The '63 Steelers

by Rudy Dicks

  Jackson, Leroy, 93

  James, Dan, 4, 93; against Cowboys, 220; in offensive line, 89, 123, 144; against Redskins, 89, 92

  James, Dick, 157, 162

  Jencks, Bob, 180

  Johnson, Charley, 39, 43–44, 46–47, 49–51, 61, 78, 174; compared to other quarterbacks, 71, 93, 213; records set by, 74–75; using Ramsey’s defense tactics, 79–80

  Johnson, John Henry, 4, 16, 247; background of, 134–36; against Bears, 180– 83, 185; against Browns, 141–42, 145–47; against Cardinals, 46, 48; against Cowboys, 102, 105, 215, 218–19; death of, 250; against Eagles, 23–25, 203, 205; effects of injuries of, 64, 66–67, 129, 140, 244; against Giants, 37–38, 236–38, 240, 243; Halas and, 168, 185; honors for, 63, 250; injuries of, 47, 62, 72–73, 87–88, 102–3, 105; love of blocking, 135, 220; meanness of, 6, 131–34; offensive line and, 62–63, 136–37, 144–45; against Packers, 124, 127, 130; partying by, 56, 114; personality of, 130; racial discrimination and, 114, 136; against Redskins, 159, 161, 162; runners as targets for violence, 134; running game of, 36, 182–83; running style of, 137–39; rushing by, 38, 125, 243; rushing records of, 129, 146– 47, 250; touchdowns by, 25, 38, 159

  Johnson, Vince, 156

  Jones, Cleveland “Pussyfoot,” 99

  Jordan, Henry, 126

  Jordan, Lee Roy, 104–5

  Jurgensen, Sonny, 3, 21–25, 200–201

  Kanicki, Jim, 64, 65–66

  Karras, Alex, 9, 57–59, 121, 196

  Katcavage, Jim, 36, 145, 232, 237

  Kelleher, Tom, 185

  Kelly, Jim, 212

  Kemp, Jack, 34

  Kemp, Ray, 15–16

  Kennedy, John F., 158, 165; assassination of, xiv–xv, 169; effects of assassination of, 177–78, 200, 214; funeral of, xvii; investigations into assassination, 202; love of football, 189–90; players’ responses to games after assassination of, 178–79, 201; responses to assassination of, 169–72, 188, 190, 199, 202; responses to football games after assassination of, 172–77, 188–89; sportsmen campaigning for, 29–30; visits to western Pennsylvania, 169–70

  Keys, Brady, 5, 22, 24–25, 66, 80, 98; on Brown, 57, 239; against Browns, 65, 144–46; against Cardinals, 46–47, 49, 74–75; against Cowboys, 105; against Giants, 36, 38; injuries of, 157, 160, 168, 231, 244; against Packers, 124; personality of, 63; post-Steelers career, 248; against Redskins, 89; tackling strategy of, 139–40, 157

  Keys, Howard, 5

  Khashoggi, Adnan, 211

  Khayat, Ed, 89, 92–93, 159, 161

  kicking, 11–12, 14, 233. See also field goals

  kickoffs, 25, 185

  Kiely, Ed, 89–90

  Kilcullen, Bob, 185

  Killett, Charlie, 33

  Kilroy, Bucko, 2

  King, Phil, 37, 231, 237–38, 240

  Koman, Bill, 71

  Kraemer, Eldred, 18

  Kramer, Jerry, 124–25

  Kreitling, Rich, 66, 142–43

  Krupa, Joe, 4–5, 65–66, 174, 185; against Bears, 183, 186, 187; against Cardinals, 46; against Eagles, 205, 206; against Giants, 37; against Redskins, 159; in Steeler defense, 76–77, 183, 205, 209

  Kuharich, Joe, 97, 151, 200, 217

  Landry, Tom, xiii, 104, 107–8; defense under, 212, 230; quarterback system of, 101, 105, 214; Stautner coaching under, 249–50

  Lane, Dick “Night Train,” 44, 99, 132, 192

  Larson, Greg, 237

  Lary, Yale, 56

  Lawrence, David L., xiii

  Layne, Bobby, xiii, 4, 179–80, 202, 236; advisory role for, 35, 60–61, 81, 182, 196, 203, 224; Ballman and, 152; Brown compared to, 20–21, 53, 55, 232–33; building team unity, 16, 118; compared to other quarterbacks, 212–13; death of, 250; Dial and, 195–96; fans’ aversion to, 19–20; in fights, 132, 152–53; honors for, 55, 250; injuries of, 2, 19–20, 54, 132; on Johnson’s meanness, 131, 133; leadership by, 55–56, 243; on Mack, 98–99; Parker and, 113–14, 243; partying by, 16, 112; personality of, 55–60; “Pro Football’s 11 Meanest Men” list by, 6, 44, 99; records set by, 53, 59; reputation for late-game heroics, 61, 78, 243–44; reputation for partying, 55–56, 58–59, 195–96; reputation of, 1, 14, 195–96; retirement of, 2, 30, 54, 147, 243

  Layne, Carol, 59

  Leahy, Frank, 229

  LeBaron, Eddie, 5, 101, 105, 214, 216

  Leclerc, Roger, 167, 180, 187

  Lemek, Ray, 180, 205, 220; in bar fight, 152–53; in offensive line, 89, 123, 144

  Lemm, Wally, 44, 51, 71, 73, 78, 179, 245; strategy of, 46, 75

  Levy, Marv, 175

  Lewis, Art “Pappy,” 154

  Lewis, Wallace “Boots,” 116

  linebackers, 130, 167; Parker juggling, 73, 118; Russell as, 43; Thomas as, 118

  linemen, size of, 229

  Lipscomb, Eugene “Big Daddy,” xiv, 5, 15, 114, 170, 222; background of, 29–30; death of, 2, 28–29, 209; effects of loss of, 30, 245; Layne and, 16, 60

  Liston, Sonny, 170

  Livingston, Pat, 19, 51, 78, 80, 87, 144; 213, 215; on complaints about officiating, 71–72, 184, 188; on individual players, 62–63, 70–71, 78, 147, 157, 200–201, 238; on standings computed by percentages, 226; on Steelers’ defense, 130, 139, 144, 183

  Livingston, Warren, 216

  Lloyd, Dave, 203–4

  Lombardi, Vince, 3–4, 32, 126; on games after Kennedy assassination, 178, 189– 90; on Packers, 121, 168; Packers under, xiii, 123–24; Parker compared to, 113, 119–20; power sweeps of, 144; on Steelers, 121, 125, 127

  Los Angeles Rams, 12–13, 69–70, 222, 226

  losing tradition, Steelers’, 12; after 1964, 248, 255; bad luck in, 244; bad seasons in, xiii, 1, 5–6, 72; breaking, 93–94; effects on fans, 19–20; fatalism about, 76, 80, 87, 92, 218, 253; giving up good quarterbacks, 34. See also reputation, Steelers’

  LoVetere, John, 36, 238

  Lucas, Dick, 23

  Lucci, Mike, 65

  Lyles, Lenny, 33

  Lynch, Dick, 224, 237, 240

  Mack, William Richard “Red,” 6, 57, 97, 173, 185, 244; background of, 95–99; against Browns, 63–64, 65–66, 142–43; against Cardinals, 74, 77; competitiveness of, 101; against Cowboys, 103–7, 104–6, 218; against Eagles, 54; fighting by, 99–100; injuries of, 99; against Packers, 124, 127; Parker and, 119–20, 248; receptions by, 63–64, 127; against Redskins, 89, 159; skill as receiver, 125; touchdowns by, 74, 107, 127

  Majka, Walter, 13

  The Making of a Pro (documentary), 224

  Mansfield, Jayne, 156

  Mantle, Mickey, 214

  Mara, John, 33, 35

  Mara, Wellington, 231

  Marchetti, Gino, 60

  Marconi, Joe, 180, 187

  Marsh, Amos, 104–6, 212, 215–16

  Marshall, George Preston, 115, 184

  Martha, Paul, 212, 248

  Masters, Norm, 124

  Matson, Ollie, 60

  Matuszak, Marv, 89

  Maule, Tex, 68–69, 133–34, 167, 244

  Mazeroski, Bill, 17

  McBride, Arthur B. “Mickey,” 151

  McClairen, Jack “Goose,” 89, 150

  McClellan, Mike, 205–6

  McDonald, Tommy, 21–25, 69, 153, 178, 203, 206, 231

  McElhenny, Hugh “the King,” 32, 137

  McGee, Max, 126

  McGill, Roger, 27, 62, 73, 102, 210

  McHugh, Roy, 186

  McMillan, Ernie, 47, 50

  McNally, Johnny “Blood,” 202

  McNamee, Frank, 176

  McPeak, Bill, 24, 83, 92, 157, 163–64, 170

  McRae, Bennie, 187

  Meador, Ed, 131

  Meadows, Ed, 132–33

  Mellekas, John, 201–3

  Meredith, Don, xiii, 101, 103–8, 213–17

  Meredith, James, 35

  Messenger, Robert, 235

  Metropolitan Stadium (Bloomington, Minnesota), 177

  Mets, winning World Series, 255

  Michaels, Lou, 24, 70, 173; on 1963 season, 253; in analyzing
and second-guessing about 1963 season, 244; against Bears, 180, 183, 185, 187; against Browns, 64, 66, 141–43, 145–46; against Cardinals, 46, 49–50, 74, 76–77; Cardinals complaining about, 71–72; conversions by, 130, 145, 180; against Cowboys, 104, 107–8, 215–17; in defense, 209, 236; against Eagles, 23, 205–6; erratic performance of, 233; failed field goals by, 49, 66, 74, 76–77, 125, 141–43, 146, 159, 183, 205, 216–17, 237–38, 243; field goal record of, 16; field goals by, 23, 37, 46, 50, 64, 66, 74, 76, 90, 185, 206, 215–16, 239; in fights, 50–51, 152–53; against Giants, 37, 233–34, 236–39, 243; importance of, 21, 233–34; injuries of, 73, 103, 107; kickoffs by, 141–42, 180; Mack and, 100, 248; optimism about 1963 season, 12; on other players, xvi, 37; against Packers, 125; personality of, 12–13, 219; placekicking failures of, 12, 32; on possible results of placekicks, 11–12, 21, 24; against Redskins, 90, 93, 159, 161–62; slump of, 145, 161–62

  Michelosen, John, 18

  Michigan State, 149, 155

  Miller, Jimmy, 89

  Milwaukee County Stadium, 178

  mining, 12–13

  Mira, George, 212

  Mitchell, Bobby, 90–92, 153, 157, 161–16, 178; Dial compared to, 191–92, 232; with Redskins, 88, 159; speed of, 160, 231

  Modell, Art, 61, 175

  Modzelewski, Dick, 36

  Moore, Lenny, 48, 124, 125, 126, 127, 137, 216

  Morrall, Earl, 89–90, 149

  Morris, Johnny, 180–81, 183, 185–86, 188

  Morris, Larry, 167, 187

  Morrison, Joe, 37, 231, 237–38, 242

  Murray, Jim, 20

  Musial, Stan “the Man,” 17, 30

  My Losing Season (Conroy), 256

  Nagler, Gern, xiii

  Namath, Joe, 248

  Neely, Jess, 194

  Nelsen, Bill, 120, 153, 238

  New York, effects of playing in, 222–24

  New York Giants, 135, 137, 228; 1964 season of, 248; on all-NFL selections, 245; Dial with, 191, 193–95; experience playing in frigid conditions, 235–36; importance of confident image of, 224–25; injuries of, 33; as lucky team, 244; in NFL championship games, 26, 254; standing in Eastern Conference, 147–48, 157, 200, 247; strength of, 32, 223, 244; winning record of, 164, 224–25

  New York Giants-Steelers game (9/22), 35–39, 227, 231

  New York Giants-Steelers game (12/15), 236–45; analyzing and second-guessing about, 244–45, 252; disappointment about, 245; effects of mistakes on, 237–41, 243, 246; effects of weather on, 236–37, 239; Giants favored in, 228, 233

  New York Giants-Steelers game (11/22/1964), 247

  newspapers, 8–9, 137, 140; decline of, 88; on Kennedy’s assassination, 170, 190; in New York, 222; sports pages, 9, 35, 189; still relied on, 122–23

  NFL, 222, 244; AFL competing with, 158; black players in, 15–16, 115–16, 181–82; careers simultaneous with, 70; disability plan of, 198; gambling in, 9; games after Kennedy’s assassination, 171–78; growing popularity of, 165–66; heavy drinking as normal in, 113; low salaries in, 4–5; Parker complaints about Halas and Marshall’s influence in, 184; players’ careers after, 6, 15–16, 31, 174, 210–11, 248–49; players’ motives for, 208, 228, 250; players’ responses to games after Kennedy’s assassination, 173–75, 178–79; players waiting to hear effects of Kennedy’s assassination, 170, 173; profits for, 166; regulating “taxi squads,” 151; satisfaction with careers in, 250; standings computed by percentages vs. win-loss, 225–26; Steelers as laughingstock of, 5; televised games of, 172; unlikely careers in, 40–41, 208–11, 219, 251. See also football

  NFL championships, 26, 254–56

  Ngo Dinh Diem, 165

  1962 season, 2, 4, 55

  1963 season, 7, 12, 26, 51; analyzing and second-guessing about, 244–45, 252– 53; exhibition games in, 210, 245; fans’ optimism about, 14, 51, 88–89; inglorious finish to, 243; optimism about, 19, 51–52; Parker’s concern about effects of injuries on, 72; Parker’s optimism about, 16–17, 83; players’ optimism about, 12, 17, 51–52; preseason games, 14, 54, 70–71; team makeup, 6–7, 21, 62–63; team makeup for, 6–7, 21, 55, 62–63, 229–30, 245

  1964 season, 247, 249

  Ninowski, Jim, 61–62, 149

  Nisby, John, 29

  Nitschke, Ray, 126, 198, 224

  Nixon, James, 27

  Nixon, Mike, 157

  Nofsinger, Terry, 4, 54, 63, 153

  Noll, Chuck, 5, 210–11, 248, 252

  Nomellini, Leo, 131

  Norman, Pettis, 108, 214–15, 217

  North Side stadium, 61, 103

  Nunn, Bill, Jr., 120

  Nutter, Madison Monroe “Buzz,” 63, 182; background of, 225; Cowboys and, 213, 220; in offensive line, 89, 123, 144

  Nutting, Ed, 108

  O’Bradovich, Ed, 167

  offense: against Bears, 182; of Bears, 167, 187; against Browns, 64, 67; against Cardinals, 48; against Eagles, 205; against Giants, 35–36, 239; of Giants, 237; mixed, 106; against Packers, 125; Parker focusing on, 78–79, 123, 228; against Redskins, 89, 162; running game, 62, 64, 162, 182; Steelers’ vs. Packers’, 124; weakness in, 130, 205

  offensive tackles, size of, 229

  officiating/officials: abuse of officials, 184– 85, 204; call against Hoak, compared to Ditka’s, 186, 199; Cardinals complaining about, 51, 71–72, 76; complaints about, 188, 199–200, 206; Parker not angry at, 188; Steelers’ complaints about, 80, 207

  Olderman, Murray, 55–56

  organized crime, xi, 10

  O’Rourke, Charles “Chuckin’ Charlie,” 33

  Orr, Jimmy, 56, 100

  Oswald, Lee Harvey, 177

  Overton, Jerry, 107

  Owen, Steve, 229

  Owens, Don, 47, 71

  pain, 102; playing with, 2–3, 54, 197–98; Steelers causing, 3, 6

  Palahniuk, Vladimir (Jack Palance), 13

  Paluck, “Mean John,” 87, 89

  Paremore, Bob, 47, 49–50, 76

  Parker, Frank, 64, 145

  Parker, Jane, 110–11

  Parker, Jim, 229

  Parker, Raymond Klein “Buddy,” 169; 1964 season of, 247; in analyzing and second-guessing about 1963 season, 245; background of, 111–12; bad deals by, 196–97, 248; on Ballman, 151–52; on Bears game, 167–68, 188; Brown and, 168; on Browns game, 66; on Cardinals beating Vikings, 71; on Cardinals game, 45, 72, 79–80, 83; coaching style of, 119, 230; complaints about officiating, 80, 184–85; on Cowboys game, 108, 218; on crooked goalpost, 21; Daniel and, 155; death of, 252; Dial and, 193, 195–97; on Dick James, 157; draft system and, 41–42, 87, 211–12; on Eagles game, 200, 205–7; in early scouting combine, 119; on effects of field conditions, 233; on effects of Gifford’s great catch, 242–43; on effects of wind, 218–19; encouraging team unity, 16, 234; fans and, 18, 20–22; on Ferguson, 48; on fighting, 132; focusing on offense, 78–79; on Giants game, 227, 252; giving Steelers days off, 157, 227–28, 234; Henry and, 70; on Hoak, 62; Johnson and, 64, 132, 135–37; on Johnson’s injury, 62, 66–67, 88; lack of rules by, 119, 153; Layne and, 20–21, 54, 98, 147, 243; Mack and, 98–99; marriage of, 111; Michaels and, 26; mistrust of rookies, 120, 149, 209; optimism about 1962 season, 1–2; optimism about 1963 season, 16–17; other coaches and, 118–19, 245; on Packers game, 123, 128; personality, 62, 109–10; philosophy of football, 109, 244; as player, 111–12; player assignments by, 30–32, 105, 136–37, 140; player selection by, 32, 119, 140, 149, 157, 229, 245; on Redskins game, 162, 164; resignation of, 252; response to losses, 80, 83, 110– 11, 117–18, 128, 155; Rooney’s contracts with, 16–17, 61, 112–13; Russell and, 43; on Ryan, 64–65; on Sapp, 102, 137, 220; satisfaction with tie games, 188, 206–7; on Snead, 90; on Stautner, 147; on Steelers’ response to pressure, 138, 151, 157–58, 179, 213; strategies of, 35, 89, 92, 105, 130, 140–42, 238; superstitions of, 51, 111, 116, 234; on team’s bad play, 54–55, 162, 203; threats to quit, 16, 83; trading away draft picks, 48, 53, 120, 208; treatment of players, 113–17; worrying about games, 108, 123, 200

  Parrish, Berni
e, 64–65

  partying, 14, 31; heavy drinking as normal in NFL, 16, 113; Layne’s, 16, 55–56, 58–59; Steelers’ reputation for, 6, 14, 70, 152–53, 195–96

  passing, quarterbacks compared on, 54, 67, 167

  Patton, Jim, 37, 236, 238, 240

  pay, 197; bonuses in, 42, 153, 235; contract disputes over, 201; for NFL championship game, 254; Parker’s, 112–13; for Playoff Bowls, 4; for Pro Bowls, 5; racial discrimination and, 116, 136; salaries, 4–5, 86, 113, 135, 153

  Pellegrini, Bob, 5, 90

  penalties: in Bears game, 180; in Browns game, 66; in Cardinals game, 49–50; in Cowboys game, 216; in Eagles game, 204–6; in Redskins game, 161

  Penn State, 155, 171

  Perkins, Don, 103, 175, 212–13

  Perry, Joe, 135

  Perry, Lowell, 15–16

  Petitbon, Richie, 168

  Philadelphia Eagles, 19, 200; decline of, 21, 206; defense, 201, 203, 205; turmoil on, 201–2

  Philadelphia Eagles-Steelers game (9/15), 21–27

  Philadelphia Eagles-Steelers game (12/1), 203–7; as last game in Forbes Field, 202–3; mistakes in, 203, 205, 207; Steelers favored in, 200, 202

  Philadelphia Eagles-Steelers game (12/3/61), 5

  physicians, team, 27, 88

  The Physics of Football (Gay), 11, 25, 76

  Pietrosante, Nick, 85

  Pihos, Pete, 195

  Pitt Stadium, 103, 137, 140, 141, 236

  Pitts, Elijah, 126

  Pittsburgh, 20, 34; compared to New York, 222–23; crime in, 86, 155–56; drought in, 82, 102; economy of, 14, 102, 122; fighting tradition in, 95–96; football spirit in, 18–19, 155; racial tension in, 14–15, 136; response to Kennedy’s assassination in, 170–71; Rooney and, 18–19, 34; sports teams of, 17, 45, 102, 122, 171; Steelers’ personality reflecting, 62–63; unrest in, 123, 169

  Pittsburgh Pirates, 17, 45

  Pittsburgh Renaissance, 34

  placekicking: Michaels’s, 32, 103; possible results of, 11–12, 21, 24

  player-coaches, Stautner as, 147

  Playoff Bowls, 2–3, 26

  playoffs, opportunities for, 200

  Pottios, Myron, 12, 150, 174, 185, 199, 239; against Browns, 146; against Cardinals, 46, 74; against Eagles, 205; against Giants, 38, 242; injuries of, 32, 97, 199, 248; post-Steelers career, 248; against Redskins, 93; in Steeler defense, 76–77, 205

  Powers, John, 49, 162

  “prevent defense,” Ramsey choosing, 78

  pride, Pittsburghers’, 4–5, 20, 34