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Franco Harris has died

SteelerSask2 said:
Not that cause matters but obviously sudden then. What are the chances of this happening at this time. So unreal.
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No kidding..The timing made me go back to when Willie Stargell passed. Although he was in really bad health, he passed on the day they were going to open PNC Park.

Can't imagine what his family is going through. I hope the fans in attendance on Saturday throw #32 one hell of a wake.
 
slashsteel said:
We delivered a few smallish gifts the other day to all the neighbors. The elderly lady living diagonally from us baked us several things. But while she was out shopping she spotted a Franco Harris bottle of sauce they are promoting, and picked it up for me knowing I was a diehard fanatic. Ol girls dad was over from next door talking yesterday about how there will be a Friday hour long special on TV and also how this week they will talk about the famous play.

Yeah then I wake up to seeing that posted on Google and came here.

One of my favorite players of all time, I am sure that will be echoing throughout the fanbase. But even more important was this man was genuinely a good man. Many things over the decades have been reported supporting this belief.

Yeah a sad day for me, and in the bigger picture a sad day for Steelernation.

My best wishes go out to his family and friends. We lost a great one....

😔
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Absolutely. No one ever had a bad word to say about Franco, from all accounts an outstanding human being and contributor to the community. All that without needing to mention his legendary status on legendary teams. R.I.P.
 
Talked earlier on the phone to my Italian friend. She was telling me that Franco helped kick off an August Bocci balls event in Bloomfield yearly. It is when they have the Italian festival. Thought that was pretty cool. Which I didn't know until today. Been to the festival they usually have some pretty good eats.
 
speedicut said:
I was an excited 12 year old in North Hills when the play happened..
When my friends and I played football in the back yard ( tackle of course) we pretended to be Steelers and we all wanted to be Franco.
Godspeed 32!
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Back when RB was the coolest position and they were the biggest stars.
 
Rest in Peace Franco.
 
SteelerSask2 said:
Maybe God loved the play so much he needed Franco in paradise Saturday. Life is such a mystery. This one is really hitting hard.
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Trust me a lot of teary eyed adults walking around today. It's a long time deep connection that runs through the length of my life. Feels like I lost a relative.
 
Getting over the shocking news after my first post. Can’t believe he was only 72. Sure makes me feel a lot older today.
So now I’m in a little period of reflection on this cold snowy day.

I’ve written on here before about how a little kid from Vancouver,Canada came to have this life long.....let’s face it.....relationship with the Pittsburgh Steelers. It started indirectly when I was 6. I put on my first baseball uniform and of course it was a pirates uniform. I freaking loved baseball. Read about it,dreamed about it,threw tennis balls nonstop against my school wall ,pitching,then as it bounced back it would practice my fielding. My next team in minors I was also in a Pirates uniform. My sports heroes at that time were Dave Keon for the Maple Leafs......and by far Roberto Clemente for the Pirates. Which of course led me to the city of Pittsburgh.

When Roberto died in 72 this then kid was crestfallen. I had noticed the Steelers when Bradshaw got drafted,but for some reason really started my love of football when Franco was drafted. Who knows what resonates with a young mind,but I think it was the names. Franco,Rocky,Mean Joe. And of course it was the colors. The Black & Gold. Just like my baseball uniform. The immaculate reception cemented everything. Franco.....Steelers.....fan for life.
 
Flashback almost 50 years: Waking up as a 12 year old, turning on the radio, listening to KQV 1410 Jan 1, 1973, Bob DeCarlo came on saying,"I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, Roberto Clemente has died in a plane crash off the coast of Puerto Rico." I was floored, Roberto had just finished the season with his 3000th hit of course in my mind the greatest right fielder ever and the Steelers has just beaten the Oakland Raiders, 8 days earlier with the most improbable play in NFL history, --- from such a high to such a devastating low. It is with the same devastation that I wake up, today, 3 days before Franco's jersey is finally retired and learn the General of Franco's Italian Army has passed. Franco the football player is a Hall of Fame great, but Franco the man is truly a role model for all ages.

RIP Franco

Salute the Nation
 
Franco was one of the greats. Obviously he was a legend on the field, but what I'll probably remember most is how he interacted with the fans. From Franco's Italian Army back in the 70s to everything he did through the present day. He was an ambassador for the Steelers and for the City of Pittsburgh and simply seemed to enjoy life. I'm still a bit stunned and wish we were all going to be celebrating the Immaculate Reception on Saturday with Franco on the field.
 
I was at Penn State in the late 60s and early 70s when Franco and Lydell Mitchell were tearing up the opposition. I am deeply saddened to hear this, especially when there was such a tribute planned at the game. I was so-so as to whether or not we would win the game on Saturday - now I think it's a given.
 
I am sick. My God, I heard Franco being interviewed last week and he seemed as happy and exuberant as always. My first Steelers jersey - given to me by my Aunt and Uncle in Pittsburgh - was number 32. Wore the jersey out over the next several years.

Just heartbroken right now.
 
Drink IRON City said:
My condolences to his family / friends / fan-base / organization.

Franco was one of the many favorite STEELERS Players of mine.

I remember as a kid some of my friends saying he was chicken by stepping out of bounds.
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I saw the game against the Chiefs in Franco's rookie season where the Steelers were in a brutally close game. Bradshaw just terrible that day. Steelers leading just 9-7 in the 4th quarter, Steelers knocking on the door, give the ball to Franco and he breaks about 5 tackles and scores a TD to seal the win.

I can still remember that run. I cannot find it on any highlight film, but Franco simply ran over and through any defender who got in his way. The myth that Franco was "soft" was based on his stepping out of bounds after another 8-yard run where the Steelers were up by 20 points in the 4th quarter.
 
The bigger myth was that Franco was slow. At the age of 31, Franco had a long run of 50 yards. He also had runs of 75, 71 (age 29), 61 and 54 yards in his career.
 
Cheers #32

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1972-frank-sinatra-franco-harrisjpg.jpg
 
I remember the spat between Franco and Jim Brown. JB considered making a comeback because Franco was closing in on his rushing record.
Franco told JB his grandmother was faster than him. Franco never broke JB's rushing record but he did beat him in a footrace.
 
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