by Rudy Dicks
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Sell, “Much-Traveled Rookie Tackle Roamer.”
9. Frank Atkinson, conversation, Oct. 10, 2007.
10. “Steelers’ Coach Says ‘Team Wasn’t Ready,’” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 12, 1963.
11. Frank Atkinson, conversation, Oct. 10, 2007.
12. Ibid.
13. McHugh, “Atkinson Finds Rare Richness.”
14. Frank Atkinson, conversation, Oct. 10, 2007.
15. Ibid
16. Andy Russell, An Odd Steelers Journey (Champaign, Ill.: Sports Publishing, 2002), 13; Frank Atkinson, conversation, Oct. 10, 2007.
17. Jerry Green, Detroit News, Sept. 17, 1966.
18. Al Abrams, “Farout Steeler Fan,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Feb. 16, 1976.
19. Ibid.
20. Dan Fitzpatrick, “A Gold Rush That Ended,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 19, 2003.
21. Pat Livingston, “Steelers Risk Title Hope with Cowboys,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 6, 1963.
22. Pat Livingston, “Win Over Cowboys Must for Steelers,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 8, 1963.
23. Tex Maule, “A Shuttle Shakes Up the Pros: How Landry Made a Virtue out of Weakness,” Sports Illustrated, Nov. 5, 1962, 18.
24. Bill Wise, 1963 Official Pro Football Almanac (Greenwich, Conn.: Fawcett, 1963), 36.
25. Livingston, “Steelers Risk Title Hope.”
26. Pat Livingston, “Steeler Ties Okay—but, No More Please,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 4, 1963.
27. “Dallas: Too Soon for Success,” Sports Illustrated, Sept. 10, 1962.
28. Pat Livingston, “Steeler Recalls Colts’ Experience,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 7, 1963.
29. Al Abrams, “Impressions and Reflections,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 5, 1963.
30. Pat Livingston, “Win Over Cowboys Must for Steelers,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 8, 1963.
31. Ibid.
32. UPI, “Detroit Set to Put Hex on Cleveland,” Dec. 8, 1963 (Pittsburgh Press).
33. Jack Sell, “Steelers Corral Four Draft Picks,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 6, 1963.
34. Frank Atkinson, conversation, Oct. 10, 2007.
35. Art Rooney Jr., conversation, March 10, 2008.
36. Frank Atkinson, conversation, Oct. 10, 2007.
37. Pat Livingston, “Steelers, Giants Face Showdown,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 9, 1963.
38. Gary Cartwright, “Steeler Rally Hobbles Cowboys, 24–19,” Dallas Morning News, Dec. 9, 1963.
39. Preston Carpenter, conversation, Sept. 8, 2007.
40. Ibid.
41. UPI, “Dial Makes Good without Giants,” Detroit Press, Dec. 13, 1963.
42. Preston Carpenter, conversation, Sept. 8, 2007.
43. Armen Keteyian, Ditka: Monster of the Midway (New York: Pocket Books, 1992), 111–12.
44. Cartwright, “Steeler Rally Hobbles Cowboys, 24–19.”
45. Ibid.
46. “Parker Wins Two Gambles,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 9, 1963.
47. Frank Atkinson, conversation, Oct. 10, 2007.
48. “Parker Wins Two Gambles,” Pittsburgh Press.
49. Ibid.
50. Ibid.
51. Ibid.
52. Al Abrams, “About a Man in a Slump,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 13, 1963.
53. “Parker Wins Two Gambles,” Pittsburgh Press.
54. Adam Van Brimmer, “Fullback Forever Known as the Drought Breaker,” Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, Nov. 22, 2007.
55. Livingston, “Steelers, Giants Face Showdown.”
56. Robert Riger, Best Plays of the Year 1963: A Documentary of Pro Football in the National Football League (Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1964), 44–45.
57. Livingston, “Steelers, Giants Face Showdown.”
58. Cartwright, “Steeler Rally Hobbles Cowboys, 24–19.”
59. “Parker Wins Two Gambles,” Pittsburgh Press.
60. Rick Dorsey, “The Battle of Georgia Tells Old Tale,” Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, Nov. 26, 1999.
61. UPI, “Giants Eye Revenge Next Week,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 9, 1963.
62. UPI, “Detroit Crushes Browns’ Dreams,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 9, 1963.
63. Livingston, “Steelers, Giants Face Showdown.”
64. UPI, “Giants Eye Revenge.”
GAME 14
1. Robert Oates Jr., Pittsburgh’s Steelers: The First Half Century (Los Angeles: Rosebud Books, 1982), 41.
2. Arthur Daley, “Aerial Circus,” New York Times, Aug. 25, 1958.
3. Stephen Norwood, Real Football: Conversations on America’s Game (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2004), 109.
4. Frank Atkinson, conversation, Oct. 10, 2007.
5. Andy Russell, interview, April 19, 2010.
6. Ray Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers (New York: Macmillan, 1974), 82.
7. Pat Livingston, “Tittle Ready? Giants to Wait for Kickoff,” Pittsburgh Press, Sept. 22, 1963.
8. Sam Huff, conversation, July 9, 2008.
9. “A Pride of Lions,” Time, Nov. 29, 1954, 61–62.
10. Ruth Daniel, e-mail interview, Jan. 12, 2008.
11. Pat Livingston, “Steelers Find ‘Buoyancy’ in Title Bid,” Pittsburgh Press, Oct. 2, 1963.
12. Matt Schudel, “Buzz Nutter,” Washington Post, April 18, 2008.
13. Pat Livingston, “Giants Cautious for Steeler Clash,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 12, 1963.
14. Pat Livingston, “Rozelle Stays Neutral in Hassle over Tie Tilts,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 11, 1963.
15. “NFL May Review Standings Ruling,” New York Times, Dec. 10, 1963.
16. Livingston, “Rozelle Stays Neutral.”
17. Ibid.
18. Jack Sell, “Speaking of Ties,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 11, 1963, in Andy Piascik, “Old and New Style: Winning Percentages,” Coffin Corner, 27, no. 5 (2005), 21–22.
19. Livingston, “Rozelle Stays Neutral.”
20. Joe Williams, “Michaels vs. Chandler FG Duel Shaping Up,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 12, 1963.
21. Livingston, “Rozelle Stays Neutral.”
22. Al Abrams, “Giants ‘Welcome’ Steelers,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 12, 1963.
23. Al Abrams, “Whirl around the World of Sports,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 14, 1963.
24. Jack Sell, “Steelers Bear out Parker’s Prophecy,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 12, 1963.
25. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 80.
26. New York Daily News, “Pressure’s on Giants: Steelers,” Dec. 12, 1963.
27. Ibid.
28. Sam Huff, conversation, July 9, 2008.
29. Ibid.
30. Huff in J. Kirk Sale, New York Times, Dec. 10, 1967.
31. Pat Livingston, “Ernie Admits Injury May Stop Him but Vows to Play while Health Lasts,” Pittsburgh Press, n.d., microfiche, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Ohio.
32. Rick Morrisey, Rocky Mountain News, Feb. 24, 1991, Pro Football Hall of Fame archives.
33. Bud Shrake, “Toughest Steeler of Them All,” Dallas Morning News, Dec. 8, 1963.
34. AP, “Giants’ Word on Steelers: They’re Tough,” Dec. 10, 1963.
35. Joe Trimble, “Giants Tabbed 7-Point Pick over Steelers in Title Tilt,” New York Daily News, Dec. 10, 1963.
36. Joe Williams, “Eerie Steelers Minute Men of Pros,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 13, 1963.
37. AP, “Joe Morrison, 51, Former Giant,” New York Times, Feb. 5, 1989.
38. Arthur Daley, “The Last Hurrah,” New York Times, Dec. 15, 1963.
39. William N. Wallace, “Steelers Pit Brown, 35, against Tittle of Giants, 37,” New York Times, Dec. 15, 1963.
40. Johnny Sample with Fred J. Hamilton and Sonny Schwartz, Confessions of a Dirty Ballplayer (New York: Dial Press, 1970), 308.
41. Jimmy Hill, “The Toughest Job in Football,” Sport, Jan. 1965, 51.
42. Roy Terrell, “The Day the Boys Scared the Men: The Spirit Was Willing,” Sports Illustrated, Dec. 18, 1961
, 17.
43. Wallace, “Steelers Pit Brown.”
44. Pat Livingston, “Brown Credentials Make Steelers Threat for Title,” Pittsburgh Press, Aug. 23, 1963.
45. Wallace, “Steelers Pit Brown.”
46. Joseph V. Rieland, Steelers game program, Dec. 1, 1963; Livingston, “Brown Credentials.”
47. Al Abrams, “An Artisan at Work,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Oct. 30, 1963.
48. UPI, “Dial Makes Good without Giants,” Detroit Free Press, Dec. 13, 1963.
49. Jim McCulley, “Don’s Big Toe Is Giant Edge in Stadium’s Whirly Winds,” New York Daily News, Dec. 13, 1963.
50. Williams, “Michaels vs. Chandler FG.”
51. Ibid.
52. Pat Livingston, “Parker Favors Dry, Fast Field,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 14, 1963.
53. McCulley, “Don’s Big Toe.”
54. Myron Cope, “Pro Football’s Gashouse Gang,” True, Sept. 1964, 37.
55. Lou Cordileone, conversation, Aug. 13, 2008.
56. Myron Cope, “Pro Football’s Gashouse Gang,” 37.
57. Lou Cordileone, conversation, Aug. 13, 2008.
58. Arthur Daley, “Steelers Title Bid Poses Problem!” New York Times, Dec. 13, 1963.
59. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 80.
60. Cope, “Pro Football’s Gashouse Gang,” 37.
61. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 81.
62. Clendon Thomas, conversation, Aug. 30, 2008.
63. UPI, “Taylor Declares: ‘I Never Took Worse Beating,’” Youngstown Vindicator, Jan. 1, 1963.
64. Jack Sell, “28,000 to See Steelers in Exit,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 13, 1958.
65. Dick Haley, conversation, May 14, 2008.
66. Jack Sell, “Future Steeler Stars Meet in Hotel Roosevelt, Look to Bowl Activity,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 17, 1963.
67. Andy Russell, interview, April 19, 2010.
68. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 82 (play-by-play indicates winds west/northwest, 15–25 mph).
69. Joe Bradis, “Parker Blames Both Offense and Defense,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 16, 1963.
70. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 82.
71. Pat Livingston, “Johnson Was Given OK to Pass up Drills to Help Heal Ankle,” Pittsburgh Press, Oct. 21, 1963.
72. Bradis, “Parker Blames Both Offense and Defense.”
73. Robert Smith, The Great Teams of Pro Football (New York: Dell, 1965), 187.
74. Pat Livingston, “Gifford Turns Tide for Giants,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 16, 1963.
75. Rocky Bleier with Terry O’Neil, Fighting Back (New York: Warner Books, 1976), 64–65.
76. Lou Cordileone, conversation, April 30, 2010.
77. Tex Maule, “Y. A. Tittle Starts Another Season,” Sports Illustrated, Oct. 6, 1958.
78. Lou Cordileone, conversation, Aug. 13, 2008.
79. Brady Keys, conversation, Sept. 4, 2007.
80. Smith, The Great Teams of Pro Football, 227.
81. Red Smith, “Winner-Take-All,” New York Herald Tribune, Dec. 16, 1963 (published in Youngstown Vindicator).
82. Riger, Best Plays of the Year 1963, 85.
83. Arthur Daley, “Watchful Waiting,” New York Times, Dec. 17, 1963.
84. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 84.
85. Daley, “Watchful Waiting”; Daley, New York Times, Dec. 17, 1963.
86. Y. A. Tittle, conversation, Sept. 8, 2008.
87. Pat Livingston, “Glass Solid Gold in Steeler Defense,” Pittsburgh Press, Sept. 25, 1963.
88. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 84.
89. Andy Russell, interview, April 19, 2010.
90. Ibid.
91. Riger, Best Plays of the Year 1963, 85.
92. Smith, The Great Teams of Pro Football, 188.
93. Dick Haley, conversation, May 14, 2008.
94. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 84.
95. Gordon S. White Jr., “Everyone Agrees Gifford Held Victory in Palm of Right Hand,” New York Times, Dec. 16, 1963.
96. Daley, “Watchful Waiting.”
97. Joe Trimble, “‘Bald Eagle’ Clicks on 17 out of 26 Aerials Good for Three Touchdowns,” New York Daily News, Dec. 16, 1963.
98. Art Rooney Jr., conversation, April 29, 2010.
99. Harold Rosenthal, “Giants, Bears Score Impressive Triumphs, Play for NFL Crown Dec. 29,” New York Herald Tribune, Dec. 16, 1963, (published in Youngstown Vindicator).
100. Livingston, “Gifford Turns Tide for Giants.”
101. Joe Trimble, “‘Sweetest Year,’ Tittle Says,” New York Daily News, Dec. 16, 1963.
102. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 85.
103. Ibid.
104. Ibid., 124, 136.
105. Tex Maule, “The Giant Story: Tittle Takes Dead Aim on a Title,” Sports Illustrated, Dec. 23, 1963.
106. Art Rooney Jr., conversation, April 29, 2010.
107. Brady Keys, conversation, Sept. 4, 2007.
108. Leonard Shecter, “Lou Michaels Takes a Last Crack at Title,” New York Post, Dec. 16, 1963.
109. Al Abrams, “A Good Man Bedded Down,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 10, 1959.
110. Red Mack, conversation, Aug. 8, 2007.
111. Clendon Thomas, conversation, Aug. 30, 2008.
112. Gary Cartwright, “Layne Was Toughest,” Dallas Morning News, Feb. 19, 1967.
113. Timothy Gay, The Physics of Football: Discover the Science of Bone-Crushing Hits, Soaring Field Goals, and Awe-Inspiring Passes (New York: Harper, 2005), 128.
114. Didinger, Pittsburgh Steelers, 85.
115. UPI, Dec. 17, 1963.
116. Jack Sell, “The New Era,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 19, 1963.
117. Preston Carpenter, conversation, Sept. 8, 2007.
118. Smith, The Great Teams of Pro Football, 227.
EPILOGUE
1. Lou Michaels, conversation, Aug. 29, 2007.
2. Preston Carpenter, conversation, Sept. 8, 2007.
3. Lou Cordileone, conversation, Aug. 29, 2010.
4. Roy McHugh, “Ex-Steeler Cordileone Tackles Zany Bar in French Quarter,” Pittsburgh Press, Jan. 7, 1975.
5. Keys Group Company, “The Early Years,” http://www.keysgroup.com/read_the_history.html.
6. UPI, “Parker Slated to Remain as Steelers’ Coach But Layne’s Career Nears End,” Jan. 8, 1963.
7. Preston Carpenter, conversation, Sept. 8, 2007; Andy Russell, interview, April 19, 2010.
8. AP, July 22, 1966; Game Day, pro football program, Dec. 19, 1996.
9. “‘Pressure’ Talk Sparks Giants,” Pittsburgh Press, Dec. 16, 1963.
10. Andy Russell, conversation, Oct. 4, 2007.
11. “The Way People Live Today,” U.S. News & World Report, Nov. 11, 1963.
12. Jack Sell, “The New Era,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 19, 1963.
13. Sports Illustrated, Jan. 6, 1964.
14. Detroit Free Press, Jan. 1, 1967.
15. Jack Gallagher, Houston Post, Feb. 28, 1966.
16. Game Day, pro football program, Nov. 23, 1975.
17. “‘Buddy’ Parker, 68, Dies; Former Coach of Steelers,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 23, 1982.
18. William N. Wallace, “Steelers Pit Brown, 35, against Tittle of Giants, 37,” New York Times, Dec. 15, 1963.
19. Lou Cordileone, conversation, April 30, 2010.
20. Andy Russell, interview, April 19, 2010.
21. Jack Sell, “A Bear Rooter,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
22. Al Abrams, “Steelers Might Have Won,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Dec. 31, 1963.
23. Lou Michaels, conversation, Aug. 29, 2007.
AFTERWORD
1. Roger Treat, The Official Encyclopedia of Football (New York: A. S. Barnes, 1964), 494.
2. Pat Conroy, My Losing Season (New York: Doubleday, 2002), 14; Andy Russell, Beyond the Goalpost (n.p., 2009), 123.
INDEX
Abrams, Al, xvi, 17, 83, 103, 155–56, 159, 211; on Cardinals game, 49, 77; on Cowboys game
, 105, 108; on Kennedy assassination, 172, 189; on Michaels, 11, 49, 219; on sports pages, 9, 35; on Steelers in Eastern Conference, 127–28
accidents, car, 14, 59, 255
Adams, Kenneth “Bud,” 197
Adderley, Herb, 127, 149–50
AFL, 172; draft of, 196–97, 208; trying to gain legitimacy, 158
Albert, Frankie, 33
Alexander, Tom, 199
Allen, George, 118, 167, 186, 248
all-NFL selections, 245
Anderson, Art, 238
Anderson, Bill, 162–63
Anderson, Edwin J., 132
Anderson, Taz, 77
Andrews, Rooster, 57
Andrie, George, 215, 217–18
Appleton, Scott, 196–97
arrests, after bar fight, 153
Atkins, Doug, 167
Atkinson, Frank, 3, 120, 176, 218, 223; background, 6, 208; on effects of Kennedy assassination, 180, 214; in games, 74, 104, 203; injuries of, 209–10; lack of interest in football career, 208–11; post-Steelers career of, 211, 248
backs, Johnson compared to others, 135
Baker, Big John, 23, 36–38, 65, 163, 209, 217; against Cardinals, 46, 50; against Cowboys, 104, 106–7; against Eagles, 204; field goals of, 106, 215; tackles by, 161, 247
Baker, Loris Hoskins “Sam,” 104, 215–17
Bakken, Jim, 47, 74, 79
Ballman, Gary, 127, 158, 168, 196; background of, 150–52; against Bears, 181–83, 185; against Browns, 144–46; Brown’s passes to, 182–83, 239; against Cardinals, 76; against Cowboys, 106, 215, 217; against Eagles, 203–6; fumbles, 243, 246; against Giants, 236–40, 242–43, 246; against Packers, 124; against Redskins, 159–60, 162–64; on Steelers, 157, 166; touchdowns by, 145, 163, 206, 240
Ballman, Judi, 150–52
Barnes, Billy, 89, 92–93, 161–62, 237, 242, 246
Barnes, Erich, 160, 191
Barnett, Steve, 183
Barr, Mayor Joseph A., 170
Barr, Terry, 192
baseball, popularity of, 166
basketball team, Steelers’, 100
Baugh, Sammy, 54, 59
Baughan, Maxie, 21, 23
Becker, Jim, 178–79
Bell, Bert, 26, 158, 226
Belley, Dick, xii
Bennett, Edward, 122–23
Berman, Morris, 247
Bernhard, Andrew, 122
Best, John, 27, 88, 107
Beyond the Goalpost (Russell), 256
Biscaha, Joe, 193, 195–96
Bishop, Don, 217, 220