A Catch From Heaven

by 5020 on Oct 29, 2009 6:51 PM EDT Comment 13 comments

1Steelersfan did a post Tuesday night on the greatest "Steelers catch" of all time. It came down to Santonio Holmes XLIII, Lynn Swann X (2 nominations) and Franco's Immaculate Reception.

I weighed in late and that fan post has moved on but I had to go back and watch all 3 catches again. ( Thanks www.youtube.com ) I just wanted to share this Immaculate Reception from the original NBC broadcast with those that may have never seen it. To me this is the greatest catch in NFL history.

This game was blacked out in Pittsburgh so only those in attendance actually saw it within city limits. This catch catapulted the Steelers into the national scene and gave the players the confidence that they were destined for greatness. 12/23/72. It also created a multi-million dollar industry and raised a ton of dough for charity. Notice that there is not a terrible towel in the crowd.

The Immaculate Reception. 50s pick as "Greatest Catch in NFL History." Link below. Get ready for some shivers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xMDIcsUMmA

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Maybe the greatest…but not the most important. Didn’t win us a title.

breathe in deep feel your heart beat, just to know that life's worth livin'. feel your feet on the earth, better love it while it's still here spinnin'.

by NoCal-SteelCity on Oct 29, 2009 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sure

But important in the sense that it changed the fortunes of the franchise around for good.

Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)

by Blitzburgh on Oct 29, 2009 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

almost though

Bring a towel to the game. Black or gold or yellow. If you don't have one buy one, If you can't buy one, dye one!!!

by SoCalSteelerFan on Oct 29, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Generational Arguement...

I didn’t weigh in on the last post, but I read it over. I know I don’t know anyone’s age from the post, but my guess is that most of the difference of opinion is because of age difference. Anyone who was around for the Immaculate Reception, or at least anyone who was around for the 70’s teams, would be more inclined to pick the Immaculate Reception. Santonio catch is easy to pick for younger fans because they saw it, for one, and it’s timing was huge.

But anyone who knows the impact the Immaculate Reception had on the psyche of the team, the fans, and the whole city of Pittsburgh really, would feel that despite the timing and ramifications of Santonio’s catch (winning the freakin’ Superbowl) they know that it was the Immaculate Reception that turned the tides for the Steelers as a franchise. Yes, the players were in place to make that run in the 70’s, but it was the IR, and what it did for everyone who was involved and every Steelers fan at the time that had a far more important impact on this franchise overall.

'I’ve learned to become a flat-liner. There’s a lot out there that’ll make your heart jump if you allow it."
-Coach Tomlin

by NYSteelersFan4 on Oct 30, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

All in how you word it.

I agree with that to a point, I think there was also quite a bit of debate on what was meant by greatest, did it mean most impactful or most talent needed to execute the catch, or most things that had to align to make the catch etc. etc. Like many things it is all in how you word it. If it was most signifigant play in Steelers history, my bet is the IR would be the overwhelming choice. Hard to call, because of the aforementioned reasons, when you say greatest catch. We should all feel very fortunate though, that we have so many great ones to argue about.

by DarinS on Oct 30, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can increase how many recent fanposts are displayed.

It’s very simple to do. First, click your SB Nation username (top left corner of your window) this brings up your profile, next click “edit settings” on the upper right corner, and change the “number of recent fanposts to display”. Mine is currently set at 25, and works well for me. Be sure to click “Update” and you are done.

I am not sure who posted this info originally, but whoever it was, thank you.

"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play." Jack Lambert

by LongTimeSteelersFan on Oct 30, 2009 9:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am not sure who posted this info originally, but whoever it was, thank you

I’m pretty sure it was our very own Steeler_. If it wasn’t him, he was in the post thread regarding expanding the number of displayed fanposts.

"My doctor said I'd quit getting nosebleeds if I just kept my finger out of there!"
-Ralph Wiggum

by SteelFever on Oct 30, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excuse my ignorance

on the subject, but was the Terrible Towel concept somehow inspired from this catch? Or was it directly or indirectly related in another way? Someone help me out!

by TheHumbleOne on Oct 30, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Terrible Towel

The terrible towel came into existence during a Super Bowl run in 74 or 75. (Maybe even 78) The WTAE marketing department asked Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope to come up with a “gimmick” for Steelers games. Cope remembered seeing some fans in Miami waving white rally towels during their Lombardi run and figured even the poor people of Pittsburgh could bring an old yellow dish towel to the game.

In later years proceeds from the official Terrible Towel sales went to a special needs school where Copes son was being cared for. I believe the school actually makes the towels now employing school members and still reaps the profits thanks to Cope’s will.

This catch indirectly led to the millions in dollars of Terrible Towel sales as with this catch the pandemonium and fandomonium of Steelers Nation was born.

When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen

by 5020 on Oct 30, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it was in 74, but I’m not sure.

by vynotty on Oct 31, 2009 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

might have been 75, but I'm not sure either

"Polamalu’s lineage can be traced through several roots. Chuck Norris mated with an Amazon Queen, and on the other side, Tony Hawk mated with Mother Nature. The two children of these spawned and fused in a tantric love session to create Troy Polamalu. The mother however died as he tore through the birth canal with a spin move."
Mechem on the roots of Troy Polamalu

by WVPiratesfan on Nov 5, 2009 10:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

im open, im open!

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Oct 31, 2009 3:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Immaculate Reception

Before that day in late 72 the Steelers could be considered the laughable losers of the NFL. Since then, they are clearly the best team in pro sports. To me, the most important PLAY in Steeler history.

" It's caught out of the air "

by TJFINN on Nov 1, 2009 11:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs