On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 21, 1979
The Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl 35-31 over the Dallas Cowboys. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw is named Super Bowl MVP. [Youtube]
(Source: thepittsburghhistoryjournal)
![Super Bowl 1975 - Steelers vs. Vikings (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 12, 1975
Steelers win the Super Bowl in New Orleans, 16-6 over Minnesota Vikings. Ten thousand people invade Downtown area after victory; 224 were arrested for drunkenness. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxckxwBnG11qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Super Bowl 1975 - Steelers vs. Vikings (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 12, 1975
Steelers win the Super Bowl in New Orleans, 16-6 over Minnesota Vikings. Ten thousand people invade Downtown area after victory; 224 were arrested for drunkenness. [Historic Pittsburgh]
(Source: thepittsburghhistoryjournal)
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 27, 1975
The Steelers wave Terrible Towels for the first time as they take the Three Rivers field for a divisional playoff against Baltimore. Andy Russell wins the game on a 93-yard return for a touchdown. [Wikipedia]
From Pittsburgh Magazine (2010):
In 1975, Cope’s bosses at WTAE Radio asked him to come up with a clever promotional gimmick for the station that would be embraced by Steelers fans. After considering black masks emblazoned with then-head coach Chuck Noll’s motto, “Whatever It Takes,” Cope came up with a less expensive idea: a gold rally towel. Cope spent several weeks promoting the idea on the radio, with little apparent success. He even took a sample towel into the Steelers’ locker room for a straw poll.“I think your idea stinks,” said linebacker Jack Ham. One can imagine Cope reacting to Ham’s assessment with his trademark, “Feh!” (more)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/c03a284f2f1c4f0af2761fe2aca136e1/tumblr_mfp8zht6YC1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 27, 1975
The Steelers wave Terrible Towels for the first time as they take the Three Rivers field for a divisional playoff against Baltimore. Andy Russell wins the game on a 93-yard return for a touchdown. [Wikipedia]
From Pittsburgh Magazine (2010):
In 1975, Cope’s bosses at WTAE Radio asked him to come up with a clever promotional gimmick for the station that would be embraced by Steelers fans. After considering black masks emblazoned with then-head coach Chuck Noll’s motto, “Whatever It Takes,” Cope came up with a less expensive idea: a gold rally towel. Cope spent several weeks promoting the idea on the radio, with little apparent success. He even took a sample towel into the Steelers’ locker room for a straw poll.
“I think your idea stinks,” said linebacker Jack Ham. One can imagine Cope reacting to Ham’s assessment with his trademark, “Feh!” (more)
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 26, 1991
Steelers coach Chuck Noll retires after 23 seasons, 209 wins, seven title games and four Super Bowl wins, the most by any NFL coach. [Wikipedia]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/f934e066e7d541b9cdd2c9131798b782/tumblr_mfn7rv6k4n1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 26, 1991
Steelers coach Chuck Noll retires after 23 seasons, 209 wins, seven title games and four Super Bowl wins, the most by any NFL coach. [Wikipedia]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 23, 1972
In the first Steelers playoff in 25 years (and their first postseason win), Franco Harris salvages a Terry Bradshaw pass in the greatest NFL play in history—to beat the Raiders 13-7 at Three Rivers. Art Rooney and Bob Prince miss the play while in the elevator to the locker room. [Wikipedia; Pro Football Hall of Fame]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 21, 1947
Forbes Field hosts the city’s first NFL Playoff game as the Steelers lose to Philadelphia.
Mel Blount. Cornerback. Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-1983). Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, XIV Champion. Hall of Fame, Class of ‘89.
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: November 12, 1892
The world’s first pro football game kicks off at Rec Park as “Pudge” Heffelfinger is paid $12,900 by the Allegheny Athletic Association.
Nov. 10, 1956: When Pittsburgh was a smoky steelmaking powerhouse, Pitt Stadium was its football mecca. On this day, 58,679 fans showed up to watch the Panthers whip Notre Dame 26-13.
Pitt once played its football games at nearby Forbes Field, but under coach Pop Warner the team became so popular the concrete baseball stadium could no longer accomodate the large number of fans seeking admission. So the University of Pittsburgh purchased nine acres of land and hired Pitt graduate W.S. Hindman to design a new venue.
Pitt Stadium was completed in 1925, and on Sept. 26 of that year, Pitt christened the concrete bowl with a 26-0 victory over Washington and Lee. Record attendance for the stadium was reached on Oct. 29, 1938, when 68,918 fans watched Pitt beat Fordham 24-13. Seating changes and new safety rules set by Pittsburgh’s fire marshall reduced the capacity in the 1940s.
Pitt played its final game at the stadium on Nov. 13, 1999. The Panthers defeated Notre Dame 37-27 that day. The old facility went out in rowdy style. With nine seconds remaining in the game, fans rushed onto the field, tore down both goal posts and tore out chunks of artificial turf.
(Photo credit: Unknown)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 21, 1979
The Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl 35-31 over the Dallas Cowboys. Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw is named Super Bowl MVP. [Youtube]
(Source: thepittsburghhistoryjournal)
Super Bowl 1975 - Steelers vs. Vikings (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 12, 1975
Steelers win the Super Bowl in New Orleans, 16-6 over Minnesota Vikings. Ten thousand people invade Downtown area after victory; 224 were arrested for drunkenness. [Historic Pittsburgh]
(Source: thepittsburghhistoryjournal)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 27, 1975
The Steelers wave Terrible Towels for the first time as they take the Three Rivers field for a divisional playoff against Baltimore. Andy Russell wins the game on a 93-yard return for a touchdown. [Wikipedia]
From Pittsburgh Magazine (2010):
In 1975, Cope’s bosses at WTAE Radio asked him to come up with a clever promotional gimmick for the station that would be embraced by Steelers fans. After considering black masks emblazoned with then-head coach Chuck Noll’s motto, “Whatever It Takes,” Cope came up with a less expensive idea: a gold rally towel. Cope spent several weeks promoting the idea on the radio, with little apparent success. He even took a sample towel into the Steelers’ locker room for a straw poll.
“I think your idea stinks,” said linebacker Jack Ham. One can imagine Cope reacting to Ham’s assessment with his trademark, “Feh!” (more)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 26, 1991
Steelers coach Chuck Noll retires after 23 seasons, 209 wins, seven title games and four Super Bowl wins, the most by any NFL coach. [Wikipedia]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 23, 1972
In the first Steelers playoff in 25 years (and their first postseason win), Franco Harris salvages a Terry Bradshaw pass in the greatest NFL play in history—to beat the Raiders 13-7 at Three Rivers. Art Rooney and Bob Prince miss the play while in the elevator to the locker room. [Wikipedia; Pro Football Hall of Fame]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 21, 1947
Forbes Field hosts the city’s first NFL Playoff game as the Steelers lose to Philadelphia.
Mel Blount. Cornerback. Pittsburgh Steelers (1970-1983). Super Bowl IX, X, XIII, XIV Champion. Hall of Fame, Class of ‘89.
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: November 12, 1892
The world’s first pro football game kicks off at Rec Park as “Pudge” Heffelfinger is paid $12,900 by the Allegheny Athletic Association.
![Pitt vs. Notre Dame program, 1965 [Pitt Script Logo]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcxnmpPwLD1qakblyo1_500.png)
![Dorsett of the Pittsburgh Panthers on the cover of Sports Illustrated, November 1976 (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: October 23, 1976
Pitt’s Tony Dorsett breaks the all-time NCAA college football rushing record. [Wikipedia]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbuc7c1pTY1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Nov. 10, 1956: When Pittsburgh was a smoky steelmaking powerhouse, Pitt Stadium was its football mecca. On this day, 58,679 fans showed up to watch the Panthers whip Notre Dame 26-13.
Pitt once played its football games at nearby Forbes Field, but under coach Pop Warner the team became so popular the concrete baseball stadium could no longer accomodate the large number of fans seeking admission. So the University of Pittsburgh purchased nine acres of land and hired Pitt graduate W.S. Hindman to design a new venue.
Pitt Stadium was completed in 1925, and on Sept. 26 of that year, Pitt christened the concrete bowl with a 26-0 victory over Washington and Lee. Record attendance for the stadium was reached on Oct. 29, 1938, when 68,918 fans watched Pitt beat Fordham 24-13. Seating changes and new safety rules set by Pittsburgh’s fire marshall reduced the capacity in the 1940s.
Pitt played its final game at the stadium on Nov. 13, 1999. The Panthers defeated Notre Dame 37-27 that day. The old facility went out in rowdy style. With nine seconds remaining in the game, fans rushed onto the field, tore down both goal posts and tore out chunks of artificial turf.
(Photo credit: Unknown)
