December 21, 2022 • 22 mins
It's an incredibly sad day in Pittsburgh as Stan mourns with the rest of the city the loss of Franco Harris. Stan shares some of his fondest memories of Francos' playing career and of their relationship after his retirement. Stan is joined by Jack Ham the Hall of Fame teammate from both the Steelers and Penn State of Franco to hear his thoughts on Franco's life and legacy.
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
There's no question he was the final piece, the piece
that really made everything goes. But you write everything now
had he in play. We needed that big time money
back and the anywhere off the field, but Franco brought
that to him. This is Saffering on Steelers. Hello to
all the in Steelers Nation and welcome to the Savereign
on Steelers podcast. I am your host, Stan Savereign. We
(00:25):
post up here twice weekly during the Steelers season for
nothing but Steelers content. It's easy to get you've already
found it. Just tell your friends and neighbors, relatives that
you can get us at Steelers dot com. The podcast
are loaded up there. It is a profoundly sad moment
(00:45):
in Pittsburgh Steelers history and what should have been, and
to a degree still will be a happy time in
Steelers Nation. With the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of
the iMac the reception, all that will be missing will
be the man of the hour, the man of the year,
(01:08):
Frank o' harris, who passed away tragically on Wednesday December
with the impending ceremony just a few days later. Now,
the celebration will go on, but it will be more
than tinged with bitter irony and sadness. And then Franco suddenly, unexpectedly, shockingly,
(01:39):
stunningly passed away, just a handful of days before he
was to be honored. It's hard to conjure up positive
memories when it's so close to such an icon passing
(02:00):
away with no forewarning. There was no indication that Franco
had any medical injuries or excuse me, medical issues. At
least they were made public. That's what makes it so
hard and understand, if I can draw a bit of
solace and all this, I go back to the day
(02:26):
that it was made public that Franco would receive the
honor of becoming only the third Steeler to have his
jersey number retired. The first two, of course, Ernie Stoutner
and the greatest Steeler Joe Green. Mike Tomlin, as you
may know, holds his weekly press conference Tuesday's at noon.
(02:52):
I am there for those at the U P. M.
C Rooney Sports Complex, and I do my show for there.
Mike Tomlin is on from twelve and twelve thirty. Then
we have programming. It takes it up to one o'clock.
I pick up the ball at one pm and so
(03:12):
after the buffer period, Mike Tomlin ending his press conference
at about one generally or twelve excuse me. Then my
colleagues Jerry Doolac and day Lally come on offer their
thoughts on the previous game the upcoming game, and wait
what Mike Tomlin had to say, and then I come
out at one o'clock. At one o'clock, aren't Rooney, the
(03:38):
second President of the Steelers, brought Frank o'harris back into
that same media room to announce the special activities what
is now this coming weekend with the Raiders being in
town for the Immaculate Reception fiftieth anniversary celebration, and also
(04:00):
to announce for the very first time in public that
Franco's number was going to be retired, only the third
such jersey retirement in Steeler's history. The Franco press converence
with the assembled media lasted less than fifteen minutes, and
(04:26):
then Art the Second and some other Steelers officials were
escorting Franco out of the indoor facility at the U.
P M. C Rooney Sports Complex where I was doing
my show I was live on the air. As they
were walking out, Franco saw me and he started to
(04:46):
come over to the table where I was broadcasting from,
and I wait for him to come over, come on
Save a Sea, and gave him a headset with a
microphone so we could converse. And that was fine with
assembled Brass. For you see, Franco and I had developed
a friendship. When he was playing. There's always this separation
(05:11):
between a player or a coach and the media member,
no matter how well they get along. But as time
went along and we began to see one another at
non Steeler game related functions, we kind of developed a
(05:34):
friendship of sorts. I didn't see him socially, but on
the occasion where we were in the same venue at
the same event, it was always a pleasant conversation, and Franco,
like he did with most people, would actually seek me
out to say hello. And I took great pride in that.
I was honored by that. I was flattered by that.
(05:59):
In an interview think Franco that day, it was so
obvious the joy that he felt in having his number
being retired by the Steelers, an organization that he loved
and cared about deeply. Being a Steeler and winning those
(06:19):
Super Bowl titles meant more to him than just about anything,
and he was although he had found out a couple
of days earlier. There was a glow about him, a
joy that shown within him over being honored in such
(06:46):
a fashion by the organization that he revered so much.
And as I think back on the horrible news that
we all received and try to justify it somehow, the
(07:13):
solace that I take is that even though it his
his death came just a handful of days before he
was to be honored at the stadium, that he took
within the knowledge that this award was going to be
bestowed upon him, that he didn't need Saturday night to
(07:40):
find out, and there was It wasn't a surprise to him.
It would be one thing if he left us without knowing,
but he knew, he knew earlier this season, And I
take some solace in that. Something else about Franco retally
(08:00):
not in Steelers Nation, but I often wonder if the
Immaculate Reception didn't in some ways tarnish his legacy as
one of the greatest runners in NFL history. People outside
Western PA and Steelers Nation may no Franco from the
(08:22):
Immaculate Reception, but may it glossed over in that maybe
what a great running back he was. At the time
he retired, he trailed only Walter Payton and Jim Brown
in total yards gain and was poised to pass Jim Brown.
(08:45):
So the immaculate reception, I hope would be the only
thing in his legacy. And the last thing I'm gonna
mention about Franco. It's how much he meant to the community,
not just the football community. He was involved in so
(09:09):
many different endeavors. It was highly visible. He saw him around.
He was always around. I always had a kind word,
and he had a presence about him. I likened this
on one of my shows this week, the day that
he passed away Wednesday. Then, in terms of athletes, local athletes,
(09:32):
only Mario Lemieu had that kind of aura about him.
I many times it had been in rooms when Mario
would walk in and all activity would stop because Mario
had this presence. And the same thing was with Franco.
He had this remarkably photogenic face. He never looked seventy two.
(10:01):
We always looked thirty two. And as a big a
man as he was, he always carried himself with a
grace and an elegance. He had that in factor that
was just Franco. I'm proud to have known him, I'm
(10:22):
proud to have covered him, I'm thrilled to have watched
his exploits as a players, and even more proud and
grateful that he was a friend. His fellow Penn State
in Hall of Fame member Jack Cam and of course
(10:43):
Pittsburgh Stealer teammate Jack knew him before any of us
ever did because they were teammates at Penn State. And
talk about great one of the greatest linebackers who ever lived.
Jack Cam joins me now and Jack on this incredibly
shocking day. How are you able to find out and
(11:08):
just your general reaction to losing your long time teammate
and friends, Well, you know, Stan, it was just a
total shock because I found out earlier earlier this morning,
and and a friend of mine called me, and, uh,
(11:30):
you know, it's your your spell bound, your you're in
complete shock, and and you you think about Franco and
his family and and all of those thoughts, and uh,
you know, as you said earlier, I go back to
when Franco was eighteen years old that the freshman attends
(11:51):
to say when I first met him, and uh, I
just have so much love and respect for him, and
how he'd be able to carry himself as a player
at teammates, and what he's done here in Pittsburgh and
the community is is truly special. And you know he
will be obviously deeply, deeply missed on so many different levels. Jack,
(12:14):
Not that it matters now, it doesn't. But UM, part
of the shock is that it was so sudden. As
I mentioned, I just saw him maybe a month ago
at the uh grand opening of the Steelers Museum at
the stadium. UM. And I don't think anybody was aware
of any health problems he may have had. Maybe that
(12:35):
will be revealed later on. Um. Were you aware of
any health issues that he may have had that might
at least explain the suddenness of all this? No, no, stand,
I was with him. We were doing a thing for
for a Penn State lunch and a couple of months
ago and and uh and he was doing some taping
(12:56):
for the you know, for the ceremony for the Mactet
Reception festive these and uh, no, not not at all.
And uh, you know you see Franco, he looks like
he's in his playing weight. Uh. When he was there
running back for all those years at the at the Steelers,
and uh, there was there was nothing to even suggest
(13:17):
anything was physically or health wise, that he had any
kind of issues at all. So that's why it is
so sudden and so shocking that what has happened here
too one of the right not just teammates in life,
just one of the really special guys. But I got
to know absolutely. Let's let's go back to when um
he came in as a freshman dependent state. UM I
(13:40):
characterized him early on at least my tenure here, um, Uh,
not reluctant, but somewhat um subdued. They're an awful lot
of big personalities in your locker room, UM and Franco
would you know, glad to do interviews, But there were
just so many other people despite his integral importance of
the team. Was he shot um as a freshman coming
(14:02):
in the Pence State? What was he like back then? Oh?
He back then? Stand, I'm dating myself because freshman were
not eligible to play on the varsity. So, uh, I'm
when we had an outstanding defensive Penn State in those years.
And so he was the freshman scout team on the
offensive side of the ball, and he played tight end
(14:22):
against me. And you know, lid L. Mitchell was the
scout team running back, so our scout team was very talented.
So uh it was amazing he ran a tight end
takeoff on me one time because he was playing, uh,
I was playing over top of him and at two
hundred he was probably at that time about two hundred
(14:43):
and fifteen pounds two hundred and twenty pounds, and he
ran this tight end takeoff and I was just shocked
how quick he was off the ball and how fast
he went down field. And you know, as a big
running back in those days, so uh, yeah, he was
very understated, the very shy, and uh it really took
(15:05):
a back seat to Lydel Mitchell at Penn State his
entire career. When he came to Pittsburgh, there was a
lot of wear still on his tires because it wasn't
used all that much at Penn State. Well, it always
struck me as ironic, um that he was used, if
you correct me if I'm wrong, U largely as a
blocking back for Lydel Mitchell. And when he got here, um,
(15:26):
you know the montra was he didn't want to block anybody.
That that was not his thing. Well, I can tell
you one story. We played in the Pro Bowl when
the Houston Oilers were they they lost to us in
the a f C Championship games. So the coaching staff
the losers that a f C champions Game is is
the Pro Bowl coach well that bum Phillips had Earl
(15:48):
Campbell in the Pro Bowl as well, and the first
day of practiced, Franco lined up in a four point
stands in front of Earl Campbell as the blocking back
for for him and every Steeler depends defender who was
in the Pro Bowl that you began to hysterically laugh
because he told Campbell, if you're gonna get in the yardage,
(16:10):
don't trust your lead back to block for you because
he's not gonna get it done. And and we all
just he had that reputation and uh and it was
it was pretty much, it was. It was valid. Could
say the last he wore like a badge of honor.
I was recounting, um, no less than authority than Joe
(16:32):
Green always said that Franco was the final piece, that
everything else was there, from the head coach of the
coaching staff to certainly the defense, uh you know, burgeoning
quarterback uh too. Hall of fame receivers. Did you look
at the guys look at Franco that way, as he
was the final piece to become the great team that
(16:54):
you became, without a stand, without a doubt. Joe. Joe's
exactly right, because, uh, I don't care what are you
play in. That running game is so important to the
how good a football team you are. And I can
remember Frankly, even at his rookie year in the preseason,
(17:14):
and again he's not the greatest practice player in the world,
but and and some of the players on the defensive
side especially were had some questions about Franco because they
had they had drafted Bob Campbell running back with Penn
State a couple of years earlier, and I think in
the third round or something, and didn't pan out, and
so they had question marks about a Penn State running back. Well,
(17:37):
the third preseason game we play in Atlanta, and and
it's in the afternoon, and Franco gets the ball and
he splits the defense in those eighty yards for a touchdown.
And you know, running back of two pounds being able
to do that outrun defensive backs. Everybody on our defense
(17:57):
realized that we had that kind of running act and
now we're going to have that kind of a running
game to really get us over the top. And yet
there was no question he was the final piece, the
piece that really made everything go, because you're right, everything
else we had in place, we needed that big time
running back as to score from anywhere on the field,
and Franco brought that to his game. Jack, I'm wondering,
(18:19):
and I think it bears repeating um throughout from now
until time ends, that he'll of course be forever linked
to the Immaculate Reception. But it also seems to me
that that does him somewhat of a disservice because people,
certainly not from around here, but that you know, the
immaculate Reception. But I sometimes think that overshadowed what a
(18:43):
great back he was. At the time that he retired,
he trailed only Walter Payton and Jim Brown um in
terms of total yardage and was about to pass Jim
Brown until came along and the Seattle trip and which
was you know, short lived. But it seems to me
that in some ways the Immaculate Reception, which faulted him
(19:04):
to fame, also sort of shrouded his greatness to a degree.
Now you're stand You're exactly right. And and also his durability.
I mean he got banged up a couple of times,
but you could always count on him. I mean, we
win the first, our first Super Bowl because again we
can run the football against a very good biking defense.
(19:25):
And uh, I think Franco had I'm not sure, like
a hundred and fifty yards and and was the m
v P in in that game. Being able they have
that kind of a back who get into the secondary. Uh,
we talked about errors and who who could play when,
who can play now or whatever the case may be.
At two and twenty pounds, I mean, he's got as
big as some of the big running backs in the
(19:47):
game here today, but big enough. And uh, he just
brought an element and the endurability that you're right that
the immaculive reception will always be that that one thing
will already linked to playing go in his legacy, but
his career and how the adorability he had in wait,
that we had a constant in our running game was
(20:09):
so important to us, and it does take away somewhat
of what he's able to break the table. And lastly,
Jack um I mentioned earlier that um I was able
to interview Franco live on this show, UM, just minutes
after he'd gotten the news they were going to retire
his number, UM and with the ceremony scheduled for Saturday night. Uh.
(20:32):
And I take some solace in knowing that he was
aware of the thrill of that being done for him,
only the third number ever uh to be retired as
a Steeler. Uh. And so the fact that he will
not be around to actually live through the honor itself,
uh doesn't bite quite as hard because he was aware
(20:53):
it was going to happen. And I will never forget
the look of joy on his face when he recounted
how much that meant to him. Well, Franco is a
very emotional guy, and he keeps some of that emotion inside,
but uh, he was so honored the fact that his
number was going to be retired. He was such a
(21:14):
team player. But as you mentioned earlier, he was the link.
He was that missing piece that it got us to
the point where we were able to win those Super Bowls.
So uh, yeah, I think he always kind of deflected
any kind of recognition away from himself, but in his
quiet moments, he was very, very thrilled about the fact
of his number being retired as one of the greatest
(21:36):
of all times. He was a proud man. Um, Jack,
my sincere condolences. I know what he meant to you, Um.
I know what he meant to this city, what he
meant to this region, what he meant to the sport. Again,
I thank you for the time today and under these
difficult circumstances, and my sincere condolences. Stan, thank you, Thank
(21:59):
you very much. M. The legendary Jack cam reflecting upon
the loss of his great friend and teammate Frank o'harris,
he spoke beautifully and spoke for us all. December twenty one,
two thousand twenty two is a date that we will
(22:20):
not soon forget, and you can rest on the knowledge
of Franco appreciated you in Steeler's Nation as much as
you appreciated you. I'm Stan, saveregn thanks for joining us
on savan on Steelers
There's no question he was the final piece, the piece
that really made everything goes. But you write everything now
had he in play. We needed that big time money
back and the anywhere off the field, but Franco brought
that to him. This is Saffering on Steelers. Hello to
all the in Steelers Nation and welcome to the Savereign
on Steelers podcast. I am your host, Stan Savereign. We
(00:25):
post up here twice weekly during the Steelers season for
nothing but Steelers content. It's easy to get you've already
found it. Just tell your friends and neighbors, relatives that
you can get us at Steelers dot com. The podcast
are loaded up there. It is a profoundly sad moment
(00:45):
in Pittsburgh Steelers history and what should have been, and
to a degree still will be a happy time in
Steelers Nation. With the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of
the iMac the reception, all that will be missing will
be the man of the hour, the man of the year,
(01:08):
Frank o' harris, who passed away tragically on Wednesday December
with the impending ceremony just a few days later. Now,
the celebration will go on, but it will be more
than tinged with bitter irony and sadness. And then Franco suddenly, unexpectedly, shockingly,
(01:39):
stunningly passed away, just a handful of days before he
was to be honored. It's hard to conjure up positive
memories when it's so close to such an icon passing
(02:00):
away with no forewarning. There was no indication that Franco
had any medical injuries or excuse me, medical issues. At
least they were made public. That's what makes it so
hard and understand, if I can draw a bit of
solace and all this, I go back to the day
(02:26):
that it was made public that Franco would receive the
honor of becoming only the third Steeler to have his
jersey number retired. The first two, of course, Ernie Stoutner
and the greatest Steeler Joe Green. Mike Tomlin, as you
may know, holds his weekly press conference Tuesday's at noon.
(02:52):
I am there for those at the U P. M.
C Rooney Sports Complex, and I do my show for there.
Mike Tomlin is on from twelve and twelve thirty. Then
we have programming. It takes it up to one o'clock.
I pick up the ball at one pm and so
(03:12):
after the buffer period, Mike Tomlin ending his press conference
at about one generally or twelve excuse me. Then my
colleagues Jerry Doolac and day Lally come on offer their
thoughts on the previous game the upcoming game, and wait
what Mike Tomlin had to say, and then I come
out at one o'clock. At one o'clock, aren't Rooney, the
(03:38):
second President of the Steelers, brought Frank o'harris back into
that same media room to announce the special activities what
is now this coming weekend with the Raiders being in
town for the Immaculate Reception fiftieth anniversary celebration, and also
(04:00):
to announce for the very first time in public that
Franco's number was going to be retired, only the third
such jersey retirement in Steeler's history. The Franco press converence
with the assembled media lasted less than fifteen minutes, and
(04:26):
then Art the Second and some other Steelers officials were
escorting Franco out of the indoor facility at the U.
P M. C Rooney Sports Complex where I was doing
my show I was live on the air. As they
were walking out, Franco saw me and he started to
(04:46):
come over to the table where I was broadcasting from,
and I wait for him to come over, come on
Save a Sea, and gave him a headset with a
microphone so we could converse. And that was fine with
assembled Brass. For you see, Franco and I had developed
a friendship. When he was playing. There's always this separation
(05:11):
between a player or a coach and the media member,
no matter how well they get along. But as time
went along and we began to see one another at
non Steeler game related functions, we kind of developed a
(05:34):
friendship of sorts. I didn't see him socially, but on
the occasion where we were in the same venue at
the same event, it was always a pleasant conversation, and Franco,
like he did with most people, would actually seek me
out to say hello. And I took great pride in that.
I was honored by that. I was flattered by that.
(05:59):
In an interview think Franco that day, it was so
obvious the joy that he felt in having his number
being retired by the Steelers, an organization that he loved
and cared about deeply. Being a Steeler and winning those
(06:19):
Super Bowl titles meant more to him than just about anything,
and he was although he had found out a couple
of days earlier. There was a glow about him, a
joy that shown within him over being honored in such
(06:46):
a fashion by the organization that he revered so much.
And as I think back on the horrible news that
we all received and try to justify it somehow, the
(07:13):
solace that I take is that even though it his
his death came just a handful of days before he
was to be honored at the stadium, that he took
within the knowledge that this award was going to be
bestowed upon him, that he didn't need Saturday night to
(07:40):
find out, and there was It wasn't a surprise to him.
It would be one thing if he left us without knowing,
but he knew, he knew earlier this season, And I
take some solace in that. Something else about Franco retally
(08:00):
not in Steelers Nation, but I often wonder if the
Immaculate Reception didn't in some ways tarnish his legacy as
one of the greatest runners in NFL history. People outside
Western PA and Steelers Nation may no Franco from the
(08:22):
Immaculate Reception, but may it glossed over in that maybe
what a great running back he was. At the time
he retired, he trailed only Walter Payton and Jim Brown
in total yards gain and was poised to pass Jim Brown.
(08:45):
So the immaculate reception, I hope would be the only
thing in his legacy. And the last thing I'm gonna
mention about Franco. It's how much he meant to the community,
not just the football community. He was involved in so
(09:09):
many different endeavors. It was highly visible. He saw him around.
He was always around. I always had a kind word,
and he had a presence about him. I likened this
on one of my shows this week, the day that
he passed away Wednesday. Then, in terms of athletes, local athletes,
(09:32):
only Mario Lemieu had that kind of aura about him.
I many times it had been in rooms when Mario
would walk in and all activity would stop because Mario
had this presence. And the same thing was with Franco.
He had this remarkably photogenic face. He never looked seventy two.
(10:01):
We always looked thirty two. And as a big a
man as he was, he always carried himself with a
grace and an elegance. He had that in factor that
was just Franco. I'm proud to have known him, I'm
(10:22):
proud to have covered him, I'm thrilled to have watched
his exploits as a players, and even more proud and
grateful that he was a friend. His fellow Penn State
in Hall of Fame member Jack Cam and of course
(10:43):
Pittsburgh Stealer teammate Jack knew him before any of us
ever did because they were teammates at Penn State. And
talk about great one of the greatest linebackers who ever lived.
Jack Cam joins me now and Jack on this incredibly
shocking day. How are you able to find out and
(11:08):
just your general reaction to losing your long time teammate
and friends, Well, you know, Stan, it was just a
total shock because I found out earlier earlier this morning,
and and a friend of mine called me, and, uh,
(11:30):
you know, it's your your spell bound, your you're in
complete shock, and and you you think about Franco and
his family and and all of those thoughts, and uh,
you know, as you said earlier, I go back to
when Franco was eighteen years old that the freshman attends
(11:51):
to say when I first met him, and uh, I
just have so much love and respect for him, and
how he'd be able to carry himself as a player
at teammates, and what he's done here in Pittsburgh and
the community is is truly special. And you know he
will be obviously deeply, deeply missed on so many different levels. Jack,
(12:14):
Not that it matters now, it doesn't. But UM, part
of the shock is that it was so sudden. As
I mentioned, I just saw him maybe a month ago
at the uh grand opening of the Steelers Museum at
the stadium. UM. And I don't think anybody was aware
of any health problems he may have had. Maybe that
(12:35):
will be revealed later on. Um. Were you aware of
any health issues that he may have had that might
at least explain the suddenness of all this? No, no, stand,
I was with him. We were doing a thing for
for a Penn State lunch and a couple of months
ago and and uh and he was doing some taping
(12:56):
for the you know, for the ceremony for the Mactet
Reception festive these and uh, no, not not at all.
And uh, you know you see Franco, he looks like
he's in his playing weight. Uh. When he was there
running back for all those years at the at the Steelers,
and uh, there was there was nothing to even suggest
(13:17):
anything was physically or health wise, that he had any
kind of issues at all. So that's why it is
so sudden and so shocking that what has happened here
too one of the right not just teammates in life,
just one of the really special guys. But I got
to know absolutely. Let's let's go back to when um
he came in as a freshman dependent state. UM I
(13:40):
characterized him early on at least my tenure here, um, Uh,
not reluctant, but somewhat um subdued. They're an awful lot
of big personalities in your locker room, UM and Franco
would you know, glad to do interviews, But there were
just so many other people despite his integral importance of
the team. Was he shot um as a freshman coming
(14:02):
in the Pence State? What was he like back then? Oh?
He back then? Stand, I'm dating myself because freshman were
not eligible to play on the varsity. So, uh, I'm
when we had an outstanding defensive Penn State in those years.
And so he was the freshman scout team on the
offensive side of the ball, and he played tight end
(14:22):
against me. And you know, lid L. Mitchell was the
scout team running back, so our scout team was very talented.
So uh it was amazing he ran a tight end
takeoff on me one time because he was playing, uh,
I was playing over top of him and at two
hundred he was probably at that time about two hundred
(14:43):
and fifteen pounds two hundred and twenty pounds, and he
ran this tight end takeoff and I was just shocked
how quick he was off the ball and how fast
he went down field. And you know, as a big
running back in those days, so uh, yeah, he was
very understated, the very shy, and uh it really took
(15:05):
a back seat to Lydel Mitchell at Penn State his
entire career. When he came to Pittsburgh, there was a
lot of wear still on his tires because it wasn't
used all that much at Penn State. Well, it always
struck me as ironic, um that he was used, if
you correct me if I'm wrong, U largely as a
blocking back for Lydel Mitchell. And when he got here, um,
(15:26):
you know the montra was he didn't want to block anybody.
That that was not his thing. Well, I can tell
you one story. We played in the Pro Bowl when
the Houston Oilers were they they lost to us in
the a f C Championship games. So the coaching staff
the losers that a f C champions Game is is
the Pro Bowl coach well that bum Phillips had Earl
(15:48):
Campbell in the Pro Bowl as well, and the first
day of practiced, Franco lined up in a four point
stands in front of Earl Campbell as the blocking back
for for him and every Steeler depends defender who was
in the Pro Bowl that you began to hysterically laugh
because he told Campbell, if you're gonna get in the yardage,
(16:10):
don't trust your lead back to block for you because
he's not gonna get it done. And and we all
just he had that reputation and uh and it was
it was pretty much, it was. It was valid. Could
say the last he wore like a badge of honor.
I was recounting, um, no less than authority than Joe
(16:32):
Green always said that Franco was the final piece, that
everything else was there, from the head coach of the
coaching staff to certainly the defense, uh you know, burgeoning
quarterback uh too. Hall of fame receivers. Did you look
at the guys look at Franco that way, as he
was the final piece to become the great team that
(16:54):
you became, without a stand, without a doubt. Joe. Joe's
exactly right, because, uh, I don't care what are you
play in. That running game is so important to the
how good a football team you are. And I can
remember Frankly, even at his rookie year in the preseason,
(17:14):
and again he's not the greatest practice player in the world,
but and and some of the players on the defensive
side especially were had some questions about Franco because they
had they had drafted Bob Campbell running back with Penn
State a couple of years earlier, and I think in
the third round or something, and didn't pan out, and
so they had question marks about a Penn State running back. Well,
(17:37):
the third preseason game we play in Atlanta, and and
it's in the afternoon, and Franco gets the ball and
he splits the defense in those eighty yards for a touchdown.
And you know, running back of two pounds being able
to do that outrun defensive backs. Everybody on our defense
(17:57):
realized that we had that kind of running act and
now we're going to have that kind of a running
game to really get us over the top. And yet
there was no question he was the final piece, the
piece that really made everything go, because you're right, everything
else we had in place, we needed that big time
running back as to score from anywhere on the field,
and Franco brought that to his game. Jack, I'm wondering,
(18:19):
and I think it bears repeating um throughout from now
until time ends, that he'll of course be forever linked
to the Immaculate Reception. But it also seems to me
that that does him somewhat of a disservice because people,
certainly not from around here, but that you know, the
immaculate Reception. But I sometimes think that overshadowed what a
(18:43):
great back he was. At the time that he retired,
he trailed only Walter Payton and Jim Brown um in
terms of total yardage and was about to pass Jim
Brown until came along and the Seattle trip and which
was you know, short lived. But it seems to me
that in some ways the Immaculate Reception, which faulted him
(19:04):
to fame, also sort of shrouded his greatness to a degree.
Now you're stand You're exactly right. And and also his durability.
I mean he got banged up a couple of times,
but you could always count on him. I mean, we
win the first, our first Super Bowl because again we
can run the football against a very good biking defense.
(19:25):
And uh, I think Franco had I'm not sure, like
a hundred and fifty yards and and was the m
v P in in that game. Being able they have
that kind of a back who get into the secondary. Uh,
we talked about errors and who who could play when,
who can play now or whatever the case may be.
At two and twenty pounds, I mean, he's got as
big as some of the big running backs in the
(19:47):
game here today, but big enough. And uh, he just
brought an element and the endurability that you're right that
the immaculive reception will always be that that one thing
will already linked to playing go in his legacy, but
his career and how the adorability he had in wait,
that we had a constant in our running game was
(20:09):
so important to us, and it does take away somewhat
of what he's able to break the table. And lastly,
Jack um I mentioned earlier that um I was able
to interview Franco live on this show, UM, just minutes
after he'd gotten the news they were going to retire
his number, UM and with the ceremony scheduled for Saturday night. Uh.
(20:32):
And I take some solace in knowing that he was
aware of the thrill of that being done for him,
only the third number ever uh to be retired as
a Steeler. Uh. And so the fact that he will
not be around to actually live through the honor itself,
uh doesn't bite quite as hard because he was aware
(20:53):
it was going to happen. And I will never forget
the look of joy on his face when he recounted
how much that meant to him. Well, Franco is a
very emotional guy, and he keeps some of that emotion inside,
but uh, he was so honored the fact that his
number was going to be retired. He was such a
(21:14):
team player. But as you mentioned earlier, he was the link.
He was that missing piece that it got us to
the point where we were able to win those Super Bowls.
So uh, yeah, I think he always kind of deflected
any kind of recognition away from himself, but in his
quiet moments, he was very, very thrilled about the fact
of his number being retired as one of the greatest
(21:36):
of all times. He was a proud man. Um, Jack,
my sincere condolences. I know what he meant to you, Um.
I know what he meant to this city, what he
meant to this region, what he meant to the sport. Again,
I thank you for the time today and under these
difficult circumstances, and my sincere condolences. Stan, thank you, Thank
(21:59):
you very much. M. The legendary Jack cam reflecting upon
the loss of his great friend and teammate Frank o'harris,
he spoke beautifully and spoke for us all. December twenty one,
two thousand twenty two is a date that we will
(22:20):
not soon forget, and you can rest on the knowledge
of Franco appreciated you in Steeler's Nation as much as
you appreciated you. I'm Stan, saveregn thanks for joining us
on savan on Steelers
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