesteelcity said:
My cousin met him 3 days ago at the South Fayette Giant Eagle doing a signing. I am still in shock. Really sad timing with everything going on to honor him and the IR. Damn. RIP Franco!
Click to expand...
Not that cause matters but obviously sudden then. What are the chances of this happening at this time. So unreal.
 
I remember Cosell calling Franco "the best big game back in the game". He always hit another gear when the hardware was on the line...that's what I'll always remember about him.

And that The Immaculate Reception happened on my Mom's 31st birthday.
 
steelcan58 said:
The Immaculate Reception led to my becoming a Steelers fan. I was watching the game on TV in Canada. The next week I really wanted the Steelers to wreck Miami's perfect season, which they almost did. Never looked back.

😓 RIP Franco
Click to expand...
We got so few games back then and the Steelers were so prominent and exciting. How couod you not be a fan if you are 50 or over.
 
I still remember listening to the game on the radio and trying to understand what happened. Then shortly after seeing the play on the news. I was 12 years old. My uncle and cousin were at the game, he had season tickets.

His relationship and respect with the fan base are up there with Richard Petty.
 
GILBERT said:
I scored a lot of TD's in my back yard with my nerf football pretending to be 32, 88, 12.
Click to expand...

Me as well! To this day one of my fondest Christmas memories was me getting a terry Bradshaw jersey, and my brother a Franco Harris one. We had a creek by the lawn and would pretend it was one of the three rivers by the stadium. I threw ALOT of TDS to that brother in the number 32 😪
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top