The '63 Steelers

by Rudy Dicks

  Bivins, Charlie, 185

  Blair, Sam, 105

  Bleier, Rocky, 238

  blitz defense, 79, 143

  blocking: by Carpenter, 215–16; Johnson’s fondness for, 135, 220; by Keys, 124; of placekicks, 24, 26, 74

  Blount, Roy, Jr., 19–20, 95

  Bosseler, Don, 93, 161, 163

  Bradshaw, Charlie, 4–5, 20, 56; background of, 70, 144–45, 179–80; against Cowboys, 220; in offensive line, 89, 123, 144–45; against Redskins, 89, 92

  Bradshaw, Jim, 74, 120, 139, 248; on bar fight, 152–53; against Cardinals, 79; against Cowboys, 108; fans booing accidentally, 153–54, 159; against Redskins, 93

  Bratkowski, Zeke, 121, 168

  Breslin, Jimmy, 228

  Brewer, Johnny, 146

  broadcasting, NFL, 15

  Brown, Ed, 2, 36, 137; background of, 60; against Bears, 168, 181–84, 187; against Browns, 63–65, 66, 142–43, 144–45, 146; against Cardinals, 46–47, 49, 74–78; compared to Layne, 20–21, 55, 57, 60, 243; compared to other quarterbacks, 62, 232; against Cowboys, 103–8, 215, 217; death of, 251; against Eagles, 24–25, 54, 203–4; against Giants, 38, 237–39, 243; growth as quarterback, 67; injuries of, 55, 232; interceptions of, 203–4, 237; Layne critiquing, 60–61; against Lions, 55; nervousness of, 238–39; off-games of, 54, 103–8, 182, 184, 203, 243; offense protecting, 147, 152–53, 239–40; against Packers, 54, 124–25; Parker and, 53, 72; pass completions/incompletes by, 63–65, 125, 232, 237–39, 243; personality of, 60, 62, 232, 238–39, 244; post-Steeler career of, 250–51; power of throws, 20, 22, 106, 239; prediction for game against Giants, 234, 237; punts by, 24, 66, 126, 181; against Redskins, 89, 92, 159, 162; strategies of, 22–23, 25–26, 125; team get-togethers and, 234, 239; team’s lack of confidence in, 57, 232–33

  Brown, Hugh, 205

  Brown, Jim, xiii, 6, 27, 39, 61, 64–67, 73, 88, 93, 108, 118; injuries from tackling, 157, 160; Johnson and, 137–38; Keys tackling, 139–40, 160; on racism, 136; running by, 134, 139; rushing by, 102, 125, 127, 207; Schmitz’s great play against, 143–44; on Steelers, 137–38, 143, 191; Steelers stopping, 141–42, 145–46; talents of, 87, 129–30; toughness of, 80–81

  Brown, John, 64

  Brown, Paul, 16, 61, 72, 109, 113, 165–66; on fickle fate in games, 160–61; innovations of, 101, 151

  Brown, Roosevelt, 37

  Brown, Tim, 22–23, 204

  Broyles, Frank, 33

  Bucs, 45

  Budd, Frank, 89–90, 160, 163

  Bukich, Rudy, 85

  Bullocks, Amos, 105–6, 181, 185, 187, 215–17

  Burk, Adrian, 33

  Burrell, John, 179–80, 185, 218

  Burroughs, Don, 21, 204

  Butler, Billy, 98–99

  Butler, Jack, 154–55, 244

  Byrnes, Kenny, 175–76

  Caffey, Lee Roy, 23–24, 204

  Campbell, Stan, 5

  Cannon, Billy, 197, 219

  Carpenter, Lew, 126, 133

  Carpenter, Preston, 22–23, 155; against Bears, 180, 182–83; against Browns, 64, 142–43; against Cardinals, 46; against Cowboys, 106, 215–17; on Dial, 197–98; against Eagles, 25–26, 203, 206; against Giants, 238; on Layne, 56, 58; on Lipscomb, 28–29; against Packers, 126; on Parker, 114, 117, 119; post-Steelers career, 248; satisfaction with NFL career, 250

  Carr, Jimmy, 205

  Carr, Joe, 169

  Cartwright, Gary, 107, 218

  Carver, Frank, 200

  Casares, Rick, 168, 185

  Chandler, Don “Babe,” 37, 38, 170, 233, 236, 240, 243

  Chandnois, Lynn, 117, 149

  Chicago, interest in Bears’ game, 172–73

  Chicago Bears, 27, 80, 167, 226; 1964 season of, 248; in NFL championship game, 26, 254; Steelers’ desire to beat, 168, 179; in Western Conference, 156–57, 164, 200

  Chicago Bears-Steelers game (11/24), xiii– xv, 180–88; discussion of postponement after Kennedy assassination, 169, 171–73

  Chicago Cardinals, 112

  Childress, Joe, 45–47, 49, 62, 71, 74, 77, 79–80

  civil rights movement: effects on NFL, 115–16; responses to, 8–10

  Clark, Mike, 25, 204–5, 248

  Clarke, Frank, 103–4, 106, 108, 213, 221

  Clemente, Roberto, 17, 45

  Cleveland Browns, 213; 1964 season of, 247–48; Carpenter with, 215–16; collapse of ’63 season for, 108, 221; offense by, 61–62, 64, 136, 144; in Runner-Up Bowl, 245; standings in Eastern Conference, 127, 146–48, 157, 164, 200, 207, 243; Steelers rivalry with, xii, xiii, 14, 140–41, 247; winning NFL championship, 255; wins by, 52, 80, 93

  Cleveland Browns-Steelers game (10/5), 63–67

  Cleveland Browns-Steelers game (11/10), 141–48

  Cleveland Browns-Steelers game (11/22/59), xiii

  coaches: Butler as defensive backs, 154–55; Cordileone’s problems with, 31–32; offense vs. defense, 78–79; Parker as, 109, 111–19, 230; players becoming, 6, 250; racial discrimination in, 15–16, 136; ranking of, 245; rules set for players by, 113, 119; by Stautner, 210, 249–50

  Cobbledick, Gordon, 134, 172

  Cohen, Harold V., 199

  Cohen, Sam “The Umbrella Man,” 82

  college football, 119, 165, 214. See also University of Pittsburgh football

  Collier, Blanton, 12, 61, 143, 144

  Collins, Gary, 64, 65–66, 142, 144–46

  Collins, Jack, 150

  Conerly, Charlie, 33, 224

  Conrad, Bobby Joe, 43–44, 47, 49, 71, 75–76, 79–80, 153, 192

  Conroy, Pat, 256

  conversions: Michaels’s, 25, 130, 145, 180; Tracy’s, 106–7

  Cook, Eugene, 156

  Cope, Myron, 2, 55, 131–32, 188, 234, 238–39

  Cordileone, Lou, 61, 92, 103, 147; 151, 170, 207, 209, 221; on 1962 Playoff Bowl, 4; analyzing and second-guessing 1963 season, 252; background of, 30–31; on Brown, 152, 234, 239; against Browns, 146; against Cardinals, 49, 77–78; careers after football, 248–49; against Eagles, 23, 206; on game against Giants, 226–27; against Giants, 38–39, 240; on Johnson, 137–38; on Layne, 55–56, 58; replacing Lipscomb, 30, 36; on Stautner, 3, 147; traded, 6, 68, 70, 117

  cornerback, Keys as, 139–40

  Costello, Vince, 64, 66, 107, 143–44

  Crabb, Claude, 159

  Creekmur, Lee, 132–33

  crime, in Pittsburgh, 155–56

  Cronkite, Walter, 224

  Cross, Irv, 5, 21, 24, 26, 205–6

  Crow, John David, 44, 73–76, 137

  culture, American, 123, 156, 169, 192, 202; in 1963, 7–9, 34–35; changes in, 34–35, 88, 122–23, 251; diversions besides football, 45, 255

  Curbstone Coaches luncheon, 141, 166

  Curry, Roy, 120, 181–82, 187

  Curtis, Overton, 99

  Czarnecki, Leo “Horse,” 137, 236

  Daley, Arthur, 7, 110, 154–55, 166, 189, 222, 231, 235

  Dallas Cowboys, 104, 175; ill-fated season of, 212, 217–18; quarterbacks of, xiii, 101; Steelers vs., 102, 213–14; strong offense of, 212–13

  Dallas Cowboys-Steelers game (10/27), 102–8

  Dallas Cowboys-Steelers game (12/8), 215– 21; effects of wind gusts on, 214–15, 217

  Daniel, Ruth, 153–55, 177

  Daniel, Willie, xvi, 4, 102, 153, 186, 198, 237, 250; background, 6, 154; against Bears, 183; against Cardinals, 79; against Redskins, 90–92, 163

  Danvers, Charles P., 20

  Daugherty, Duffy, 149–50, 155

  Davis, Al, 31

  Davis, Art, 215–16

  Davis, Ernie, xiv–xv, 115

  Davis, Jeff, 184

  Davis, Tommy, 45

  Davis, Willie, 125

  Dawson, Len, 34, 48

  Dean, Ted, 4

  defense, 163, 230; in 1964 season, 247; against Bears, 183, 185; of Bears, 167, 182; against Browns, 144, 146; against Cardinals, 46, 49–51, 73, 75–77; Cordileone in, 32, 36; against Eagles, 205; effectiveness of, 99, 125, 159, 205; against Giants, 38, 228
, 239–40; holes in, 78, 126, 209, 231; league standing of Steelers’, 167; against Packers, 125–26; against Redskins, 159; strategies in, 118, 239–41

  defensive backfield, Bears’, 167–68

  defensive backs, 63, 153–55

  defensive end, Michaels as, 11–12, 13

  defensive tackle, Cordileone as, 32

  DeMarco, Bob, 44

  “Destiny’s Derelicts,” 1962 Steelers called, 2

  Detroit Lions, 55, 112, 213, 221, 226; Johnson with, 135–36; Parker as coach of, 109, 111, 119, 252; Parker as player for, 111–12; William Clay Ford buying, 171

  Detroit Lions-Steelers, in 1962 Playoff Bowl, 4

  Devine, Dan, 40

  Dial, Darren, 193

  Dial, David, 194

  Dial, Gilbert Leroy “Buddy,” 22–23, 134, 207, 248; background of, 85, 179–80, 191–99; against Bears, 181–84, 187; Brown and, 61, 232–33; against Browns, 64–65, 142–46; Brown’s passes to, 182–84, 239; against Cardinals, 46, 49–50, 74, 77; against Cowboys, 104–7, 215; disappointment about Giants game, 235, 245; against Eagles, 25, 26, 203–6; family of, 193–94, 198; against Giants, 38, 237–38, 243; injuries of, 194, 198; against Packers, 126–27; personality of, 192–94; as receiver, 64, 107, 125–27, 232; against Redskins, 89, 92–93, 159; touchdowns by, 64–65, 93, 104, 106, 204, 215, 243

  Dial, Janice, 193–94, 198–99

  Dial, Kevin, 193–94, 199

  Ditka, Mike, xvi, 18, 80, 151, 167, 180–81, 183, 189; complaints of unfair officiating and, 188, 199; great run by, 185–86, 188

  Donovan, Art, 225

  Doran, Jim, 56–57, 78

  Dorow, Al, 149

  Dove, Eddie, 238

  Dowler, Boyd, 124–25

  Downes, Bill, 21, 204

  draft system, 41–42, 119, 150; Carpenter in, 215–16; Parker and, 87, 120, 211–12; Parker trading first-round picks, 53, 120, 208; Steelers wasting picks, 47–48

  drugs: Lipscomb supposedly dying of, 28– 29; overuse of painkillers, 197–98

  Drulis, Chuck, 49–50, 79

  Dugan, Fred, 159, 161

  Eastern Conference, 101, 245–46; in 1964, 247; calculations of rankings in, 225, 245–46; effects of tie games in, 188, 206, 225; first place in, 66, 146–48, 164, 188; as free-for-all, 7, 108; Playoff Bowl for second-place teams in, 3; standings in, 94, 127–28, 200, 214, 243; Steelers’ chances of winning, 7, 192; Steelers’ place in, xv, 75, 81, 127, 166, 187, 221, 243; Steelers’ role in, 103, 121, 157

  Ebert, Dianne, 175

  education, players working on degrees, 61, 123, 210

  Edwards, Dave, 220

  Elliott, Stretch, 132–33

  endorsements, 136, 223–24

  equipment, 136; Layne’s disdain for, 1–2; shoes for icy conditions, 235–36, 240

  extra points, Michaels missing, 104

  Face, Elroy, 19

  Fargardo, Jim, 175–76

  Falls, Joe, 7

  fans: appreciation and dislike for specific players, 20, 54, 63, 145, 153–54, 205; appreciation for underdogs, 29; attendance by, 38; of Browns, 140–41; of Cowboys, 218; crowding field, 165–66; desperation for winning season, 17, 19– 20, 73; fights by, 18, 132–33; fondness for Rooney, 18; games after Kennedy assassination and, 173, 175–79, 188–89; importance of, 21–22, 166; optimism about 1963 season, 14, 51, 88–89; of Rams, 222; of Redskins, 159; toughness of, 19–20. See also ticket sales

  Farrington, John, 180, 183–84, 187, 255

  Fay, Ed, 96, 98–100

  Fears, Tom, 222

  Ferguson, Bob, 42, 150; against Browns, 62, 64, 66; against Cardinals, 47, 49–51, 75–77; Parker and, 87, 120, 149, 212; post-Steelers career, 249; slow start of, 47–48

  Fichtner, Ross, 86–87, 145

  field goals, 21, 25, 233, 238; by Baker, 106, 215; against Bears, 185; against Browns, 64, 66; against Cardinals, 46, 49, 50, 74, 76, 77; against Cowboys, 215–16; against Eagles, 23, 206; against Giants, 37, 233–34, 239; by Michaels, 16; against Redskins, 90

  field goals, Michaels missing: against Bears, 183; against Browns, 66, 141–43, 146; against Cardinals, 76; against Cowboys, 216–17; against Eagles, 25–26, 205; against Giants, 237–38, 243; Michaels’s erratic performance on, 11, 14, 161–62, 233; against Packers, 125; against Redskins, 159

  fighting, 4; concerns about football’s increasing violence, 131–34, 133; fans and, 18–20, 132–33; Johnson’s meanness in, 131–35; Keys starting, 139; Mack’s, 96, 98–100; Michaels and McMillan, 50–51; as Pittsburgh tradition, 95–96; Scotti and Mellekas, 201–3; Steelers’ reputation for, 5, 14, 157; targets for violence, 133–34

  Fischer, Pat, 74, 101

  Fiss, Galen, 64, 66, 145

  Fleming, Marv, 124, 126

  Fogarty, Fran, 153, 214, 236

  Folkins, Lee, 104–6

  Football: compared to life, 193; fickle fate in games, 160–61, 183, 193; games after Kennedy assassination, 169, 171–72, 188–89; growing popularity of, 68–69, 123, 165–66; need for aggression in, 155, 228–29; NFL becoming big business, 193; Parker’s philosophy of, 109; players’ motives for, 208. See also college football

  Forbes Field, xiii, 169, 223; as antiquated, xv–xvi, 103; demolished, 255; game after Kennedy assassination in, 179–80; last home game in, 202

  Ford, William Clay, 171

  Forester, Bill, 125, 170

  Fortunato, Joe, 167, 185

  fullbacks, Sapp as, 87

  fumbles: in Cardinals game, 76; in Eagles game, 23, 203–4; in Giants game, 236–38, 243, 246; on kickoff returns, 185; in Packers game, 124–28, 126; recovery of, 76, 93; in Redskins game, 90, 92–93, 162

  Furlong, Bill, 184

  Gabor, Zsa Zsa, 63

  Gaechter, Mike, 105, 215–16, 220

  Gain, Bob, 64, 65

  Galimore, Willie, 137, 180, 255

  gambling, 9, 86, 121

  Ganzel, Dewey, xiv

  Garner, Erroll, 5

  “Gashouse Gang,” Steelers called, 6

  Gautt, Prentice, 44

  Gay, Timothy, 11, 24–25, 76

  George, Bill, 167, 182, 185

  Gibbs, Sonny, 101

  Gifford, Frank, 32, 38, 222, 231, 240–41; effects of great catch, 242–43, 252

  Gillespie, Dizzy, 5

  Glass, Bill, 65, 75–76

  Glass, Glenn, 22, 25; against Bears, 180–81, 186; against Browns, 142, 146; against Cowboys, 216; against Giants, 37, 240–42; against Packers, 125; post-Steelers career, 248; against Redskins, 160, 162–63

  Glick, Gary, 48, 215–16

  goalpost, crooked, 21, 25–26

  Goldwater, Barry, 158, 255

  Good, Herb, 26–27

  Grady, Sandy, 4, 176, 179, 188

  Graf, Fritz, 185

  Graham, Otto, 133, 134

  Gray, Ken, 44, 46

  Green, Bobby Joe, 180–81, 183

  Green, Cornell, 104, 146, 215

  Green, Ernie, 142

  Green Bay Packers: Bears beating, 164, 166–68; under Lombardi, xiii, 119–20, 123–24; place in Western Conference, 156–57, 200

  Green Bay Packers-Steelers game (11/3), 120–21, 123, 138

  Gregg, Forrest, 4–5, 124

  Gremminger, Hank, 126

  Grier, Rosey, 222

  Griffing, Glynn, 33, 38, 39, 224

  Grill, Crawford, 5

  Groat, Dick, 17

  Gros, Earl, 124

  Gross, Milton, 178, 201

  Grosscup, Lee, 85, 194–95

  Groza, Lou, 142, 145

  Guglielmi, Ralph, 33, 36–39, 227

  Guzik, John, 18

  Hackbart, Dale, 160

  Hackett, Dave, 189

  Halas, George, 156, 165, 187, 253; as coach, 113, 245; complaints about officiating and, 186, 188; concern about playing Steelers, 166–68; on game against Steelers, 167, 188; Parker and, 118–19, 184–85

  Haley, Dick, 6, 22, 70, 171, 236; background of, 83–85; against Bears, 180, 183; against Cardinals, 46, 79; against Cowboys, 104, 217; against Eagles, 20
4; on Gifford’s great catch, 241–42; injuries of, 73; interceptions by, 93, 162, 180; on opponents, xvi, 92, 130, 203; against Packers, 124; on Parker, 110, 113–14; personality of, 85–86; in player personnel, 85–86, 120, 130, 250; against Redskins, 89–90, 93, 162–63

  Haley, Todd, 85

  halfbacks, 140, 150

  Hargitay, Mickey, 156

  Hatcher, Ron, 115

  Heck, Ralph, 23–24

  Hecker, Norb, 79–80

  Henry, Mike, 70

  Hernon, Jack, 45

  Hickey, Howard Wayne “Red,” 31–32, 113

  Hill, Jimmy, 44, 74, 121, 192–93, 203, 231

  Hill, King, 23, 25, 201, 205–6

  Hirsch, Elroy “Crazy Legs,” 222

  Hoak, Dick, 6, 51, 97, 127–28; against Bears, 180–85, 187; against Browns, 63– 66, 141–42, 145–46; call against, compared to Ditka’s, 186, 199; against Cardinals, 46, 49–50, 74–75, 77; coaching by, 250; against Cowboys, 105; against Eagles, 203; against Giants, 36–37; in ground game, 36, 182; honored at Browns-Steelers game, 137; importance to team, 62, 140; injuries of, 73, 219; Johnson and, 62, 141–42; against Packers, 124–27; against Redskins, 89–90, 92, 161–62; rushing record of, 102, 129; touchdowns by, 36–37, 90, 184–85

  Holmes, Tommy, 146

  Hornung, Paul, 9, 58, 121, 126, 144, 236

  Howell, Jim Lee, 166

  Howton, Billy, 103, 105, 108, 153, 194, 213, 231

  Huff, Sam, 87, 130, 221–23, 227, 244; background of, 228; documentary about, 224; on fighting, 131, 133; on Kennedy’s assassination, 170, 174–75, 179; meanness of, 134, 228

  Hutson, Don, 103, 105, 153, 194

  injuries, 2, 57, 90, 157, 199, 219, 232, 238; in 1964 season, 249; Atkinson’s, 209–10; Dial’s, 194, 198; effects of Johnson’s, 66–67, 129, 140; effects of Steelers’, 32, 72–73, 75, 80, 168, 244; from fights, 5, 201–3; Johnson’s, 47, 62, 73, 87, 88, 102; Keys’, 231, 244; linebackers’, 43, 118; Mack’s, 97, 99; Michaels’s, 103, 107; NFL disability plan for, 198; in Playoff Bowls, 3–4; Pottios’s, 97, 248; Reger’s, 27, 102, 184, 210; Stautner’s, 102–3; Thomas’s, 102, 108

  interceptions, 182; in Bears game, 180, 183–84, 187; by Bradshaw, 108; of Brown’s passes, 61, 104, 203; in Cardinals game, 46–47, 51; in Cowboys game, 104, 108; in Eagles games, 24, 203; in Giants game, 37; by Glass, 37; by Haley, 93, 180; of Johnson’s passes, 51; in Packers game, 125, 127–28; by Pottios, 93, 125; in Redskins game, 92–93, 162; by Thomas, 24, 37

  Irma the Body, 141–42, 156

  Ivy, Frank “Pop,” 236

  Izo, George, 157